Big 12 football in a stadium famous for shaking, and Division I basketball next door, across town in east Orlando and mostly a straight run up SR 417.
The UCF Knights play home football at the Acrisure Bounce House, a 45,000-seat stadium on the University of Central Florida campus at 4465 Knights Victory Way, Orlando. The campus is about [VERIFY: road miles from Lake Nona Town Center to the stadium, est. 20] miles from Lake Nona Town Center, mostly on SR 417. UCF has played in the Big 12 Conference since 2023. Men's and women's basketball play next door at Addition Financial Arena, which also hosts concerts and the Orlando Valkyries pro volleyball team. UCF's men's and women's tennis teams play their home matches in Lake Nona, at the UCF Collegiate Tennis Center on the USTA National Campus.
Plenty of Lake Nona residents have a UCF connection before they ever watch a game. The university's College of Medicine anchors Medical City, its nursing college and hospital are next door, and a large share of the people who work there are Knights. Fall Saturdays at the Bounce House are how many of them end up adopting the team.
The stadium is across town on UCF's main campus in east Orlando, but from Lake Nona it is mostly a straight run up SR 417. Here is what game day looks like and how to make it easy.
Where do the UCF Knights play, and how far is it from Lake Nona?
UCF football plays at the Acrisure Bounce House, 4465 Knights Victory Way on UCF's main campus in east Orlando, about [VERIFY: road miles, est. 20] miles from Lake Nona Town Center.
| Football stadium | Acrisure Bounce House, 4465 Knights Victory Way, Orlando, FL 32816 |
|---|---|
| Distance from Lake Nona Town Center | About [VERIFY: road miles, est. 20] miles, mostly on SR 417 |
| Stadium opened | 2007 |
| Football capacity | About 45,000 |
| Basketball arena | Addition Financial Arena, 12777 Gemini Blvd N, next to the stadium |
| Arena capacity | About 9,400 for basketball |
| Conference | Big 12, since 2023 |
The stadium has carried several sponsor names since it opened, including Bright House Networks Stadium and FBC Mortgage Stadium; it became the Acrisure Bounce House in 2025. Fans have called it the Bounce House for years, because the stands visibly move when the crowd gets going.
What is a UCF football game day like?
Expect a long, loud day: tailgating starts hours before kickoff across campus, and the stadium is known for a student section and crowd that make the stands bounce.
Tailgates fill lots and green spaces across campus well before the game. The pregame "March to Victory" is a long-running tradition, led by a knight on horseback. The biggest games are the Big 12 home dates and the in-state rivalry with South Florida, known as the War on I-4.
UCF's program began in 1979, went 13-0 in 2017 with a Peach Bowl win the school claims as a national title, and beat Baylor in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl. That history is a big part of why the crowd shows up.
How should Lake Nona residents handle parking and traffic?
Leave early, buy parking in advance when it is offered, and expect slow traffic on the campus roads after the game.
The highway part of the trip is easy from Lake Nona: SR 417 runs most of the way. The bottleneck is the last stretch, because the roads into and around campus are small and fill up quickly on game day. Arriving early also means a shorter walk to the gates in the heat, which matters at early-season games. Check UCF Athletics for current parking options and any shuttle service before you go.
Can you watch UCF play in Lake Nona?
Yes. UCF's men's and women's tennis teams have played their home matches at the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona since the campus opened in 2017.
The Knights play at the UCF Collegiate Tennis Center, a section of the USTA National Campus with 12 courts, seating for about 1,200 and a two-story pavilion with concessions and locker rooms. It is built so two college matches can run at once. For Lake Nona residents it is the closest Division I sport there is: a few minutes from home, with none of the game-day traffic of the main campus. The college season runs mostly in the spring; schedules are on UCF Athletics.
What about UCF basketball and other sports?
UCF men's and women's basketball play at Addition Financial Arena, next to the stadium, and the arena also hosts concerts and the Orlando Valkyries professional volleyball team.
Basketball is the easier outing: a smaller crowd, indoor seating and shorter parking lines. The arena has been home to both basketball programs since 2007 and is also used for UCF commencements and concerts. UCF fields many other sports on its main campus; schedules and tickets are on UCF Athletics.
How is UCF connected to Lake Nona?
UCF has its own campus in Lake Nona's Medical City, including the College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, UCF Lake Nona Hospital and the UCF Lake Nona Cancer Center, and its tennis teams play home matches at the USTA National Campus.
The UCF College of Medicine was one of the first anchors of Lake Nona Medical City. It was joined by the UCF College of Nursing, UCF Lake Nona Hospital and the UCF Lake Nona Cancer Center, and UCF tennis plays its home matches at the USTA National Campus. With faculty, staff, students and alumni living nearby, plenty of Knights fans call Lake Nona home even though the games are played across town.
Pros, Cons and Our Take
Pros
- Big 12 football with a crowd known for making the stands bounce
- Most of the drive is a straight run up SR 417
- UCF tennis plays its home matches in Lake Nona, minutes from home
- Basketball is an easy, smaller-scale alternative
- A natural fit for the many Lake Nona residents connected to UCF's Medical City campus
Cons
- Campus roads back up badly before and after big games
- Early-season games are hot, especially for day kickoffs
- A cross-town drive each way, so it is not a quick trip
Our Take
UCF football is the best regular big-game experience within easy reach of Lake Nona, and the university's presence in Medical City gives many residents a reason to care. Go for at least one Bounce House game a season, leave earlier than you think you need to, and try basketball when you want the Knights without the traffic.
What the Neighbors Know
Lake Nona's UCF ties are real: the medical school, nursing college and hospital bring faculty, residents and students into neighborhoods close to Medical City, such as Laureate Park, Northlake Park and Randal Park. Those are also the neighborhoods with the quickest access to SR 417 north on game day.
Orlando's other teams and venues are on the Explore Orlando hub, and you can compare communities on the Lake Nona neighborhoods page.
Official Sources
Buying or selling in Lake Nona? Call/Text David Myers at 407.801.3286 or use the contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do the UCF Knights play football?
UCF plays home football at the Acrisure Bounce House, 4465 Knights Victory Way on the University of Central Florida's main campus in east Orlando.
How far is the UCF stadium from Lake Nona?
The Acrisure Bounce House is about [VERIFY: road miles, est. 20] miles from Lake Nona Town Center, mostly on SR 417.
What conference is UCF in?
UCF has played in the Big 12 Conference since 2023.
Why is UCF's stadium called the Bounce House?
Fans nicknamed it the Bounce House because the stands visibly move when the crowd gets going. The name became official in 2025 as the Acrisure Bounce House.
Where does UCF play basketball?
UCF men's and women's basketball play at Addition Financial Arena, next to the football stadium on UCF's main campus. The arena seats about 9,400 for basketball.
Does UCF play any sports in Lake Nona?
Yes. UCF's men's and women's tennis teams have played their home matches at the UCF Collegiate Tennis Center on the USTA National Campus in Lake Nona since 2017.
