Since the Jacksonville Jaguars were announced as an expansion franchise in 1993, the organization and city have faced an uphill battle as one of the smallest markets in the league. Early success helped mitigate this, but by the mid-2000s, the play on the field had deteriorated, and blackout games were a regular occurrence at then-Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.
However, the last decade has been a sign that things are improving. Owner Shad Khan bought the team in 2012 from the original owners, the Weaver Family, and though the success on the field has been limited (the Jags have only made one playoff appearance since then), from a business perspective, Jacksonville is a rising franchise.
The team made $238 million in revenue in Khan’s first season at the helm in 2012. Last year, the team made $443 million. According to Bookies.com, that trend is expected to continue over the next five years, with the team projected to hit $585.8 million in revenue by 2025.
That figure would rank 18th in the league, which wouldn’t be a major rise (the team ranked 20th in revenue last year), but it is impressive when considering some of the larger cities that rank below it, such as Los Angeles (both teams), Phoenix and Las Vegas.
With the investment in both the stadium and the area around it since Khan took over, it’s clear that the team is invested in Jacksonville for the long haul despite constant, baseless relocation rumors. If bringing in Urban Meyer and Trevor Lawrence improves the success on the field, this projection will only grow in the coming years.