JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As the countdown to kickoff continues for the annual Georgia-Florida game, the party has already been going on for days for thousands of fans. And those fans got a major boost on Friday.
The City of Jacksonville and the universities agreed to keep the game in Jacksonville for 4 years after renovations to Everbank Stadium are complete. The game will still be played in Jacksonville in 2025, but will move to Atlanta in 2026 and then Tampa in 2027. In 2028 the game will return to Jacksonville and continue through at least 2031 under the new 4 year agreement.
The agreement by the city and the universities to keep the rivalry game in Jacksonville was welcome news to fans of both Florida and Georgia. They said this week, and this party, is something they look forward to all year long.
"If you're a college football fan you know about Florida Georgia," said Florida fan Brandon Ahlgren.
It's a game that will pack more than 60,000 people into Everbank Stadium to watch two of the most storied programs in college football, but nearly 100,000 fans will be tailgating before the game and some don't plan on stepping inside the stadium.
"Never been to the game," said Georgia fan Raymond Butts, who has tailgated at RV City for the better part of a decade.
"I don't even have tickets, I stopped buying tickets a couple years ago," said Ahlgren.
As it turns out, the game is secondary to many fans, they're here for the week-long tailgate.
"I got a little secret, I think they look forward to this more than they look forward to the game and I don't care what fan you are, we've been coming here 8 years in the exact same spot, same neighbors and we've had this great opportunity to build relationships," said Ahlgren.
That's part of the reason that makes RV City so special. A community of fans, many with golf carts, who come together every year. They will continue to come together after the stadium renovations are complete and the rivalry resumes in Jacksonville under a new 4 year agreement beginning with the 2028 season.
"This is the place to do it," said Ahlgren, "it's close to Georgia, it's on the tip of Florida, I think it's the perfect location."
"Everybody just comes together," says Florida fan Mary Albrecht, "we have a good time together and it's a happy family, you don't see these people all year and you come together and it's like you never left."
That's something both side of the rivalry can agree on.
"We just like the atmosphere and riding around because everybody's happy because nothing bad has happened either way," said Butts.
We'll see how fans are feeling around 7 o'clock Saturday night when the game is over, but in the meantime hope is flowing as freely as the beer.
The following is a press release from the City of Jacksonville regarding the 4 year agreement to extend the rivalry game in Jacksonville to the 2031 season.
The City of Jacksonville has agreed to terms with the University of Georgia and University of Florida regarding the annual NCAA football game between the two schools held in Jacksonville, Florida since 1933.
With this agreement, the Georgia-Florida game will return to Jacksonville during the 2028-2031 college football seasons, once EverBank Stadium has been transformed into the “Stadium of the Future.” In the meantime, the game will be played in Jacksonville in 2024 and 2025 and will move to the neutral sites of Atlanta in 2026 and Tampa in 2027, while EverBank Stadium is under renovation.
“We are honored to extend the time-honored tradition of the Georgia-Florida rivalry game in Jacksonville for four more years. It is the result of many months of close collaboration with our partners at the University of Florida and the University of Georgia,” said Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan. “There is shared excitement by all parties for the game to return to Jacksonville in the Stadium of the Future, which will be a world-class stadium that meets NFL standards, starting in 2028. We are grateful that this matchup will continue bringing our communities together to celebrate college football and drive economic impact.”
The new agreement will meet the financial and operational needs of the schools, bring tens of thousands of fans and millions in economic development to Jacksonville, and provide the opportunity for the iconic matchup between the Bulldogs and Gators to be profitable for the City.
To that end, we extend our thanks and appreciation to the universities, as well as our key partners in this endeavor – ASM Global, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO), Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD), and Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) – for their support in producing a safe, fun, and exciting event for passionate fans.
“The Florida-Georgia Game has enjoyed a longstanding and special relationship with the City of Jacksonville, and we are pleased to continue one of college football’s great traditions there in 2028 once the impressive renovations to EverBank Stadium are complete,” said University of Florida Athletics Director Scott Stricklin. “For 2026 and 2027, the chance to continue the neutral site history of the series, while also maximizing revenue opportunities that are so critical during this transformative time in college athletics, make playing games in Atlanta and Tampa incredibly attractive. Both cities are special to Gator fans and offer venues that will provide wonderful experiences for both fans and players.”
“The annual Georgia-Florida game in Jacksonville is one of the greatest traditions in college sports, and we are excited the game will return to EverBank Stadium in 2028,” said J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics for the University of Georgia Josh Brooks. “We are fortunate to have a pair of exceptional venues in Atlanta and Tampa that will host the game for the next two years as the Georgia-Florida matchup joins a long line of major events to take place in those two cities, which have hosted both the Super Bowl and the College Football Playoff National Championship. Our goal, as always, is to create a first-class experience for our student-athletes, staff and fans, and this temporary move, along with the stadium renovations in Jacksonville, will only enhance the storied Georgia-Florida rivalry.”