Florida-Georgia has never needed much help drawing a crowd, and this year’s edition is proving the point again.
Even with the game moving from Jacksonville to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 3:30 p.m. on ABC - and with ticket prices climbing - the rivalry has remained a tough ticket. The annual border war, officially dubbed the Atlanta Gridiron Classic for this year’s matchup, was shifted because of the $1.4 billion renovation project underway at EverBank Stadium for the Jacksonville Jaguars. After Atlanta, the series goes to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa in 2027 before returning to Jacksonville in 2028.
The higher face values were set by both schools, according to a memorandum of understanding obtained by the Athens Banner-Herald. Non-suite tickets at EverBank Stadium were listed between $150 and $200 in 2025. At Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the range goes from $155 in the upper level to $365 in the lower bowl.
That hasn’t slowed demand. Florida spokesman Scott Burns said UF had sold its full allotment of 29,071 tickets by late August. Falcons personal seat license holders also received tickets, which reduced the portion available through the standard 50-50 split between Florida and Georgia at the 75,000-seat domed stadium.
The secondary market tells the same story. On StubHub, lower-bowl seats were listed as high as $1,003, while the cheapest tickets were going for $197 in the upper deck. Event spokesperson Jason Kirksey said the game is sold out to capacity and that some standing room only tickets were placed on sale this week to help meet demand.
The crowd makeup is still the big unknown. Atlanta is a longer, more expensive trip for Florida fans, who may face gas costs and the possibility of staying one or two nights instead of making the five-plus hour drive back to the Sunshine State after the game.
Still, the Gators have given their fan base a reason to lean in. No.
20 Florida is 5-2 overall and 3-2 in the SEC after upsetting Texas 27-24 on Oct. 17, a win that revived its conference-title and College Football Playoff hopes. That backdrop has some fans willing to absorb the extra cost for a chance to see first-year coach Jon Sumrall chase another big win against a Top 10 opponent.
No. 3 Georgia enters as an 11.5-point favorite, according to BetMGM.
Sumrall said he understands the setting won’t feel like a normal SEC road environment for Florida, but he also sees the appeal.
"You have to know that Atlanta is not necessarily our backyard, right," Sumrall said. "But the 50-50 thing is a unique deal that I think is exciting for our guys because you're in kind of a different environment than a normal SEC game, which is fun.”
Florida and Georgia will each receive a $7.5 million payout from AMB Sports & Entertainment, the Arthur Blank-owned company that operates the Atlanta Falcons.
In Other News...
Georgia Tech Faces One Big Lineup Question Before Pitt
Georgia Tech heads into its matchup with Pittsburgh carrying a familiar late-week mix of concern and optimism on the availability report. The Yellow Jackets have been sorting through several injury questions, and the latest update brought a new name into the picture with left guard Kevin Peay Jr. joining returner Rahkeem Smith on the report as the team prepares for kickoff.
The bigger issue sits on the offensive line, where Georgia Tech may need another answer at left guard if backup Courtney Heard is unable to go. On the other side of the ball, there is better news in the middle of the defense, with defensive tackles Tawfiq Thomas and Vincent Carroll-Jackson expected back. Their return would give Georgia Tech a welcome boost against the run as it tries to settle in before a key ACC test. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Fans Should Watch How Florida Tests Georgias Defense
Floridas prep for Georgia is being shaped by a simple formula: keep mistakes to a minimum and make the game physical. SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic has framed the matchup around how the Bulldogs handle quarterback Gunner Stockton and running back Jadan Baugh, two players who could tilt the script if Florida can get enough pressure on the edges and stay on schedule. For Georgia Tech fans keeping an eye on how their rivals stack up, it is the kind of chess match that usually comes down to whether one side can force the other out of its comfort zone.
One wrinkle worth watching is how Florida chooses to attack Georgia before the Bulldogs settle in defensively. The Gators have not named a starting quarterback for Saturday, and Tramell Jones Jr. already showed how effective the read option can be against Texas. If Florida leans into that look again, the real issue may not be the play design so much as whether Georgia can avoid the turnovers Cubelic could end up deciding the game. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Suddenly Has A Serious O-Line Problem Before Pitt
Georgia Techs offensive line took a major hit this week, and it comes at a bad time with Pitt ahead. Brent Key said Ethan Mackenny and Kevin Peay Jr. are done for the season because of injuries, thinning a group that had already been dealing with lineup changes. Mackenny was hurt in week two and has not played since, while Peay went down in the recent game against Boston College.
Josh Petty is expected to slide in at left tackle, but the bigger question is what happens at left guard if Courtney Heard cannot go. That leaves the Yellow Jackets sorting out one side of the line on the fly, and it adds real pressure to a unit that has to steady itself quickly before the next test. [Read more 🡒]