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Georgia Tech tight end runs with the ball after a reception during a college football game between the Georgia Bulldogs and Georgia Tech Yellowjackets at Bobby Dodd Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. , Brett Sizer (80). (Photo provided by Ri
ATLANTA – Looking to increase revenue, Georgia Tech will move its games against rival Georgia next season to the home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.
The annual contest, which typically rotates between campus stadiums, will be held at the 75,000-seat Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 29, 2025.
Georgia Tech will receive $10 million from stadium operator AMB Sports and Entertainment to move games from the 51,913-seat Bobby Dodd Stadium, a campus facility located less than 3.2 miles away.
It will be the first time since Bobby Dodd Stadium opened in 1913 that the matchup known as the “Clean Old Fashioned Hate” will not be played at a campus venue. Sanford Stadium in Georgia opened in 1929, and games have rotated between the two facilities annually ever since.
Next year’s game will put an end to that tradition.
“Some may be concerned that clean old-fashioned hate is being perpetrated off-campus,” wrote J. Butt, Georgia Tech’s athletic director. A letter to fans. “We understand your concerns and please know that this is not a decision taken lightly.”
Georgia Tech has a contract to play one home game a year at Mercedes-Benz Stadium through 2026, but the University of Georgia game was not included in the original deal.
Mr Butt said the revamped contract was too good to ignore in the NIL era, forcing schools to aggressively pursue additional revenue. Georgia Tech recently announced a $500 million fundraising effort to renovate its historic football stadium and other campus projects.
“As part of the new agreement, AMBSE will provide a $10 million guarantee just to host the Georgia Tech vs. Georgia State game in 2025 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This is a transformational revenue boost for the company,” said Mr. Butt.
Although considered a Georgia Tech home game, the Georgia contest is not part of the Yellow Jackets’ season ticket package. Butt said the school’s fans will have priority ticket purchasing, but because the Bulldogs have a much larger fan base, the game will likely become a de facto home game for the Red-Black team. said.
“Clean, old-fashioned hate performances at Mercedes-Benz Stadium will be limited to 2025,” Butt pointed out. “Georgia Tech vs. Georgia State will return to renovated Bobby Dodd Stadium in 2027.”
Georgia is no stranger to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which hosts the Southeastern Conference championship game each year. The Bulldogs opened the season again with a 34-3 victory over Clemson in Atlanta.
“We always enjoy playing at a prestigious venue like Mercedes-Benz Stadium,” Georgia Athletic Director Josh Brooks said. “This move will only strengthen the long-standing tradition of the Georgia vs. Georgia Tech game and provide our fans with another great event.”
This year’s Georgia vs. Georgia Tech game will be held at Sanford Stadium on Nov. 29, the Friday night after Thanksgiving.
bulldogs, The No. 5 team, which enters Saturday’s game against No. 1 Texas, has dominated the in-state rivalry since the mid-1960s. They are currently They won six straight against Georgia Tech and led the series 71-41-5.
