Florida State Football: Seminoles' 2016 Spring Game to be Held in Orlando's Citrus Bowl Due to Stadium Renovations
ByRenovations to Doak Campbell Stadium leave the Florida State Seminoles without a venue for their spring game next year, but the team has made alternate plans.
Announced in a news release Monday, Florida State will play its 2016 spring scrimmage at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., some 260 miles southeast. Stan Wilcox, the university's athletic director, said the game will be held Saturday, April 9 at 5 p.m. ET and tickets will go for $5.
"The short term construction challenges of building the Champions Club in Doak Campbell stadium have provided a unique opportunity for our 2016 spring football game," he said in the release. "We are pleased to offer our fans greater access to Florida State football at an exciting and refurbished venue in one of the best destinations cities in the world. Moving the game to Orlando and partnering with Steve Hogan and his staff at Florida Citrus Sports will allow us to platform the game and Florida State athletics in exciting and unique new ways."
The school's Marketing and Promotions Office and football booster organization will join Florida Citrus Sports in hosting a block party Friday evening, as well as booking a block of hotel rooms "with preferred rates" for those making the trip.
Florida State began planning the current renovations to their football stadium shortly after the Seminoles won the 2014 National Championship, Bleacher Report noted.
"We are excited to play our 2016 spring game at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando," Florida State head football coach Jimbo Fisher said in the release. "With the renovations to our stadium next spring that have been provided from contributions from our fans and boosters, it gave us a unique opportunity to hold our spring weekend at another venue. The Orlando area is a tremendous part of our Seminole fan base and it will be a great opportunity for the greatest fans in college football from across the state to see our team. Couple that with the fact that we are opening the 2016 season against Ole Miss in the Citrus Bowl and it made sense."