The University of South Florida has received a $5 million gift from Jeff and Penny Vinik in support of an on-campus football stadium. Jeff Vinik is the owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning and co-developer of Water Street Tampa; he and his wife live on St. Armands Circle.

The Viniks are longtime supporters of USF and were instrumental in USF Health’s expansion in Water Street Tampa. The Vinik Sport and Entertainment Management Program (SEM) in the Muma College of Business prepares students for careers in the industry, creating a talent pipeline for sports and entertainment venues in Florida and beyond. In 2021, SportBusiness named the Vinik SEM Program No. 3 in the world. The Viniks have also championed USF Athletics through support of women’s volleyball, men’s basketball, men’s tennis and women’s soccer.

The Sycamore Fields site on the east side of the USF Tampa campus has been selected as the recommended location for the stadium; the location is currently used for intramural sports.