ATHENS, Ga. — Many Georgia football fans have always wondered what it would be like to play the Florida Gators in Athens between the hedges.
That wish might become a reality in several years. Why, you may ask? That's because Jacksonville's TIAA Bank Field, where the Georgia-Florida rivalry has been neutrally played every season since 1996, is undergoing a major $1.4 billion renovation project that will likely take two years to complete.
So what's on the table for both teams?
Location options for Georgia-Florida in 2026, 2027
Well, for starters, not only would both fanbases want the two games to be split between Athens and Gainesville, but that option is probably the easiest and makes the most sense for both schools.
The last time Georgia and Florida played a home-and-home was in 1994 and 1995 when the current TIAA Bank Field was being built. The only other time was in 1931 and 1932. Playing another home-and-home would eliminate having to find two different neutral site stadiums to host the game in back-to-back years.
Neutral site possibilities include Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Tampa's Raymond James Stadium and Orlando's Camping World Stadium.
UGA athletic director Josh Brooks said the city of Jacksonville is not involved in helping the two schools pick a site for 2026 and 2027 and that it will solely rely on the two schools to choose.
“For the immediate, we’ve got to look at other options. Whether that’s home and home, whether it’s neutral sites, that’s something we’re working with Florida to look at options for those two years,” Brooks told 11Alive's UGA insiders. “Beyond that, excited. Once that construction is complete, we’re excited to go back there and see the potential and opportunities to make it a really special game for what they’re talking about doing. It looks like it’s going to be a really amazing project.”
The newly renovated TIAA Bank Stadium will include a canopy over the stadium that will reduce the heat factor by 70%. The Jaguars will play inside the stadium in 2026 but with a reduced capacity of 43,500. That would clearly not be feasible for the Georgia-Florida game which draws over 70,000 fans annually.
"This is something, and Florida and Georgia, we lead that on our own,” Brooks said. “We’ll talk to them about what’s available, but it’s something, we drive that ship.”
