FloridaGators

The Florida Gators are adding a new name to the field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

On Friday, Florida Athletics announced a multi-year partnership with Ripple that will bring XRP branding to Gator Nation beginning with the 2026 football season. The XRP logo will be displayed on the field at the Swamp, starting with Saturday night’s season opener against Florida Atlantic.

The partnership will give Ripple a presence across Florida Athletics through field branding, digital properties and event signage. The deal also includes educational opportunities, with Ripple supporting financial and technology education for Florida student-athletes and members of the university community.

According to Florida Athletics, XRP is a digital asset designed to allow money to be moved quickly and at a low cost compared with traditional financial transactions.

Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin said the partnership fits with the university’s history of embracing new technology.

“Florida has a long history of embracing innovation and technology to enhance the experience of our fans and advance our programs,” Stricklin said.

Stricklin also said Ripple’s work in financial technology made the company an appealing partner for the university as Florida continues to look toward emerging technologies.

The financial side of the agreement could make the partnership one of the more significant sponsorship deals in college athletics. The Associated Press reported that the deal is expected to generate $5 million annually for Florida, citing a person familiar with the negotiations. Neither Florida nor Ripple publicly disclosed the financial terms.

The agreement comes as athletic departments continue to look for new revenue streams amid the rising costs of college athletics and revenue-sharing obligations.

Florida previously placed corporate branding on its field, including GEICO during the final two home games of the 2025 season. The NCAA began allowing schools to place corporate advertisements on playing surfaces in 2024.

For XRP, the partnership provides a major introduction to one of the largest fan bases in college sports. XRP launched in 2012 and has grown into one of the largest cryptocurrencies by market presence, according to Florida Athletics.

The partnership also goes beyond putting a cryptocurrency logo on the field. Ripple’s involvement with financial and technology education gives Florida student-athletes and members of the campus community an opportunity to learn more about both traditional finance and digital assets.

For the Gators, it marks another step into the changing business landscape of college athletics — and beginning Saturday night, fans inside the Swamp will see that change on the field.

When I stepped up to the window at DJ’s Cast Iron Burgers in Gainesville, FL wondering what I was going to order, I overheard a conversation behind me about the craze surrounding the DJ Lagway Burger. I was told it was more than just a burger, but a mouthwatering experience of sweetness with a touch of spice.

It was so much better than anticipated, and one of the best burgers I have ever had. It was immediately clear as to why this was a fan favorite. When asking people for feedback on the burger, there was only one thing that came to mind. Cardona said it was “explosive”. UF’s NIL Director, Ben Chase (also known for famously attending 77 College Football games in 2023) stated, “I need to have another one soon!”

When speaking with the co-owner, Miguel Cardona, about the burger and the relationship with DJ, he stated, “The Lagway relationship started out as most of their customers do, he tried our burgers and kept coming back.” This small interaction led to them eventually working on a formal partnership. When asked about what it’s like to work with Lagway, Cardona said, “He’s humble, locked in. Despite everything going on he takes time to support our partnership and that says a lot about who he is”. When speaking with Lagway about what it means to work with a local company he said, “It means a lot because Gainesville is home now, and being able to connect with the community like this is something I take pride in.”

Lagway had a lot of praise for the team at DJ’s Cast Iron Burgers for how the burger was created. From helping pick the ingredients, the naming of the burger, and even some of the marketing behind it, he was proud of what they created together. Lagway said that DJ’s helped “make sure it felt true to me”. He expressed that they have a great team and that he’s happy to be building a relationship with them.

This isn’t the last planned collaboration for DJ’s Cast Iron Burgers and the Gainesville community, “It lets us celebrate the community in a real way. The athletes are putting in the work, just like we are, and when we team up, it creates something bigger than just food and sports.” The burger is available now at DJ’s Cast Iron Burgers located on 5310 NW 8th Ave, Gainesville, FL

Florida Gators Partner With Ripple in Multi-Year XRP Deal

DJ’s Cast Iron Burgers: The DJ Lagway Burger