Expect a 'significant' Ray Jay renovation before the 2029 CFP championship comes to Tampa
By Rick Mayer, Steve Newborn
October 29, 2025 at 12:19 PM EDT
It's official: The College Football Playoff championship game will be played at Raymond James Stadium on Jan. 22, 2029. Tampa will be the fourth city to host the event a second time.
The College Football Playoff national championship is returning to Tampa in 2029, and with it a planned renovation to Raymond James Stadium.
Local officials and sports leaders made the official announcement Wednesday morning that the title game will be played in Tampa on Monday, Jan. 22, 2029.
It’s the second time Tampa will host the event. Raymond James Stadium last staged the game in 2017, when Clemson defeated Alabama. Tampa will also become the fourth city to host the CFP title game for a second time.
Rob Higgins, CEO of Athletics at the University of South Florida, called Tampa's selection "monumental."
"It validates what took place in 2017, but also gives us this next chapter in 2029 to host one of the country's biggest events," said Higgins, who led the Tampa Bay Sports Commission when it lured the 2017 CFP game and several other marquee sports events to the area.
According to Visit Tampa Bay, the 2017 game and lead-up events brought the area an economic impact of $273.6 million, including $120 million in direct spending. The stadium was expanded from its typical 65,667 seats to hold a sellout crowd of 74,512 for the game.
After the announcement, Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan said a "significant renovation" for the stadium is planned - not only for the CFP matchup, but also with the anticipation of Tampa bidding for another Super Bowl.
Hagan said any county involvement will be paid for through tourist bed taxes, which are levied on overnight hotel stays.
"There would have been an amount included in the bid package, and I think it's likely about $1 million roughly," Hagan said. "Typically, the city provides in-kind services and in the county through the bed tax revenue, tourist tax dollars, that's what we utilize for any direct financial support for an event."
It would be part of a series of improvements to county-own sports venues, including Steinbrenner Field and Benchmark International Arena.
"We have not determined what the exact amount or improvements that will be, but I can tell you we will continue to improve, to renovate Raymond James Stadium, just like we do with all of our venues," Hagan said.
There are reports that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the stadium's main tenant, are planning upgrades the the 27-year-old facility but there have been no details released. The Bucs' lease ends in 2028.
“We’re always looking at ways to improve everything around us, to improve the community,” Bucs owner/co-chairman Joel Glazer said in April. “Our focus right now is the Buccaneers and what needs to happen there so we can bring Super Bowls and everything there.”
The NFL has implied that Raymond James Stadium would need renovations to be considered for another Super Bowl, a goal of team ownership. The stadium's last upgrade, completed in 2018, cost $160 million, with public money covering $29 million and team paying the rest.
CFP executive director Rich Clark said organizers were excited to return to Tampa "because you know how to do it." (1700x1153, AR: 1.4744145706851692)
Tampa is no stranger to hosting major sports events, receiving praise after staging five Super Bowls, four NCAA Women’s Final Fours, three NCAA Frozen Fours, and several NCAA men’s basketball regional tournaments. Likewise, with the 1999 NCAA Men’s Final Four in St. Petersburg.
As with other major sports events, there will be happenings leading up to game. Ahead of the 2017 game, the region hosted a "Playoff Fan Central" interactive festival at the Tampa Convention Center, a concert series at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, a Beach Bash at Clearwater Beach featuring the schools' bands and cheerleaders, a charity 5K run, a pregame tailgate party and more.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said the focus was on making sure "everyone gets to have that experience on and off the field."
https://twitter.com/JaneCastor/status/1983570702239195489
Clark said the CFP was excited to return to Tampa "because you know how to do it."
"You have that cohesiveness in your community, people that want to do good things for your community. You love sports. You are a destination city. You have warm hospitality, and that's what makes it special. It is going to be pretty awesome when we start moving forward on this great event," he said.
The CFP announcement was expected, but official. Multiple media reports — including Action Network’s Brett McMurphy — reported in January that Tampa would replace Arlington, Texas, due to “scheduling conflicts.”
"I can see people are about the burst because they've been holding onto a secret for a long time," CFP executive director Rich Clark said. "That is an uncommon city ... and I mean that in the best of ways. You are extraordinary. You are one of kind, and you are our No. 1 choice ..."
According to the Dallas Morning News, North Texas withdrew its bid because a renovation of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas would not be completed in time. That venue typically anchors activities surrounding such events.
The Texas Legislature was also in the process of changing its events trust fund at the time of the bid review process, which could have impacted the funding allocated for a national championship in Dallas, the Morning News reported.
The college championship game will pit the two surviving teams from a bracket selected by a CFP committee. The current bracket uses 12 teams, but discussions are ongoing for a potential expansion — perhaps 16 teams — beginning in 2026.
On Oct. 1, the CFP announced that New Orleans will host the 2028 title game. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens will host the championship this January. Las Vegas will host in 2027.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPO5pGLsj2A&feature=youtu.be
Local officials and sports leaders made the official announcement Wednesday morning that the title game will be played in Tampa on Monday, Jan. 22, 2029.
It’s the second time Tampa will host the event. Raymond James Stadium last staged the game in 2017, when Clemson defeated Alabama. Tampa will also become the fourth city to host the CFP title game for a second time.
Rob Higgins, CEO of Athletics at the University of South Florida, called Tampa's selection "monumental."
"It validates what took place in 2017, but also gives us this next chapter in 2029 to host one of the country's biggest events," said Higgins, who led the Tampa Bay Sports Commission when it lured the 2017 CFP game and several other marquee sports events to the area.
According to Visit Tampa Bay, the 2017 game and lead-up events brought the area an economic impact of $273.6 million, including $120 million in direct spending. The stadium was expanded from its typical 65,667 seats to hold a sellout crowd of 74,512 for the game.
After the announcement, Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan said a "significant renovation" for the stadium is planned - not only for the CFP matchup, but also with the anticipation of Tampa bidding for another Super Bowl.
Hagan said any county involvement will be paid for through tourist bed taxes, which are levied on overnight hotel stays.
"There would have been an amount included in the bid package, and I think it's likely about $1 million roughly," Hagan said. "Typically, the city provides in-kind services and in the county through the bed tax revenue, tourist tax dollars, that's what we utilize for any direct financial support for an event."
It would be part of a series of improvements to county-own sports venues, including Steinbrenner Field and Benchmark International Arena.
"We have not determined what the exact amount or improvements that will be, but I can tell you we will continue to improve, to renovate Raymond James Stadium, just like we do with all of our venues," Hagan said.
There are reports that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the stadium's main tenant, are planning upgrades the the 27-year-old facility but there have been no details released. The Bucs' lease ends in 2028.
“We’re always looking at ways to improve everything around us, to improve the community,” Bucs owner/co-chairman Joel Glazer said in April. “Our focus right now is the Buccaneers and what needs to happen there so we can bring Super Bowls and everything there.”
The NFL has implied that Raymond James Stadium would need renovations to be considered for another Super Bowl, a goal of team ownership. The stadium's last upgrade, completed in 2018, cost $160 million, with public money covering $29 million and team paying the rest.
CFP executive director Rich Clark said organizers were excited to return to Tampa "because you know how to do it." (1700x1153, AR: 1.4744145706851692)
Tampa is no stranger to hosting major sports events, receiving praise after staging five Super Bowls, four NCAA Women’s Final Fours, three NCAA Frozen Fours, and several NCAA men’s basketball regional tournaments. Likewise, with the 1999 NCAA Men’s Final Four in St. Petersburg.
As with other major sports events, there will be happenings leading up to game. Ahead of the 2017 game, the region hosted a "Playoff Fan Central" interactive festival at the Tampa Convention Center, a concert series at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, a Beach Bash at Clearwater Beach featuring the schools' bands and cheerleaders, a charity 5K run, a pregame tailgate party and more.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor said the focus was on making sure "everyone gets to have that experience on and off the field."
https://twitter.com/JaneCastor/status/1983570702239195489
Clark said the CFP was excited to return to Tampa "because you know how to do it."
"You have that cohesiveness in your community, people that want to do good things for your community. You love sports. You are a destination city. You have warm hospitality, and that's what makes it special. It is going to be pretty awesome when we start moving forward on this great event," he said.
The CFP announcement was expected, but official. Multiple media reports — including Action Network’s Brett McMurphy — reported in January that Tampa would replace Arlington, Texas, due to “scheduling conflicts.”
"I can see people are about the burst because they've been holding onto a secret for a long time," CFP executive director Rich Clark said. "That is an uncommon city ... and I mean that in the best of ways. You are extraordinary. You are one of kind, and you are our No. 1 choice ..."
According to the Dallas Morning News, North Texas withdrew its bid because a renovation of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas would not be completed in time. That venue typically anchors activities surrounding such events.
The Texas Legislature was also in the process of changing its events trust fund at the time of the bid review process, which could have impacted the funding allocated for a national championship in Dallas, the Morning News reported.
The college championship game will pit the two surviving teams from a bracket selected by a CFP committee. The current bracket uses 12 teams, but discussions are ongoing for a potential expansion — perhaps 16 teams — beginning in 2026.
On Oct. 1, the CFP announced that New Orleans will host the 2028 title game. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens will host the championship this January. Las Vegas will host in 2027.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPO5pGLsj2A&feature=youtu.be