The History of UCF's Football Stadium Name: From Bright House Networks to Acrisure Bounce House
The UCF Knights' football stadium, a landmark on the University of Central Florida's main campus, has undergone several name changes since its opening in 2007. These changes reflect the evolving partnerships and financial strategies of the university's athletic program. This article explores the history of the stadium's name, from its initial branding as Bright House Networks Stadium to its current identity as Acrisure Bounce House.
The Early Years: Bright House Networks Stadium (2007-2017)
The stadium, located on the northeastern edge of UCF's main campus, first opened in 2007 as Bright House Networks Stadium. This name was secured through a naming rights agreement with Bright House Networks, a cable provider. The stadium was designed by 360 Architecture and constructed in 18 months. The steel and brick-clad stadium was designed for 48,000 capacity when it opened in 2007 and is designed for an expansion to 65,000 seats. The inaugural game was held on September 15, 2007, against the Texas Longhorns.
The Rise of "The Bounce House" Nickname
Even with the official name of Bright House Networks Stadium, the stadium quickly became known as "The Bounce House" due to its unique characteristic: it vibrates and shakes when fans jump in unison, especially during the playing of "Kernkraft 400" by Zombie Nation. This phenomenon was noticed early on, and the nickname stuck, even after the stadium was reinforced to reduce movement. While some fans were uneasy with the bouncing, stadium officials confirmed that it would not damage the structure or shorten its lifespan.
Transition to Spectrum Stadium (2017-2020)
In 2017, following a merger that saw Bright House Networks' services become part of Charter Communications' Spectrum brand, the stadium was renamed Spectrum Stadium. This change reflected the new corporate identity of the naming rights partner.
A Deal That Fell Through: RoofClaim.com
After the expiration of the Bright House/Spectrum naming rights deal, UCF attempted to secure a new agreement with RoofClaim.com, a roofing services company. A proposed 15-year, $35 million deal was drafted in early 2020 but ultimately never finalized.
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FBC Mortgage Stadium (2022-2025)
In 2022, the UCF Athletic Association and FBC Mortgage combined on a naming rights agreement for the Knights’ home football stadium, which became known as FBC Mortgage Stadium. The 10-year, $19.5 million deal meant UCF football teams would play their home games in FBC Mortgage Stadium through the 2031 football season. Terry Mohajir, UCF vice president and director of athletics, noted the collaboration as an exciting development for both UCF Athletics and FBC Mortgage.
The Future: Acrisure Bounce House (Effective July 1, 2025)
UCF Athletics announced that its on-campus football venue-previously known as FBC Mortgage Stadium-will be renamed Acrisure Bounce House, effective July 1, 2025, in alignment with the rebranding of longtime partner FBC Mortgage to Acrisure Mortgage. The updated stadium name reflects FBC Mortgage’s transition to Acrisure Mortgage, a move that strengthens the company’s alignment with Acrisure LLC, a global fintech leader with operations in 23 countries and more than 19,000 team members. “Since the beginning of our partnership, the stadium has become an iconic symbol of the UCF football experience, and we’re excited to continue that tradition with Acrisure,” said UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir.
FBC Mortgage joined the Acrisure family in 2022, and the transition to Acrisure Mortgage represents a broader strategy to unify the Acrisure brand across its fintech, insurance, and financial services portfolio. “This rebrand is about continuing to grow and innovate while staying rooted in who we are,” said Joe Nunziata, CEO of Acrisure Mortgage. The stadium has served as the home of UCF Football since 2007 and will continue to do so under its new name. Signage and branding updates will begin appearing this summer ahead of the Knights’ 2025 football season.
Construction and Design
The stadium cost $55 million to construct, with an additional $73.9 million in 2021 dollars. The 25-acre open stadium seats 45,301 people and was designed for an expansion to 65,000 seats. The stadium is located on UCF's main campus at 4465 Knights Victory Way, Orlando.
Other Facts
From 1979 to 2006, the Knights played their home games at the Citrus Bowl in downtown Orlando. Located about 15 miles (24 km) from UCF's main campus, the stadium is also the home of the Citrus Bowl game, and numerous neutral site games. However, the stadium had been built in 1936 and had fallen into a dilapidated state by the 2000s. School officials were dissatisfied with the poor condition of the facility and lack of revenue generated from games. The stadium's capacity (65,000) was considered too large for the Knights, and the location off-campus was considered a significant factor in the inability to sustain a sizeable student section. When the university approached the city about renovations and new revenue-sharing measures, they were met with resistance.
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In early 2005, the university abandoned the efforts to renovate the Citrus Bowl, and conducted a feasibility study to construct an on-campus stadium. Along with playing in a modern facility, and generating revenue, additional motivations included drawing more students to the games, a more intimate setting, and establishing game-day traditions on campus. With UCF's main campus one of the largest in the nation, building an on-campus stadium was also seen as a way to grow the university. In December 2005, the UCF Board of Trustees approved the construction of the new on-campus stadium.
The stadium's 50-yard-line is lined up with Launch Pad 39A, to symbolize UCF's longstanding partnership with NASA and other space agencies. Since 2017, the UCF Knights have traditionally set aside one home game at the Acrisure Bounce House to celebrate the university's ties to NASA, the nearby Kennedy Space Center, and the foundation/governance of the Florida Space Institute. During the planning stages of the university, the school was even nicknamed "Space U". Dubbed the "Space Game", players wear special uniforms and helmets with space-themed designs and logos.
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