The University of West Florida has broken ground in Pensacola on a $50 million multi-use football and events facility.
The university says the new facility, dubbed Darrell Gooden Stadium, will have modern amenities that enhance the game-day experience and enable the university to host many events beyond football.
The new stadium will have a capacity of about 7,500; the existing football venue, Pen Air Field, accommodates about 3,800 fans.
The stadium is funded through a combination of institutional investment and donor support, including a lead gift in excess of $9 million that secured the facility’s naming rights. The project also received a $2 million grant from Escambia County’s Tourist Development Council through the Tourist Development Tax.
The first kickoff at Darrell Gooden Stadium is planned for fall semester 2027.
As part of the phased development, a new state-of-the-art LED video board — 85 feet wide by 30 feet tall — will be installed in the end zone opposite the Darrell Gooden Center and will be in place for the 2026 season.
