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Over 200 Argos fans turned out Wednesday afternoon as officials broke ground on the University of West Florida’s Darrell Gooden Stadium.
The $50 million multi-use football and events facility will expand the current seating capacity from about 3,800 to 7,500 and include premium seating, club areas and suites.
The first kickoff in the new stadium is planned for the fall semester of 2027. The stadium’s construction will continue as the Argos compete during the 2026 season.
Dr. Judy Bense, UWF president emeritus and the impetus for the Argos football program, said the groundbreaking is a historical milestone for the university.
“Football is a magical thing for a university, the community and the alumni. Having our own stadium is just a huge step forward for the university and I’m very proud of it,” said Bense, as she recalled raising a football helmet at a pep rally in 2012.
“I said we were going to find a way to have football here at the University of West Florida. I didn’t know how and we didn’t get a lot of help from the Legislature. We didn’t get a lot of help anywhere, but we rolled up our shirt sleeves and in 2016, we played our first season.”
In front of a crowd of university leaders, student-athletes, donors, alumni, community partners and elected officials, UWF President Manny Diaz Jr. described the new facility as so much more than just a football stadium.
“It’s about a vision that began years ago and grew through leadership and courage and belief and has now reached a defining moment,” he said, acknowledging the vision and work of Bense, President Emeritus Martha Saunders, former UWF Argos coach Pete Shinnick, current football coach Kaleb Nobles and others.
“This doesn’t happen by accident at all. A lot of work went on before I got here. …This doesn’t happen, this doesn’t get talked about if not for the efforts and really the courage of President Judy Bense. She did say that ‘If you build it, they will come,’ and here they are, President Bense.”
Diaz also thanked Darrell Gooden, who contributed a more than $9 million gift that secured the facility’s name.
The stadium project is also being funded with institutional investment and other donor support. The project received a $2 million grant from Escambia County’s Tourist Development Council through the Tourist Development Tax.
“The Darrell Gooden Stadium represents progress, momentum and aspiration. It will enhance the student-athlete experience, energize campus life and create a place where our community can come to celebrate excellence, teamwork and Argo pride. I’m especially proud that this stadium will serve as a gathering space, not just for competition but also for connection. It will be a place space where memories are made, traditions are built and future Argos are inspired,” Diaz added.
As part of the phased development, a new state-of-the-art LED video board—measuring 85 feet wide by 30 feet tall—will be installed in the end zone opposite the Darrell Gooden Center and be in place for the 2026 season.
Brett Berg, UWF assistant vice president for advancement, said the new stadium and four-story multi-use facility will be beneficial to the university and community.
“I really think it’s going to be pretty cool for Pensacola, for Northwest Florida, for our community and it will be the nicest sports venue between Mobile and Tallahassee. So, it will bring something to our community that we don’t have right now,” he said, adding the multi-use facility can be used as an outdoor amphitheater-type venue for concerts as well as a space for conferences, conventions, weddings and other gatherings.
“We talked about what Pensacola needs. When we lost some of the facilities downtown that could hold big meetings, that was a need in our community. So we tried to make the club space big enough where it could hold 500 people. We wanted to make it where you could break it up so you could go from a room of 500 to two rooms of 250 to three rooms if we needed to.”
Student-athletes and alumni alike were thrilled about the new stadium and facility.
Linebacker Cameron Anderson said it will be an honor to be among the first Argos to play in the new stadium in 2027.
“Being able to carry on the Argos legacy in a new facility will be a good experience, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Members of the UWF family have worked on this for so long,” said the 19-year-old sophomore from Jacksonville, who added the coach mentioned the new stadium when he was recruited to UWF.
“I was happy to hear about it, but I’m surprised that it’s coming up so fast.”
UWF alumni Patrice Whitten and Tarae Donaldson are both looking forward to tailgating and creating family memories at the new stadium.
Whitten, who has three daughters who also graduated from UWF, said the stadium and multi-use facility will be transformational for the region.
“All of the words that were said today by so many people who made it happen, I really admire their fortitude, their persistence and their resilience. Seeing this happen for Pensacola and our metropolitan statistical area is huge,” said Whitten, who admitted she follows the Argos but is really not a football fan. “But this just may change me into more of a football fan.”
Donaldson said her family has been avid Argos fans since the team played games in the Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“Today is extra special. Throughout the course of my studies here at UWF, the vision was always talked about, of eventually having a football team. To actually see the groundbreaking on a new stadium today, I’m super excited about it. It’s very meaningful, very special,” she said.
UWF Athletic Director Dave Scott said the groundbreaking represents a historic day of growth and day of vision for the university.
“It’s obviously going to be great day for our athletics program to be able to open up a facility that invites the community into the university and allows our student-athletes to compete in a quality facility. It gives students an opportunity to have a student life that will definitely be enhanced because of the facilities that we have,” he said, adding the upgraded athletic facilities will help with overall recruiting.
“Facilities make a difference when student-athletes and students look at institutions. We think this will make a difference in not only our recruiting student-athletes but our recruiting for students to the university.”
Economic impact studies from the UWF Haas Center project substantial benefits from the new stadium. Over a five-year period, Argos football is expected to generate $23.3 million in economic output and contribute $8.7 million to Escambia County’s gross regional product, excluding construction costs.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: University of West Florida football stadium breaks ground
Continue reading...
The $50 million multi-use football and events facility will expand the current seating capacity from about 3,800 to 7,500 and include premium seating, club areas and suites.
The first kickoff in the new stadium is planned for the fall semester of 2027. The stadium’s construction will continue as the Argos compete during the 2026 season.
Dr. Judy Bense, UWF president emeritus and the impetus for the Argos football program, said the groundbreaking is a historical milestone for the university.
“Football is a magical thing for a university, the community and the alumni. Having our own stadium is just a huge step forward for the university and I’m very proud of it,” said Bense, as she recalled raising a football helmet at a pep rally in 2012.
“I said we were going to find a way to have football here at the University of West Florida. I didn’t know how and we didn’t get a lot of help from the Legislature. We didn’t get a lot of help anywhere, but we rolled up our shirt sleeves and in 2016, we played our first season.”
In front of a crowd of university leaders, student-athletes, donors, alumni, community partners and elected officials, UWF President Manny Diaz Jr. described the new facility as so much more than just a football stadium.
“It’s about a vision that began years ago and grew through leadership and courage and belief and has now reached a defining moment,” he said, acknowledging the vision and work of Bense, President Emeritus Martha Saunders, former UWF Argos coach Pete Shinnick, current football coach Kaleb Nobles and others.
“This doesn’t happen by accident at all. A lot of work went on before I got here. …This doesn’t happen, this doesn’t get talked about if not for the efforts and really the courage of President Judy Bense. She did say that ‘If you build it, they will come,’ and here they are, President Bense.”
Diaz also thanked Darrell Gooden, who contributed a more than $9 million gift that secured the facility’s name.
The stadium project is also being funded with institutional investment and other donor support. The project received a $2 million grant from Escambia County’s Tourist Development Council through the Tourist Development Tax.
“The Darrell Gooden Stadium represents progress, momentum and aspiration. It will enhance the student-athlete experience, energize campus life and create a place where our community can come to celebrate excellence, teamwork and Argo pride. I’m especially proud that this stadium will serve as a gathering space, not just for competition but also for connection. It will be a place space where memories are made, traditions are built and future Argos are inspired,” Diaz added.
As part of the phased development, a new state-of-the-art LED video board—measuring 85 feet wide by 30 feet tall—will be installed in the end zone opposite the Darrell Gooden Center and be in place for the 2026 season.
Brett Berg, UWF assistant vice president for advancement, said the new stadium and four-story multi-use facility will be beneficial to the university and community.
“I really think it’s going to be pretty cool for Pensacola, for Northwest Florida, for our community and it will be the nicest sports venue between Mobile and Tallahassee. So, it will bring something to our community that we don’t have right now,” he said, adding the multi-use facility can be used as an outdoor amphitheater-type venue for concerts as well as a space for conferences, conventions, weddings and other gatherings.
“We talked about what Pensacola needs. When we lost some of the facilities downtown that could hold big meetings, that was a need in our community. So we tried to make the club space big enough where it could hold 500 people. We wanted to make it where you could break it up so you could go from a room of 500 to two rooms of 250 to three rooms if we needed to.”
Student-athletes and alumni alike were thrilled about the new stadium and facility.
Linebacker Cameron Anderson said it will be an honor to be among the first Argos to play in the new stadium in 2027.
“Being able to carry on the Argos legacy in a new facility will be a good experience, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Members of the UWF family have worked on this for so long,” said the 19-year-old sophomore from Jacksonville, who added the coach mentioned the new stadium when he was recruited to UWF.
“I was happy to hear about it, but I’m surprised that it’s coming up so fast.”
UWF alumni Patrice Whitten and Tarae Donaldson are both looking forward to tailgating and creating family memories at the new stadium.
Whitten, who has three daughters who also graduated from UWF, said the stadium and multi-use facility will be transformational for the region.
“All of the words that were said today by so many people who made it happen, I really admire their fortitude, their persistence and their resilience. Seeing this happen for Pensacola and our metropolitan statistical area is huge,” said Whitten, who admitted she follows the Argos but is really not a football fan. “But this just may change me into more of a football fan.”
Donaldson said her family has been avid Argos fans since the team played games in the Blue Wahoos Stadium.
“Today is extra special. Throughout the course of my studies here at UWF, the vision was always talked about, of eventually having a football team. To actually see the groundbreaking on a new stadium today, I’m super excited about it. It’s very meaningful, very special,” she said.
UWF Athletic Director Dave Scott said the groundbreaking represents a historic day of growth and day of vision for the university.
“It’s obviously going to be great day for our athletics program to be able to open up a facility that invites the community into the university and allows our student-athletes to compete in a quality facility. It gives students an opportunity to have a student life that will definitely be enhanced because of the facilities that we have,” he said, adding the upgraded athletic facilities will help with overall recruiting.
“Facilities make a difference when student-athletes and students look at institutions. We think this will make a difference in not only our recruiting student-athletes but our recruiting for students to the university.”
Economic impact studies from the UWF Haas Center project substantial benefits from the new stadium. Over a five-year period, Argos football is expected to generate $23.3 million in economic output and contribute $8.7 million to Escambia County’s gross regional product, excluding construction costs.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: University of West Florida football stadium breaks ground
Continue reading...
