by Marissa Potts
Central Florida is home to the largest university by enrollment in Florida, the University of Central Florida! UCF is also home to the UCF Knights Football team. There’s no better place to watch a football game in Orlando than at the Bounce House.
History
So technically the Bounce House is called FBC Mortgage Stadium, but I’ll explain why we call it the Bounce House later. Originally, from 1979 through 2006, the Citrus Bowl (seen below) in Downtown Orlando served as the stadium for the UCF Knights. In 2005, the Citrus Bowl was declining in condition, and the Knights started to consider building their own stadium. It was believed that this would increase the number of students coming to the university, and that it would help establish game day traditions to have a stadium close to the school. The UCF Board of Trustees approved the construction of the new stadium in 2005. Due to pushback from the community over noise concerns, construction was delayed until March 2006. Originally the Bright House Networks Stadium and then Spectrum Stadium, students refer to it as the nickname the Bounce House. This is because during the game, the student section jumps so much that the actual stadium shakes!
Traditions
My favorite part of going to a UCF game are the football traditions. There is something special about the passion from a college team and all of the hard work that goes into the game. The marching band provides entertainment throughout the game, as well as cheerleaders and the UCF Colorguard. Tailgating at UCF is a popular tradition before the game, where fans and students line up in an area called Memory Mall. Here, you’ll find games, food, drinks, and a ton of team spirit!
At the stadium, you can find a variety of snacks to keep you fueled throughout the game. Believe it or not, UCF became one of the few college stadiums in the nation this year that sells alcohol! Now, you can get canned alcoholic beverages to enjoy during the game as well. There are also a number of local vendors selling food here, like 4 Rivers Smokehouse and Jeremiah’s Italian Ice.
My favorite tradition for UCF football is Space Week. Space Week celebrates UCF’s commitment to their space program and their continued partnership with NASA. At this game every year, you can see new uniforms inspired by the stars, and videos and songs that fit the theme. This is a must do if you are a Star Wars fan because the marching band will usually play songs inspired by the iconic films!
Overall
If you’re ready to see a Pegasus visit the field and Knightro the mascot hype up the crowd, watch a football game at UCF! This university is full of culture and tradition, and even if you aren’t a knight yourself, I bet you’ll have a great time! Charge on!
UCF/Waterford Lakes
The University of Central Florida is located in Orlando close to Waterford Lakes. Waterford Lakes is a popular area of Orlando for families of all shapes and sizes. There is so much to do here, like a multitude of shops and restaurants to visit at the Waterford Lakes Shopping Plaza. Some of my favorites are Tiger Woods’ mini golf called PopStroke, and delicious cupcakes at Sweet! By Holly. With only about 30 minutes to Universal and 45 minutes to Disney World, there is always something to do here while still enjoying the privacy and quiet of Waterford. Interested in homes near Waterford Lakes?
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