If you have attended a Florida game in recent years, you probably got an email on Monday with a survey asking about The Swamp. In case you weren’t aware, the University of Florida has been moving full steam ahead with renovations to The Swamp. Now, for most fans, upgrading the sound system, streamlining the bathrooms, adding more shade, and improving concession options would be good enough.
But when looking at the bulk of the questions Florida’s survey asked fans, it’s clear what the priorities are for the upcoming renovations, and 99% of Gator fans won’t benefit from the vision.
Florida fans asked for input on The Swamp
The survey started with standard questions about general improvements fans would like to see in The Swamp, but it quickly moved on to large sections on premium seating, sky boxes, and club areas for fans to gather.
Those areas look nice, and we are sure the people who will be in them will have a great time, but 99% of Gator fans won’t be sitting in them, nor could they afford them if they tried.
And if those areas were standalone and had no impact on everyone else, then whatever. But when ticket prices are already going up, despite coming off a 4-8 season, and the survey starts talking about making a one-time donation as a capital gift, it’s clear that someone is going to need to pay for these fancy areas.
Then throw in the underlying reality that the capacity in The Swamp is likely to be reduced once these renovations finish, which in turn pushes ticket prices up, and there is a real question about who will actually benefit from these upgrades.
The survey talks about adding shade a couple of times, and to be honest, The Swamp could probably benefit from that. But all these other additions that were the focal point of the survey will accomplish two things:
- Make more money for Florida.
- Take away the charm of The Swamp.
Because once you start pricing out fans and start adding countless premium areas where the focus isn’t on the game itself, you threaten to turn The Swamp from an Insane Asylum into a Serene Sanctuary.