ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The University of Central Florida is moving forward with plans to expand Roth Tower at FBC Mortgage Stadium after the university's Board of Trustees approved the construction and financing package on Wednesday.

UCF Vice President and Athletic Director Terry Mohajir and Vice President for Administrative Operations Jon Varnell presented updated renderings showing what the football stadium is expected to look like after construction is completed. Mohajir also provided details from a study on demand for the stadium.

The board also received presentations on the Orange County Tourism Tax Development Funding Agreement and the debt package required to finance the project, and signed off on both.

Plans call for a 58,000-square-foot expansion of Roth Tower, including 1,236 club seats, 34 loge boxes, 34 skybays and 25 luxury suites. 

The tower expansion is part of a larger development of UCF's football campus.

The university previously announced plans for McNamara Cove, a recovery river and hydrotherapy pools for student-athletes; the Sharon and Marc Hagle Gateway, which will feature a tailgate zone and an additional entryway into stadium; and the Taylor A. Gerring Football Center, a new football administration and coaches building that will be part of the Hagle gateway.

Mohajir said previously that the tower expansion is needed because FBC Mortgage Stadium is among the smallest in the Big 12, and because the extra capacity will help meet additional demand generated by the move to the new conference.

“This is another exciting day in the trajectory for UCF Athletics,” Mohajir said after the board's approval Wednesday. “Not only will the new tower provide new resources for us, but this will allow us to expand the premium offerings and entry-level seating options to maintain one of the most affordable tickets among the power four conferences in college football.

“I’d like to thank (Orange County) Mayor (Jerry) Demings, the Orange County commissioners, and the Tourism Development Council for seeing the value that UCF Athletics brings to Orlando in tourism and especially the UCF Board of Trustees and (UCF President) Dr. (Alexander) Cartwright for their confidence to move forward with such an exciting project.”

TDT funds will pay for the tower. Orange County commissioners in October approved $90 million in funding for stadium tower improvements and expansion, but UCF plans to take out a $70 million bank loan and $30 million in bonds for short-term financing. 

Before construction can begin, the tourist tax funding agreement will now head back to Orange County for final approval, and the Florida Board of Governors must approve the tower project.

The Roth Tower expansion is expected to be completed before the start of the 2026 football season, UCF officials said.