As college football transitioned into the postseason, downtown Orlando played host to two big post-Christmas Bowl games, as it has annually since 2001. The Louisville Cardinals defeated the Miami Hurricanes on December 28 in the Russell Athletic Bowl, and the South Carolina Gamecocks defeated the Wisconsin Badgers on New Year’s Day in the Capital One Bowl.

But the ownership group of the Citrus Bowl, Orlando’s football stadium, has bigger plans in the works: roughly $200 million in renovations of the stadium that were scheduled to begin following these games and be completed for college football’s next bowl season.

It may be more appropriate to consider the renovations as an effective rebuilding, as Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said in August that 80 to 90 percent of the stadium is going to be rebuilt. Why such major renovations for a stadium that has carved out a rare role hosting two major college football bowl games every year?

In a word, profile.

College football is transitioning from the BCS system to a four-team playoff system in the next season to determine a champion. The site of the semifinals and finals games each year will rotate among stadiums in Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, New Orleans, Phoenix, and Pasadena.

A stated goal of the Citrus Bowl renovations is to gain access to this rotation, bringing Orlando into consideration for hosting the new semifinals games as well as national championship games.

“Something so big would be so close to home,” remarked sophomore Michael Martin. “It would be exciting to watch.”

An attempt by stadium ownership to make the Capital One Bowl a BCS bowl in 2004 was blocked because of the inability of the stadium to accommodate the scrutiny and crowds that such a game would draw. To correct these problems in a newfound bid for the year’s biggest college football games, the stadium will be renovated with additional seating, new amenities, and additional club seating and suites.

“The Citrus Bowl has character, but is aging and unsanitary,” commented senior Sarah Bhimsingh.

The Citrus Bowl currently hosts Orlando City Soccer, which is planning to move into a new soccer-specific stadium in the near future, as well as Monster Jam, the Florida Classic football game between Bethune Cookman and Florida A&M, and the state high school football championship games. The stadium’s CEO estimates that the renovations would provide $250 million a year in new income to the Orlando community.

Junior Gabriel Burgos noted, “The new stadium will help bring in money through tourism, and I support that.”

Construction is scheduled to begin in February.