For the first time since 2012, the Jacksonville Jaguars appear to be on track to have eight home games at TIAA Bank Field due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Per ESPN insider Adam Schefter, the league has plans to release its preseason and regular season schedules this week and one source has even told him that international games won’t be a part of the process.
NFL plans to release its preseason and regular-season schedule later this week, but one league source said Sunday that he doesn’t “think any international games (are) coming this year.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 4, 2020
Though it remains to be seen whether fans will be able to attend games, the fact that Jacksonville could be getting two home games back could be a silver lining — though we can all agree the pandemic was not the way they wanted to see those games returned to Jacksonville. As previously stated, the team had already been playing at least one game a year in London since 2012, serving as the league’s international franchise. However, when owner Shad Khan announced that they would move an additional game there in 2020, fans were vocal about their dissatisfaction with the Jags becoming a “part-time home team.”
Many even went as far as forming a coalition to statistically show how many disliked the idea and to show the local impact the decision could have.
Last week, NFL executive vice president Jeff Pash informed the media that the league had plans to start things on time.
“All of our discussion, all of our focus, has been on a normal traditional season, starting on time, playing in front of fans, in our regular stadiums, and going through a full 16-game regular season and full set of playoffs,” Pash said. “That’s our focus.”
“That’s our expectation,” he said prior. “Am I certain of that? I’m not certain I’ll be here tomorrow. But I’m planning on it, and in the same way, we’re planning on having a full season.”
Of course, to make this all happen personnel will need to be tested and there will be a protocol for fans, however, the details of those issues will likely be addressed down the road.
As for the pandemic itself, per CNN, 1,159,245 cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in the United States so far. Per the Florida Department of Health, 35,969 positive cases had been confirmed within the state.