Citrus Bowl Facts
The Florida Citrus
Bowl, home to the
University of
Central Florida
Golden Knights, is
a 70,000 seat
stadium with a
long history of
renovations and
additions.
The Citrus Bowl's
history dates to
1936, when
President Franklin
D. Roosevelt
started a WPA
Project that would
put people to work during the depression. The original cost of the Orlando
Stadium was about $115,000. In 1947, the Orlando Stadium was renamed the
Tangerine Bowl.
The first college football game played at the Tangerine Bowl on January 1,
1947, was between Catawba and Maryville. Catawba won that game 31-6 before
an estimated crowd of 9,000. The stadium at the time only consisted of 10,000
seats. By 1952, the stadium was expanded to 12,000 seats, and was host to
the "Little Bowl with the Big Heart," because all the proceeds from the game
went to charity.
Another expansion took place in 1968 with the addition of 5,000 more seats
bringing the total to 17,000. That expansion also saw the erection of the first
press box.
Between 1974 and 1976, the Tangerine Bowl underwent more renovation. The
addition of more seats brought the total capacity to 50,000. In 1983, the name
of the stadium as well as its New Year's Day football bowl games was changed
to the Florida Citrus Bowl.
In 1989, a $30 million dollar major renovation project was underway to add
upper decks to both sides of the field. Each single upper deck contains 9,000
seats. Four concrete ramp towers at the corners of the stadium were also
constructed so as to allow easier access to the upper decks. The look gives
the Florida Citrus Bowl a coliseum-like appearance.
The expansion also included 30 private suites on the east side of the upper
decks. The suites are individually leased by Orlando businesses and
individuals.
Press boxes were also inserted to accommodate 250 writers. The press boxes
house 14 individual booths including two for television and four for radio. After
the renovation, the seating capacity was raised to 66,500. With the addition of
temporary bleachers in the north end zone, the capacity reaches 70,000.
Other fascinating features in the Florida Citrus Bowl include two 9,000
square-foot locker rooms, adjacent practice facilities, and 50 concession
stands and restrooms.
The newest addition to the Citrus Bowl is the Citrus Bowl Centre, which is
adjacent to the south end zone of the stadium. The ground level of the building
includes a 5,000 square foot conference center and the upper part of the
building houses the executive offices of Florida Citrus Sports, which hosts the
annual Florida Citrus Bowl.
Other events that have taken place at the Citrus Bowl include motorcross
races, rock concerts, and other various sporting events. One such sporting
event was World Cup Soccer in 1994. The Citrus Bowl was one of eight sites
chosen in the United States to host the soccer matches. After the month long
event, the Citrus Bowl was chosen as the best site by tournament organizers.
The Citrus Bowl again hosted world-class soccer when the 1996 Olympic
Games came to Orlando.
