USF announces results of study about on-campus stadium

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The University of South Florida is looking into the possibility of building a new football stadium on campus.

It’s a long way to come for a school that began its history with a University president opposed to football.

USF became a school in 1957. At the time, President John Allen believed college students should be dedicated to academics and not athletics.

Fast forward to 1997, when the USF Bulls played their first game in NCAA Division 1 AA.

Since then, the school has moved on to Division 1 A and had teams ranked among the top in the nation.

The Bulls currently play their home games at Raymond James Stadium, sharing the field with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, concerts and monster truck jams.

On his first day on the job, new head coach Charlie Strong announced he spoke to the school about having an on-campus stadium as he interviewed for the job.

Tuesday, the school revealed the results of a $75,000 feasibility study to examine potential construction locations and costs.

“This is the first step of many steps. When you engage in a project of this scope, you want to make sure that you dive in and really take a look,” said Athletic Director Mark Harlan.

The study looks at four potential locations. One of the possible building locations is currently occupied by the Museum of Science and Industry and the property is owned by Hillsborough County.

However, MOSI has announced plans to move to downtown Tampa.

The stadium could cost between $194,000,000 and $246,000,000 to build, depending on location and when construction starts.

School officials maintain any funds used to build a new stadium would be privately raised.

“No taxpayers money, no student tuition will be used to fund this project,” said USF Vice President for Administrative Services Calvin Williams.