Why do Florida and Georgia always play in Jacksonville?

As the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs are getting set to meet in Jacksonville, it’s worth wondering why their annual rivalry game is at a neutral site.

Dan Mullen and Kirby Smart are busy readying their respective teams for the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, both the Florida Gators and the Georgia Bulldogs are having to get ready to play a neutral site game.

Florida and Georgia have played their annual rivalry game in Jacksonville, Florida, with few exceptions, dating all the way back to 1930’s. But why is that? Why do the Gators and Bulldogs play in Jacksonville? There are considerable advantages given up by both sides to make this game happen where it happens. Why is that done?

Well, it’s because of trains and history and a general inexplicable refusal to abandon tradition.

Why will Florida and Georgia play each other in Jacksonville?

According to Florida historian Norm Carlson, train routes between the respective college towns and Jacksonville were easily accessible for fans at the time. So, why not meet there?

This longstanding rivalry has been held in Jacksonville for decades, making the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party a rather unique annual event. While there seems to be a general trend of moving college football games to neutral sites, few rivalry games are actually played at neutral sites on an annual basis.

This rivalry generally hasn’t been played on either team’s campus and it doesn’t look like there will be a move away from Jacksonville any time soon.

That said, there are some who aren’t exactly fond of the location.

The two schools agreed to extending their contracts to keep the game in Jacksonville until at least 2023 (and possibly until 2025, if everyone is satisfied enough), but Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is apparently open to moving the game around. Florida head coach Dan Mullen seems okay with that sort of idea. And if you can get two rival head coaches to potentially agree on something, things could possibly change.

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