🚧 Citrus Bowl Renovations🚧 Florida Classic to Relocate in 2026

UCF's Bounce House Leads Candidate List

ORLANDO, Fla. — The annual Florida Classic football game between Bethune-Cookman University and Florida A&M University will be forced to move to a new venue in 2026 as its longtime home, Camping World Stadium, formerly known as the Citrus Bowl, undergoes major renovations.

The historic rivalry game, a cornerstone of Orlando's sports calendar, is now in talks to temporarily relocate to the University of Central Florida's home field, the Acrisure Bounce House stadium.

The move comes as the city prepares for a large-scale overhaul of Camping World Stadium. Sources indicate the UCF Board of Directors is actively discussing plans for the Bounce House to temporarily house several major events typically held at the larger stadium, including the Cheez-It Bowl, the Pop-Tarts Bowl and, most significantly, the Florida Classic.

The need for a temporary alternative stems from the extensive renovations planned for Camping World Stadium. While not officially confirmed, the upgrades are widely believed to be part of a strategic push to secure the Jacksonville Jaguars as a temporary NFL tenant. The Jaguars are expected to need an alternate home field for at least two years while their own stadium, TIAA Bank Field, undergoes its own major reconstruction.

The potential move of the Florida Classic to the Bounce House would be a significant shift for the rivalry, which draws tens of thousands of fans and serves as one of the largest HBCU football classics in the nation. The atmosphere of the game, a key economic driver for Orlando, is central to the event's appeal.

Bethune-Cookman, based in Daytona Beach, and Florida A&M, located in Tallahassee, have played the contest in Orlando since 1997. The game’s move would mark the first time in nearly 30 years it has been held outside of the stadium now known as Camping World Stadium.

A final decision on the new host venue and the temporary relocation of Orlando’s other major college football bowl games is expected in the coming months as renovation schedules are finalized.

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