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The facilities arms race in college sports never ends, and announcement today from the University of South Florida showed that Tampa’s hometown will be at the forefront of it all. USF Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly unveiled his plans for the expansion and enhancement of the USF Athletics District.
Some of the projects are already underway, with others yet to begin, and through it all the message is clear: USF is investing in its athletic programs. Chief among that, of course, is the long-awaited on-campus football stadium, which will anchor the athletics district next to the indoor practice facility and outdoor football practice fields.
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“We believe USF Athletics can grow significantly and achieve great things in the coming years and have an aggressive vision for getting there,” Kelly said. “The university is very supportive of this vision and understands Athletics’ place as a key driver for one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. We will need the support of our fans, partners, community and generous donors to get there, but I believe we have the passion and will to achieve great things.”
Among the new facilities listed in the plan are an on-campus football and lacrosse stadium that will open by the 2026 season, a baseball and softball clubhouse, a tennis facility, a complete overhaul of the golf practice facility, and USF Track & Field Stadium additions of a new press box and video board to the track & field stadium. USF also recently announced the launch of a beach volleyball program, which will include building a new facility next to the Yuengling Center.
The entire facilities master plan can be viewed online, which includes recent upgrades already finished, as well as several more currently in progress, including a $22-million Indoor Performance Facility set to open this fall, and the recently finished football locker room.
All told, every single one of USF’s 19 varsity men’s and women’s teams will be impacted by the master plan, as well as the two new programs yet to make their debut – women’s lacrosse and women’s beach volleyball. Close to 450 student-athletes train and compete in the athletic district on the east end of campus, leading the way as the Bulls have won 26 American Athletic Conference team titles since joining the conference in 2013.
Ready for football season? Check out our preview of what to expect from USF this fall here.
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