‘Cocktail Party’ headed to Atlanta in 2026 and Tampa in 2027, while EverBank gets a makeover

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The annual Florida-Georgia rivalry will take a break from its traditional home base and be played at NFL venues as EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville undergoes a $1.4 billion renovation.

The game will move to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in 2026 and to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, the following year. The game is expected to return to Jacksonville starting in 2028 on a multi-year contract.

Action Network first reported the deal, which Florida coach Billy Napier later confirmed.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to play in both Atlanta and Tampa, both great locations, both will be well-run operations,” Napier said. “I think we all understand the revenue this game generates for both athletic departments, so it’s going to be unique, and we’re certainly excited about that opportunity.”

The Southeastern Conference rivals opted to host “the world’s largest outdoor cocktail party” rather than play at campus venues for financial reasons; they can make more money by playing in neutral locations.

Atlanta was the obvious choice for Georgia’s home game in 2006, while Orlando, Miami and Tampa bid for Florida’s home game in 2027.

The schools have played in Jacksonville annually since 1933, with a two-year hiatus while the Gator Bowl was renovated before the Jaguars’ inaugural season. The “Cocktail Party” moved to Gainesville in 1994 and to Athens, Georgia the following year.

Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart was outspoken about wanting to move the game back to campuses for recruiting purposes; NCAA rules prohibit coaches from having contact with recruits at neutral sites, although the home team can leave tickets for them.

But Smart has relented over the past year.

“It has been talked about and debated for a long time since we knew the renovation of Jacksonville was going to happen,” Smart said Wednesday. “The parties involved have done a great job in managing it. Jacksonville has done a great job making it worthwhile for both universities and was excited about the opportunity to play at two different locations.

“So that will be unique and maybe we will learn from these two experiences.”

Jacksonville’s payout is expected to increase significantly from the current deal, which is approximately $3 million for each school and includes a guaranteed $1.5 million, plus a split of ticket revenue and concession sales.

Georgia also receives $350,000 annually to cover its charter flights, buses and lodging, while Florida receives $60,000 because no flights are required.

By comparison, a home game in Florida brings in between $2 million and $5 million, depending on the opponent. So a home-and-home series would generate less revenue over a two-year period than a neutral-site game.

“Kirby and I would probably both agree that it would be great to play at home and away, but we also know that there is a huge amount of revenue generated by playing this game at a neutral venue,” Napier said. “So money makes the world go round, and certainly the amount of income, there is a significant difference in the income that is generated.

“We’re playing in Jacksonville, there’s a historical context to that, but there’s also a revenue component. I think the neutral site will provide the same revenue opportunities, and that’s ultimately why the decision was made.”