The football tradition known as “The World’s Greatest Outdoor Cocktail Party” will take place in Tampa in 2027.

The annual college football rivalry between Florida and Georgia will take a two-year break in its traditional home in Jacksonville, while EverBank Stadium undergoes a $1.4 billion renovation.

The game will move to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in 2026 and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa the following year. The game is expected to return to Jacksonville starting in 2028 as part of a multi-year deal.

Action Network’s Brett McMurphy was first to report the deal, which Florida coach Billy Napier later confirmed.

“We are excited about the opportunity to play in Atlanta and Tampa, two great venues, both of which will be well-run operations,” Napier said. “I think we all understand the revenue that this game generates for both athletic departments, so it’s going to be unique, and we’re certainly excited about the opportunity.

The Southeastern Conference rivals opted to bid for the game instead of playing at campus venues for financial reasons; they can earn more money by playing on neutral sites.

Atlanta was the obvious choice for the Bulldogs’ 2006 home game, while Tampa, Orlando and Miami bid for the Gators’ 2027 home game.

The schools have played annually in Jacksonville since 1933, with a two-year hiatus while the stadium then known as the Gator Bowl was being renovated before the Jaguars’ inaugural season. The “Cocktail Party” moved to Gainesville in 1994 and to Athens the following year.

Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart has made clear his desire to bring the game back to campuses for recruiting purposes; NCAA rules prohibit coaches from having contact with recruits at neutral sites, although the home team can leave tickets for them.

But Smart has relented over the past year.

“It’s been talked about and debated for a long time since we knew the Jacksonville renovation was going to happen,” Smart said Wednesday. “The parties involved have done a great job managing it. Jacksonville has done a great job stepping up and making this interesting for both universities and excited about the opportunity to play in two different locations.

“So it will be unique and maybe we will learn from both experiences.”

Jacksonville’s payment is expected to increase significantly from the current deal, which is about $3 million for each school and includes $1.5 million guaranteed plus a split of ticket revenue and concession sales.

Georgia also receives $350,000 a year to cover its charter flights, buses and lodging, while Florida receives $60,000 because no flights are required.

By comparison, a UF home game generates between $2 million and $5 million depending on the opponent. So a home series would bring in less revenue over a two-year period than a neutral site.

“Kirby and I probably both agree that it would be great to play at home, but we also know that there is a tremendous amount of revenue created by having this game at a neutral site,” Napier said . “So money makes the world go round, and certainly the amount of revenue, there is a significant difference in the revenue generated.

“We’re playing in Jacksonville; there’s a historical context to that, but there’s also a revenue component. I think the neutral site will present the same revenue opportunities, and that’s ultimately why the decision was made. “

The No. 2 ranked Bulldogs take on the Gators in Jacksonville this Saturday at 3:30 p.m.