Future sites set for Florida-Georgia rivalry game through 2031

A pair of SEC rivals have ironed out locations for their annual neutral site game for years to come, as Florida and Georgia announced on Friday the future locations of their matchup. And the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party will be hitting the road before returning to Jacksonville for years to come.

As was reported earlier in the week, the game will leave Jacksonville in 2026 and 2027 as EverBank Stadium — home to the Jacksonville Jaguars — undergoes updates and renovations. Those games will be in Atlanta in 2026 and Tampa in 2027.

Then, in 2028, the game will return to Jacksonville for at least the next four years, running through 2031.

“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,” Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said in a release. “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.” 

And the respective athletic directors for the schools lauded the chance to take the game on the road to sites closer to the respective campuses.

For Florida, AD Scott Stricklin shared excitement to play at Raymond James Stadium.

“The Gators are excited about the opportunity to play Georgia in Tampa in 2027,” Stricklin said in a release. “Tampa Bay is a special Gator community and Raymond James Stadium, which has hosted both CFP National Championships and Super Bowls, will be a fantastic venue for fans of both schools. We are appreciative of the work and effort of Rob Higgins and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission to make this game happen and we are looking forward to building on the many memories the Gators have from playing in Tampa.”

And Georgia AD Josh Brooks echoed much of that sentiment, adding the work done to the stadium in Jacksonville will only enhance the rivalry and experience for fans going forward.

“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,” Brooks said. “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.”