JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida-Georgia game, which has been played in Jacksonville for 84 of the past 86 years, will remain in there through at least 2023 after the City of Jacksonville and the two schools reached an agreement this week.
The new agreement, which includes increased financial guarantees for both schools, will take affect for the 2020 game and extend to 2023 and has an option for both schools to extend two additional years, until 2025.
"We are excited to continue one of the great traditions in all of college football in having the Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville," said Florida Athletics Director
Scott Stricklin. "The Florida-Georgia game is more than a football game, it is a week-long celebration of two storied programs meeting on a neutral field that has created generational memories for both fan bases. We are appreciative of the partnership we have with the City of Jacksonville and Mayor Lenny Curry to extend our agreement."
"We look forward to the continuation of one of the greatest college football traditions in the country - a border states battle between Georgia and Florida," said UGA J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics, Greg McGarity. "The extension ensures the historical preservation of the game in Jacksonville which has been part of the national college football landscape since 1933. The City of Jacksonville has once again demonstrated its commitment to this game through significant financial considerations to each school."
"I want to thank both University Presidents, Dr. Kent Fuchs and Jere W. Morehead, Athletic Directors Greg McGarity and Scott Stricklin as well as the coaches and athletic organizations for agreeing that Jacksonville should continue to be the host city for such an important sports entertainment tradition," said Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry. "The partnership that we have with the University of Florida, the University of Georgia, and the City of Jacksonville proves that our community is the right home for this very special rivalry."
Florida and Georgia have met every year in Jacksonville since 1933 with the exception of 1994 (Gainesville) and 1995 (Athens), when the Gator Bowl was being renovated for the Jacksonville Jaguars and annual Bowl game in the stadium.
Florida recognizes that the two teams have met 96 times in series history, but Georgia counts a 1904 meeting between the two schools before the Gators officially fielded a team in 1906.
The 2019 game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. and feature a pair of top-10 teams next weekend on Nov. 2.
