The Jaguars aren’t in a rush to establish their temporary home stadium for the 2027 season when renovations to EverBank Stadium will force the team to play elsewhere.
As things stand, the Jaguars view Camping World Stadium in Orlando and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville as their best options for housing matchups during the final year of the renovation project.
Per reporting on the deal, the Jaguars will also have the option to play up to three games in London during their season away from home.
But given the stadium agreement was passed by Jacksonville City Council only this week, and that the Jaguars are three seasons away from having to play elsewhere, determining the best option of those two locations isn’t high on the team’s list of priorities.
“We haven’t spent a lot of time on the due diligence of the two options,” Jaguars team president Mark Lamping said Wednesday. “We narrowed it down to Camping World and Florida Field. The only reason we didn’t do that is it’s a waste of energy at this point. We don’t have to make a decision right away.”
The Jaguars sent “fact-finding” teams, comprised of members of Jacksonville’s business and football operations personnel as well as representatives from the NFL, to Orlando and Gainesville to study each stadium within the 75 days leading up to Wednesday’s ceremony commemorating the stadium agreement.
A temporary lease on either facility, and final approval on the proposed renovations, will require 75% approval from NFL ownership. The latter vote is expected to occur in October.
The former could be held further down the road, per Jaguars owner Shad Khan.
“I want to do what’s best really for, you know, [so] they’re close enough for the fans. We want to be close,” Khan said. “It is way too early, okay? I mean, I think this thing is not even 24 hours ago.
“Frankly, if someone was asking me here [about a stadium choice for 2027], even Mark Lamping or something like that, it’s like, ‘Why are you wasting time?’ Okay? And it’s like, we only have so much time, energy, and money. You’ve got to be able to use it [to] get the best result.”
Regardless of which venue the Jaguars inevitably choose, Khan anticipates the NFL honoring Jacksonville’s local broadcasting, to allow fans who won’t travel to Orlando or Gainesville to watch games from home for free in 2027.