TAMPA, Fla. — An on-campus stadium at the University of South Florida is one step closer to a reality.

What You Need To Know

  • Florida's State University Board of Governors approved a resolution to assume $200 million in debt to help build a football stadium on campus at the University of South Florida

  • The approval comes after the university's Board of Trustees voted to approve it earlier this year

  • The proposed project is estimated to cost $340 million

  • USF anticipates that the stadium would be completed in time for the 2026 football season

The State University Board of Governors approved a resolution to assume $200 million in debt to go toward building a stadium on USF’s campus after the school’s Board of Trustees approved the debt earlier this summer.

When deciding where he would go to college, Austen Percifull, a freshman at USF, knew exactly where he wanted to spend the next four years of his life.

“It's a great atmosphere to be in Tampa, Fla.,” Percifull said. “And then you've got St. Pete down the street, so it's just fantastic to be around.”

Percifull is a mechanical engineering major with a goal of potentially working on planes when he graduates. For now, he goes to class with love for his school and what’s potentially on the horizon for his beloved Bulls.

“It’s going to be great,” he said.

He’s talking about USF working on bringing a football stadium to campus and upgrading athletics facilities around the potential new stadium.

A few months ago, the university’s Board of Trustees approved the financing of the new stadium estimated at the time to cost around $340 million.

This week, they put a dent in that number when Tampa General Hospital announced it would be giving $25 million to help with the construction.

While $140 million of the $340 million will coming from deals like this, the other $200 million will be taken on as debt. On campus, it’s a move students like Percifull say is worth every penny.

“As much as we love Raymond James Stadium, it's going to be cool to have our own stadium and a great atmosphere over here,” he said.

Especially when he sees organizations like Tampa General give millions for the project.

“It shows that people care about it and it's going to add more attendance to those games,” Percifull said.

He hopes more people come out to support the team, so whenever a stadium finally comes to campus, they can fill it up.

The stadium is estimated to be around 35,000 seats and, if all goes the plan, USF officials say it will be completed in time for the 2026 football season.