The University of South Florida today will take another step in what it describes as "a long process" of exploring the possibility of building an on-campus football stadium.
The strategic initiatives committee of the university's board of trustees is scheduled to discuss a recent study that examined the feasibility of a stadium. The study laid out some early "parameters" for a facility that would have about 40,000 seats, space nearby for fan activities including tailgating, about 2,000 club seats, about two dozen suites, 10,000 square feet of classroom space, and a "mixed-use" facility that might include a hotel, a conference center and retail space.
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The stadium, which could be expanded to 50,000 seats, would be located in one of two zones — the western portion of campus, slightly north of Fowler Avenue and east of Bruce B. Downs and a site farther east on campus, near the corner of Fowler and USF Bull Run Drive on the existing Fowler Fields site.
The study estimated the stadium would cost $200 million. Officials have not identified where the money would come from.
One of the next steps would be evaluating the financial feasibility of the project and looking for possible donors.
For the foreseeable future, the USF Bulls will continue to play home football games at Raymond James Stadium. Earlier this year, the school signed a six-year lease to continue its partnership with the Tampa Sports Authority and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The board of trustees committee meets at 11:30 a.m. in the Marshall Student Center on campus and is not expected to make any decisions on the project today.
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