NFL owners unanimously approved the Jaguars’ plans to renovate EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville on Tuesday at the league’s owners meetings in Atlanta, Ga, per Brent Martineau of ActionNewsJax.
24 votes were required for the proposal to pass.
The Jaguars and the City of Jacksonville agreed to a $1.4 billion deal to fund the renovation in May, with costs split roughly 45% to 55%, respectively. The Jaguars will be held responsible for any stadium cost overruns.
The deal paired with a $300 million contribution for targeted community initiatives, split 50/50 between the team and the city.
Jacksonville’s City Council passed the stadium legislation in June and an amended version of the community benefits agreement in August.
Among the plans for the stadium include installing a canopy to provide shade, rain cover and improved airflow for 100% of observers in outdoor seating; increased air conditioning; doubling the width of the main concourse and creating 360° connectivity on the upper concourse; 16 new escalators and 12 new elevators; 12 new restrooms and renovations and expansions to existing restrooms; and 190 new points of food and beverage sale.
Stadium capacity will be flexible, with 63,000+ projected for Jaguars games and the ability to flex 70,000+ for the annual Florida-Georgia game and other major events.
The Jaguars will take over the day-to-day operations of the stadium, including budgeting, maintenance and hosting non-NFL events, as part of the deal.
The agreement includes a non-relocation agreement and a 30-year, $1.35 million per year stadium lease extension for the Jaguars, which would take effect in 2028.
“Never doubt Jacksonville. That was my message in the summer to Mayor [Donna] Deegan, the Jacksonville City Council and our residents, and I am humbled and grateful that my fellow NFL team owners agree,” Jaguars owner Shad Khan said in a statement after the vote.
“Today’s League approval of our Stadium of the Future plan means we will realize our vision for a reimagined home of the Jaguars in Downtown Jacksonville, scheduled to open in 2028. The venue will be world-class by every definition. It will impressively serve the Jaguars and their fans, attract major sports and entertainment events to our region, and serve as an economic catalyst for decades to come.
”It also means a new and vibrant Downtown Jacksonville that once may have seemed unimaginable will indeed come to life. I send my deepest appreciation to all who believed, and especially to everyone who did the hard work to make this happen. We have much more hard work ahead, but a lot to be proud of today. Celebrate!”
Below is the anticipated timeline for construction at EverBank Stadium.
- Construction begins: Feb. 2025
- 2025 season: In Jacksonville with 60K+ stadium capacity
- 2026 season: In Jacksonville with approximately 43.5K stadium capacity
- 2027 season: Away from Jacksonville (location TBD)
- Renovations complete and facility opening: Aug. 2028