Georgia-Florida football rivalry to stay in Jacksonville
By Jay Hawkins
One of the best college football rivalries in the nation is Georgia vs. Florida a.k.a the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
It was recently announced that the annual Georgia-Florida game will continue to be played in Jacksonville, Fla., at least through 2021. It was rumored that the series would move to Atlanta because of the push to get the game there in the new Falcons’ stadium that is set to be finished in 2017.
However, the rivalry will stay in the River City, and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry could not be happier according to an interview with 11alive.com.
“We could not be more excited about our continued partnership with two of the nation’s finest universities. Our new agreement further strengthens the Georgia-Florida tradition we have enjoyed here in Jacksonville for 83 years. The legendary rivalry continues and the best is yet to come,” said Curry.
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University of Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity had this to say about the subject according to The Macon Telegraph.
“The home of the Georgia-Florida game since 1933 has been Jacksonville and we are delighted to extend that tradition for five more years. We are extremely appreciative of the efforts of the City of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the University of Florida for their cooperation in extending this agreement,” said McGarity.
The press release of this announcement said,
“The enhancements in and around EverBank Field will be dynamic, and we are confident our fan experience will be enhanced over the coming years. From a financial standpoint, this game generates significant resources to each institution on an annual basis. This consistent revenue stream is a critical component to our financial model annually.”
Some Georgia fans have had their beef about a game that they argue is not played at a “neutral site,” but the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party would certainly not be the same anywhere else.