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The game formerly known as the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” is changing venues, at least temporarily.
The annual matchup between Florida football and Georgia is set to be played on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 3:30 p.m. ET from EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville. Since 1933, the heated rivalry between the Gators and Bulldogs has been played in Jacksonville, except for the 1994 and 1995 seasons, when the stadium was rebuilt to accommodate the Jaguars becoming an NFL franchise.
For the second time since 1933, there will be a hiatus in the series being played in the most populous city in Florida for the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
The Jaguars have planned major renovations to their home stadium, which would also displace the NFL team.
Here’s what you need to know about the future of the Florida-Georgia matchup in Jacksonville:
Future locations of Florida-Georgia football games
Florida and Georgia have agreed to play neutral-site games in Atlanta and Tampa during the 2026 and 2027 seasons, respectively. The 2026 matchup will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, while the 2027 game will be played at Raymond James Stadium, while EverBank Stadium undergoes renovations.
The future of the game in Jacksonville was in question leading into the 2024 matchup, with this year’s game set to be the final year of the current contract agreement with Jacksonville.
However, on Friday, Nov. 1, a day before the 2024 game between the Gators and Bulldogs, it was announced that the city of Jacksonville extended the deal for the game to remain in Jacksonville through 2031. The payout is at least $10 million in 2028.
- 2026: Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
- 2027: Tampa, Fla. (Raymond James Stadium)
- 2028: Jacksonville, Fla. (EverBank Stadium)
- 2029: Jacksonville, Fla. (EverBank Stadium)
- 2030: Jacksonville, Fla. (EverBank Stadium)
- 2031: Jacksonville, Fla. (EverBank Stadium)
Why is Florida vs Georgia played in Jacksonville?
Saturday will mark the 104th ― or 103rd, if you ask Florida ― matchup between the two programs. The Gators claimed the series first started on Nov. 16, 1915, while Georgia claims the series started in 1904.
Regardless of which school or number you believe, the game will be the 93rd matchup in Jacksonville. The reason for the neutral site game is hardly due to location. Jacksonville is approximately 74 miles from Florida’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. The drive is 345 miles from Georgia’s Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.
The reason comes down to money. According to the Athens Banner-Herald, Georgia makes around $6 million more in two years playing in Jacksonville versus playing the Gators in a home-and-home, as it does with all other SEC schools.
The current contract pays each Georgia and Florida $1.5 million, plus a 50-50 split of the ticket revenue. The schools have the freedom to set their own ticket prices, and according to the Florida Times-Union ― Part of the USA TODAY Network ― the reported revenue for the gate has been around $3.75 million per year.
