Tag: Donna Deegan

Report: Jaguars could limit capacity in 2026 during stadium renovation

The Jaguars are reportedly working on plans to play at EverBank Stadium in front of a limited capacity crowd in 2026 during renovation.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are working on plans that would allow the team to play at EverBank Stadium, albeit with a limited capacity crowd, for the 2026 season while a massive renovation is underway, according to a report from the Florida Times-Union.

If that plan came to fruition, EverBank Stadium would have a capacity of about 44,000 fans for the 2026 season and the Jaguars would play elsewhere in 2027.

“We would need to get comfortable that our fans would prefer that the games be in Jacksonville with a reduced capacity than perhaps being someplace else where there is greater capacity,” Jaguars president Mark Lamping told the Times-Union.

Initially, the Jaguars said the proposed project would require the team to either play two years in another venue or spend four seasons playing in EverBank Stadium while it’s under construction. It wasn’t until October that Lamping raised the possibility of the team leaving its home stadium for only one year.

Where the Jaguars would play in 2027 if the deal gets done remains to be seen. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Hodges Stadium at University of North Florida, and Daytona Speedway have all reportedly had discussions of some sort with the Jaguars about eventually hosting games. Lamping also mentioned Camping World Stadium in Orlando as a possibility in his talk with the Times-Union.

In June 2023, Lamping said that the team was hoping a deal with the City of Jacksonville for the renovation project would get done in spring 2024. Mayor Donna Deegan has seemingly been on the same page, telling the Times-Union in October that she’d “like to get this done sooner rather than later” and “move on to other issues.”

The price tag for the entire project proposed by the Jaguars — which includes turning part of the parking lot into an entertainment district — has been projected to come out to about $2 billion. The team said in the summer that it planned to ask the City of Jacksonville to pick up half that bill.

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Donna Deegan: Hopefully stadium deal framework will begin this month

Donna Deegan says the next meeting between city representatives and the Jaguars will “hopefully start to set a framework” of a stadium deal.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan says negotiators representing the city and the Jacksonville Jaguars have met just twice regarding a massive renovation of EverBank Stadium, but she’s hopeful their next session will begin the process of drawing up details for a potential agreement.

“The third meeting will happen sometime before Thanksgiving and hopefully start to set a framework for the agreement,” Deegan told Jim Piggott of News4Jax this week. “We’re still months away from this, Jim. Hopefully, after the next meeting we’ll start to get a framework and, hopefully by early spring, we’ll be having a better idea of what we’ve got.”

Earlier this year, the Jaguars laid out their vision for a huge project to reconstruct their home stadium with an expected price tag of about $2 billion. The team also said that it planned to ask the City of Jacksonville to pick up half that bill.

While Deegan has acknowledged that many voters aren’t interested in public money being used to fund the project, she’s also said that Jacksonville doesn’t have much of a choice if the city doesn’t want to lose the Jaguars.

Jaguars president Mark Lamping said in the summer that the team would ideally have a stadium deal in place next spring to present at league meetings. There are meetings scheduled for March 24-27 in Orlando, Fla. and May 20-22 in Nashville, Tenn.

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Donna Deegan on stadium deal: ‘I’d like to get this past us and move on’

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan wants to wrap up stadium renovation negotiations with the Jaguars sooner rather than later.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan isn’t interested in dragging out a lengthy negotiation with the Jacksonville Jaguars about a massive renovation of EverBank Stadium. She says that the sooner talks are completed, the better.

“I’d like to get this done sooner rather than later,” Deegan told the Florida Times-Union. “I’d like to get this past us and move on to other issues that are important for our city.”

Deegan, who was elected earlier this year and took office in July, has been adamant that she wants to reach a deal with the Jaguars that ties the team to the City of Jacksonville for the foreseeable future. She’s also acknowledged that there’s no solution that doesn’t include significant investment of public money from the city.

The price tag for the entire project proposed by the Jaguars — which includes turning part of the parking lot into an entertainment district — is expected to come out to about $2 billion. The team said in the summer that it planned to ask the City of Jacksonville to pick up half that bill.

A shortened timeline on the negotiations would probably be welcomed by the Jaguars. Team president Mark Lamping said in June that the team would ideally love to have a deal done in the second quarter of 2024 — allowing the team to get official approval at the annual owners’ meeting in May.

The Jaguars are negotiating with Sidley Austin LLP, a law firm hired by Deegan to represent the city in talks. Any deal reached would also need approval from the Jacksonville City Council, which hired former Jaguars executive Michael Huyghue to represent its interests.

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Donna Deegan says public money for stadium is a must to keep Jaguars

“80 percent say they don’t want to spend the money, 80 percent don’t want to lose the Jags. Those two things are simply mutually exclusive.”

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan knows there are plenty of taxpayers who aren’t interested in public money being spent on a massive stadium renovation project for the Jacksonville Jaguars. She also knows there’s not much of a choice if the city doesn’t want to see the team pack up and leave town.

“I think everyone wants to see this work,” Deegan said in an interview with Action News Jax. “I’ve had so many community meetings since I was elected and I hear over and over again: people don’t want to spend public money on the stadium. I know that the fans want it, I know some people don’t see the benefit of it. I see a lot of benefit from it: pride in this team and this city, relationships that we can build business wise.

“But the bottom line is 80 percent say they don’t want to spend the money, 80 percent don’t want to lose the Jags. Those two things are simply mutually exclusive so an agreement must be reached. Hopefully, we come up with one that we all are pretty pleased with.”

The Jaguars aren’t asking for a small amount in negotiations with the city. The price tag for the entire project proposed by the Jaguars — which will include turning part of the parking lot into an entertainment district — is expected to come out to about $2 billion. The team said in the summer that it planned to ask the City of Jacksonville to pick up half that bill.

Jaguars president Mark Lamping said in June that the team would ideally love to have a deal with the City of Jacksonville done in the second quarter of 2024. That would allow the team to get official approval at the annual owners’ meeting in May.

There are many hurdles to cross before the Jaguars get to that point, though. The team is currently negotiating with Sidley Austin LLP, a law firm hired by Deegan to represent the city in talks. Any deal reached would also need approval from the Jacksonville City Council, which hired former Jaguars executive Michael Huyghue to represent its interests.

The Jaguars have played in EverBank Stadium, originally called Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, since the team’s inaugural season in 1995.

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Donna Deegan hires law firm to represent city in Jaguars stadium talks

Donna Deegan picked Sidley Austin LLP to represent the city in stadium renovation negotiations with the Jaguars.

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan is hiring Sidley Austin LLP to represent the city in negotiations with the Jacksonville Jaguars regarding a massive renovation of EverBank Stadium.

“After a comprehensive selection process and in accordance with the mayor’s desire to bring in an experienced, highly reputable outside law firm, we have chosen Sidley Austin LLP to represent the City in upcoming negotiations,” Jacksonville interim chief financial officer Mike Weinstein, the city’s said in a press release, via the Florida Times-Union.

Earlier this summer, the Jaguars revealed their vision for an overhaul of their home stadium, which would include a futuristic looking roof to provide shade while also allowing open air flow. The price tag of the project is expected to land at about $2 billion and Jaguars owner Shad Khan is hoping to split the bill evenly with the City of Jacksonville, which owns the facility.

In July, the Jacksonville City Council hired former Jaguars executive Michael Huyghue to represent their interests in negotiations.

There’s no established timeline for talks or a deadline for a deal to be reached. However, Jaguars president Mark Lamping told 1010XL that spring 2024 would “line up well” and allow the team to get final approval from NFL owners at league meetings in May.

The Jaguars’ lease with the City of Jacksonville to play games at EverBank Stadium runs through the end of the 2029 NFL season.

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Donna Deegan on talks with Jaguars: ‘We both really want to get to yes’

Donna Deegan is optimistic she’ll have “a very productive negotiation” with the Jaguars.

Donna Deegan won’t take office as Jacksonville’s new mayor until July, but she’s already feeling optimistic about future negotiations with the Jacksonville Jaguars on a stadium deal.

In an interview with A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics, Deegan  said she’s already had “a number of conversations” with Jaguars owner Shad Khan and president Mark Lamping. While negotiations on the massive renovation of TIAA Bank Field haven’t started, Deegan says all parties have the same goal.

“I’m looking forward to a very productive negotiation season,” Deegan said. “I think that, frankly, we both really want to get to yes. That will certainly be a process, but I think it’s going to be fine.”

Jaguars brass are currently on a tour of “community huddles,” hosting 14 meetings with fans and Jacksonville residents to discuss the proposed renovation. Deegan applauded the team for putting its plans in front of the taxpayers.

“These huddles that the Jaguars are having right now, that was something that I asked them to do when I met with Mr. Khan months and months ago,” Deegan said. “I think it’s incredibly important to take what their plans are, put those plans in front of the public, and hear the concerns of the public firsthand. … I’m actually very appreciative of the fact that they included that in the process.”

The price tag for the entire project — which will include turning part of the parking lot into an entertainment district — is expected to be about $2 billion. The Jaguars plan to ask the City of Jacksonville to pick up half the bill.

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Watch: Jaguars release first renderings of proposed stadium renovation

The Jaguars released renderings of their vision for a renovated TIAA Bank Field.

The Jacksonville Jaguars inched another step closer to a massive renovation of TIAA Bank Field on Wednesday when they released renderings of the potential project to the public.

In a video posted on the team’s YouTube, computer generated images of the team’s envisioned stadium showed a futuristic looking TIAA Bank Field complete with a roof cover of the field.

“We have reached the end of this important and initial phase of this project, the design of the stadium we envision will be the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars and serve our entire community for generations to come,” Jaguars owner Shad Khan said in a release.

“From stadium discussions starting in 2016 to the formal process launched in July 2020 and now concluding, our objective has always been the same – lock in a promising future for the Jaguars and help our downtown become an economic engine to lift all of Jacksonville, particularly areas that have been underserved. Being able to share the video and stadium design highlights with the people of Jacksonville is a significant step forward in that effort.”

A price tag for the renovation hasn’t been revealed by the Jaguars, but estimations have suggested it could exceed $1 billion.

Ultimately, there are still major hurdles for the Jaguars to clear before their envisioned stadium of the future becomes a reality. The team will need to negotiate the terms of the project with the City of Jacksonville and its newly elected mayor Donna Deegan, who is set to take office in July.

Then the Jaguars will need to garner public support for a vote on the usage of taxpayer money on the renovation — however much that ends up being. The team will also need the support of NFL owners, who will need to approve the project.

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Everything Jacksonville Mayor-elect Donna Deegan has said about TIAA Bank Field

Donna Deegan is set to become the mayor of Jacksonville in July. Here’s where she stands on a renovation of TIAA Bank Field:

Donna Deegan is set to become the first-ever female mayor of Jacksonville after winning a runoff election Tuesday. While it’s historic news for the largest city in Florida, it’s also set to have significant implications for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Jaguars are in the midst of planning a massive renovation of their home stadium, TIAA Bank Field. Outgoing Mayor Lenny Curry said that negotiations with the city have already begun, but it’ll be up to the next administration to get a deal across the finish line.

So where does Deegan stand on the pricey construction project at TIAA Bank Field? She offered plenty of perspective during her time on the campaign trail.

In February, Deegan and the other top candidates spoke to News4Jax about a number of issues, including the Jaguars. Here’s what Deegan had to say about the negotiations with the team:

“Listen, you know, I used to go to the Jacksonville Bulls games back when we had the USFL here, right? I remember Colts fever. I remember all those efforts to get NFL teams all those years, and I certainly remember that absolutely impossible, improbable night that we were all sitting on the anchor desk, and Jacksonville did the impossible and got the Jaguars. I’ve been sitting in that stadium in the north end zone for years with people from every walk of life in this city who love the Jaguars and have positive feelings for each other.

“And I guess I’m saying all that because Jacksonville is a can-do city when we work together to do things. And I believe — I’ve spoken with Shad Khan — I believe he wants to be part of that Jacksonville Renaissance story. But here’s the bottom line: We have to have someone who is willing to negotiate on behalf of the city. It can’t just be OK, here’s my wallet, I’ll open it and take out what you like.

“I think that any businessman, or businesswoman, would respect someone who would negotiate with them in good faith on behalf of the city and that’s what we have to do. We’ve got a lot of needs in this city and we have to take a much larger view. There are many needs that we have, and it can’t just be about the stadium, it has to be about more than that. And I would certainly hope that the Jaguars would sign a long-term lease on the stadium. I want to keep the stadium and city hands, there’s a lot of things we can do with it, but I think we need some commitments there.”

In an interview with the Jacksonville Daily Record, Deegan said that she plans to bring in an experienced outside negotiating team to hammer out the deal:

“I think there are a number of people that negotiate with the NFL on a regular basis. We would bring in the best negotiators. I don’t have a name for you right now. But we are going to bring in the people who do that work.

“You know, frankly, I just think that to have the same person who brought us Lot J as a great option for our city to negotiate that deal is really probably not the best thing for us.

“I think we need to make sure we’re bringing in the people that are used to dealing with the NFL. That’s what I’m talking about when I say you bring in the best people. No matter where they’re from, bring in the best people to negotiate that deal.

“I will very intentionally also go after private money for this. I’m hoping we can build a lot of private investment in this. But I think it’s going to be a combination of private money, city money, Mr. Khan and the NFL. It’s going to be a combination of those things. For me to negotiate that here would be a mistake.”

Deegan later said in that interview that she would like TIAA Bank Field to continue to be owned by Jacksonville and leased to the Jaguars:

“I would like for the stadium to remain city-owned. I love the thought of being able to go after college playoff games and other uses for that stadium, using it for city purposes as well. You know, I think I understand the public sentiment about all this. I really do. I think that my job will be to get the best deal for the city, but also to go out there and listen to what folks are saying in the communities and try to make sure that we bring people into the process.

“That’s true of anything with our city. If you can communicate with people, listen to them, bring them into the process and have everybody understand why you’re leading the way you’re leading, at the very least, there’s less confusion and there’s less feeling that there’s a wall between us in and them.”

Finally, Deegan said in a short statement last week that she expects the Jaguars to continue to play in Jacksonville during construction. In an interview with 1010XL, Curry invited speculation about a temporary home for the Jaguars when he said the team will be forced to play elsewhere for two years because of the project.

Jaguars president Mark Lamping called that assertion premature and said that a four-year renovation could keep the team at home. However, both the University of North Florida and the University of Florida said they have been contacted by the Jaguars about potentially hosting games.

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Jacksonville mayoral candidates oppose Jaguars temporarily leaving town

The two Jacksonville mayoral candidates both said they’d oppose the Jaguars playing in another city during future stadium renovations.

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry raised eyebrows earlier this week when he said that the Jacksonville Jaguars will have no choice but to find another place to play when TIAA Bank Field is undergoing a two-year renovation.

The candidates to fill Curry’s seat both pumped the brakes on that notion Thursday.

“During construction, I expect our team to play in Jacksonville as they have for nearly thirty years,” Democratic candidate Donna Deegan said in a statement, via the Florida Times-Union. “Terms of a deal will be decided thoughtfully and responsibly with input from all stakeholders, not at the height of a campaign.”

Republican candidate Daniel Davis shared a similar sentiment on Twitter:

There’s no proposal for a stadium upgrade in place and negotiations are ongoing, so Curry’s assertion that the Jaguars will be forced out of TIAA Bank Field seems speculative at this point. However, both the University of Florida and University of North Florida confirmed that the Jaguars have contacted them about the possibility of hosting games in the future.

Deegan and Davis advanced to a runoff after no candidate received at least 50 percent of the vote in the March election. The runoff is scheduled to happen next week on Tuesday, May 16.

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