Tag: Jaguars Stadium of the Future

Jaguars ‘Stadium of the Future’ deal passes City Council vote

Jaguars stadium deal passes Jacksonville City Council vote

Jacksonville’s City Council passed legislation for the Jaguars’ $1.4 billion plans to renovate EverBank Stadium on Tuesday evening with a 14-1 vote, with two members abstaining.

The $775 million total public investment, allocated for stadium construction, deferred capital and maintenance/start-up expenses, marks the largest single capital project in city history.

The Jaguars will contribute $625 million to construction costs and be held responsible for all stadium cost overruns. They’ll also make a $100+ million contribution to the community benefits agreement.

Among the stadium plans 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.

Construction is on track to begin following the 2025 season and complete before the 2028 season. The Jaguars will likely play at Camping World Stadium in Orlando or Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville in 2027 while most of the construction is conducted.

Find renderings and additional details about the renovation plans here.

The deal includes a non-relocation agreement and a 30-year, $1.35 million per year lease extension for the Jaguars on the stadium, which would take effect in 2028.

“The belief and determination of [former Jaguars owners] Delores and Wayne Weaver to make the Jacksonville Jaguars a reality more than 30 years ago was reaffirmed today by the leadership of Mayor Donna Deegan, her team and the Jacksonville City Council,” Jaguars owner Shad Khan said in a statement following the vote.

“The message then, and now, should be clear. Never doubt Jacksonville!”

City Council amended the community benefits portion of the agreement last week.

The deal originally included $150 million contributions from both the city and the Jaguars toward ongoing, targeted community initiatives, including OUTEAST neighborhood community development, countywide workforce development, park development and conversion, and affordable housing/homelessness.

The city’s CBA contribution within the stadium deal is now $56 million for renovations to Riverfront Plaza, Metropolitan Park, Shipyards West Park and the Flex Field, with the Jaguars pledging at least $100 million to community projects and an additional $1 for every $3 further contributed by the city, up to their originally agreed upon $150 million contribution.

The $94 million axed from the CBA will be reviewed further by City Council in July, per Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan.

“I want everybody to know that I’m also very committed to making sure that we get the rest of that community benefits agreement across the finish line,” Deegan said Monday via News 4 Jax.

“When council comes back from their break in mid-July, we are absolutely committed to those issues of affordable housing, and homelessness, making sure that we create a benefit for the entire community and all this and so I’m excited about tomorrow and excited about the days ahead.”

The “Stadium of the Future” agreement will be presented to NFL owners for approval in October, where it will require 75% support before construction can begin.

Find the projected timeline for EverBank Stadium’s renovations below.

  • NFL owners approval: Oct. 2024
  • 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

This is a breaking news story that will be updated.  

Report: Jaguars could play up to three London games in 2027

Report: Jaguars could play up to three London games in 2027

Per David Bauerlein of the Florida Times-Union, the Jaguars could play up to three games in London during the 2027 campaign while EverBank Stadium undergoes its final season of proposed renovations and forces the team to play elsewhere.

The renovated EverBank Stadium would be expected to open in Aug. 2028 if Jacksonville’s City Council and NFL owners pass the estimated $1.4 billion plans. City Council is expected to vote on the legislation Tuesday.

The Jaguars have zeroed in on Camping World Stadium in Orlando and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville for home games during the 2027 season.

Jaguars President Mark Lamping told Bauerlein that it is “almost certain” the team will use one of if not both of those facilities in 2027, and that the option to play three games abroad that year is a flexibility the team desires during construction.

“The other aspect that we have that would give us protection for the 2027 season is for that one season — and for that season alone — we would have the option, not the requirement, but the option to play up to three games outside Jacksonville in London,” Lamping said via Bauerlein.

The Jaguars have played at least one game in London every year since 2013 except for the 2020 season during the COVID-19 pandemic. They’re scheduled to play their 12th and 13th international games in 2024, against Chicago at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Oct. 13 and New England at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 20.

The proposed renovations deal includes a new 30-year lease agreement that states the Jaguars could continue to play one home game in London each season, as well as a potential second game abroad every four years at the NFL’s request.

Lamping suggested that the Jaguars would consider not playing in London during their first season in the new-look stadium.

“[I] can’t imagine we would pick the first year in a new stadium to move more than one game to London. I think we’ll even think about London for that year,” Lamping said.

Report: City Council axes $94 million from Jaguars’ stadium deal CBA

Report: City Council axes $94 million from Jaguars’ stadium deal CBA

Report: City Council axes $94 million from Jaguars’ stadium deal CBA

Jacksonville’s City Council axed $94 million in public funding from the community benefits portion of the Jaguars’ stadium renovation agreement struck with Mayor Donna Deegan’s office in May, per David Bauerlein of the Florida Times-Union.

The amendment split Jacksonville’s proposed two-year, $150 million contribution to the community benefits agreement by over half. City Council deferred the $94 million into separate legislation that will be reviewed this summer.

$56 million in city contributions will remain intact for park development at Riverfront Plaza, Shipyard West Park and Metropolitan Park, and to renovate the city-owned Flex Field attached to Daily’s Place Amphitheater and EverBank Stadium.

The removed funding was intended to invest in ongoing, targeted community initiatives, including OUTEAST neighborhood community development, countywide workforce development, park development and conversion, and affordable housing/homelessness, among other projects.

The Jaguars had agreed to match the city’s original $150 million community benefits commitment, paid out over 30 years. Per Bauerlein, the team continues to pledge at least $100 million and would contribute further at a rate of one dollar from the Jaguars for every three dollars from the city.

Four City Council members — Kevin Carrico, Ju’Coby Pittman, Reggie Gaffney Jr. and Terrance Freeman — reported conflicts of interest in voting on the proposed legislation due to their ties to non-profits or employers that would be eligible for the funding or involved in the stadium renovation project.

City Council members Nick Howland and Raul Arias suggested a need for more detailed breakdowns of how the $94 million would be allocated to various programs.

“This is not us denying funding to the Eastside,” Howland said.

The city council is expected to hold its final vote on the Jaguars’ projected $1.4 billion stadium deal Tuesday. It will be presented for NFL owners’ approval in October if it passes Tuesday’s vote.

Poll: 56% public support for Jaguars stadium, community package deal

Poll: 56% public support for Jaguars stadium, community package deal

The University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab found 56% public support for the Jaguars’ stadium renovations and community benefits agreement with the City of Jacksonville in a survey that polled 667 registered Duval County voters, unveiled Tuesday.

“A new poll of Duval County registered voters from the Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) at the University of North Florida shows a majority are supportive of the proposed stadium renovations agreement, but are opposed to the level of public spending on the construction costs for stadium renovations,” the polling data read.

“Respondents are largely persuaded, however, by the addition of a Community Benefits Agreement to invest in the area around the stadium and across the county.”

When those polled were asked whether they support or oppose the full public expenditure of $925 million on stadium renovations and community investment, 56% expressed support, with 43% opposed.

The City of Jacksonville (public expenditure) and the Jaguars have agreed to each contribute $625 million to the budget for stadium construction, with the city tacking on $150 million for deferred capital and maintenance/start-up expenses. The Jaguars will be responsible for stadium cost overruns.

The city and Jaguars agreed to combine to invest $300 million — $150 million each, upfront from the city and over time from the team — in ongoing, targeted community initiatives, including OUTEAST neighborhood community development, countywide workforce development, park development and conversion, and affordable housing/homelessness.

Public funding for only the stadium received 41% approval and 58% disapproval with one percent undecided or having refused to answer. For only the community benefits agreement, public funding received 81% support and 17% opposition.

“This historic investment between the City and Jaguars responds to the feedback we heard during months of community huddles in 2023 and conversations over many years. The community benefits agreement is an integral component of the overall package providing a smart way to get long overdue key investments done now that will positively impact all residents,” the Jaguars and the City of Jacksonville said in a statement after the poll was released.

“The respondents see the wisdom of making the city investment up front, which will pay dividends over decades to come. It locks in construction contracts before prices increase. The significant long-term financial support from the Jaguars will sustain these programs over time. It’s a win-win. We urge the Jacksonville City Council to approve this once-in-a-generation investment in raising the quality of life for everyone in Duval County without raising taxes.”

The following timeline for the stadium renovations was included in the agreement:

  • Potential final Jacksonville City Council vote: June 25, 2024
  • NFL owners approval: Oct. 2024
  • 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
  • Renovations complete and facility opening: Aug. 2028

Find all publicly available details about the EverBank Stadium renovation proposal here.

Report: Jaguars ‘Stadium of the Future’ to include synthetic turf

Report: Jaguars ‘Stadium of the Future’ to include synthetic turf

EverBank Stadium is one of 15 NFL facilities operating with a natural or hybrid grass playing field, according to polling by The Athletic conducted in 2023.

But with the ball rolling toward the venue receiving a $1.4 million facelift by the end of the decade, Jacksonville’s “Stadium of the Future” isn’t expected to remain on the list.

Per the Jacksonville Daily Record, which reviewed a statement from the Stadium of the Future Project Program, the renovated facility’s playing field will consist of sand-infilled synthetic turf over a shock attenuation pad.

“Two FIFA-regulation soccer goals at each end of the pitch will also be accommodated in the field design,” Monty Zickuhr of the Daily Record wrote. One motivating factor for the proposed renovations is to host more non-NFL events such as soccer matches, college football games and concerts.

The Jaguars have played on natural grass in their home facility since making their NFL debut in 1995.

The NFL Players Association in 2023 requested the league mandate natural grass for all playing surfaces after New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon on a turf field in Week 1 of last season.

The association previously released data displaying noncontact injuries as more common on turf than natural grass between 2012-22, although the rates were almost even in 2021.