Mark Lamping – Syndication Server

Jaguars, Mayor Donna Deegan to host stadium ‘community huddles’

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, Jaguars President Mark Lamping and Jacksonville lead negotiator Mike Weinstein will present information about the “Stadium of the Future” deal between the city and the Jaguars to residents at five “community huddle” events in the coming weeks, per Florida Politics.

The city of Jacksonville and the Jaguars agreed to the framework of a deal on renovations to EverBank Stadium earlier this week. Both sides will unveil the contract’s details at the next city council meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, May 14.

“We have reached an agreement on the framework of a deal,” Deegan said in a Wednesday statement. “The negotiating team is currently putting the final details on paper, and we will release that information as soon as it is available.”

The renovation proposal, including shading for every seat, expanded concourses, extra escalators and elevators, and upgraded HVAC, plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems, has previously been projected to cost $1.4 billion, reportedly split unevenly between the Jaguars and the city of Jacksonville.

The Jaguars have also pitched a sports and entertainment district around the Jacksonville Shipyards to accompany renovations, a bill team owner Shad Khan reportedly would primarily handle to even out the total costs of the projects. Construction has begun on a Four Seasons Hotel and Residences on the land.

Jacksonville City Council and 75% of the NFL’s team owners would need to approve the renovation project.

Find the schedule for Jacksonville’s community huddles below.

Mandarin High School

4831 Greenland Rd., Jacksonville, Fla., 32258

May 15, 6-8 p.m. ET

Legends Center

5130 Soutel Dr., Jacksonville, Fla., 32208

May 16, 6-8 p.m. ET

Fletcher High School

700 Seagate Ave., Neptune Beach, Fla., 32266

May 20, 6-8 p.m. ET

Sandalwood High School

2750 John Promenade Blvd., Jacksonville, Fla., 32246

May 29, 6-8 p.m. ET

Westside High School

5530 Firestone Rd., Jacksonville, Fla, 32244

May 30, 6-8 p.m. ET

Report: Preliminary deal for Jaguars stadium renovations ‘imminent’

A preliminary deal between the Jaguars and the city of Jacksonville regarding renovations to EverBank Stadium is “imminent,” according to Jim Piggott of News 4 Jax.

Piggott’s reporting suggested a deal could be reached and revealed by next week, with the next Jacksonville City Council meeting scheduled for May 14.

“Residents should have some answers to exactly where this is going, what it could cost and who’s paying for what,” Piggott wrote, referencing the upcoming assembly and noting the deal would focus only on the stadium and not developing the surrounding area.

A proposed “Stadium of the Future” has been projected to cost $1.4 billion, with the city handling the majority of the bill. It would include shading for every seat; expanded concourses; extra escalators and elevators; upgraded HVAC; plumbing; mechanical and electrical systems; and other renovations,

Additionally, the team and city have explored a sports and entertainment district in the stadium’s surrounding area, with owner Shad Khan expected to handle most of those expenses, reportedly estimated between $550 million and $668 million.

“What we’ve discussed with the city and what’s contained in this memorandum of understanding is we get to 50-50, but more of [the city of Jacksonville’s] 50% is going to have to go into the stadium because that’s what the league’s going to look at and more of Shad’s 50 is going to have to go into the development around the stadium,” Jaguars president Mark Lamping said in June 2023.

Construction has begun on a Four Seasons Hotel and Residences, pitched by Khan, in the Jacksonville shipyards in front of Jaguars headquarters. The resort’s anticipated opening is in 2026.

HOK, which designed Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., has been selected as the architectural partner for the stadium project.

The Jaguars’ lease with EverBank Stadium is scheduled to expire after the 2029 season. An extension would require approval from 75% of the league’s owners. Renovations would also need to be approved by team owners.

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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Jaguars want to find stadium plan that forces team out for just 1 year

Jaguars president Mark Lamping says the team is trying to see if there’s a way to play one year elsewhere during renovation instead of two.

Earlier this year, Jacksonville Jaguars president Mark Lamping laid out two potential options for the renovation of EverBank Stadium. The team could either play two years at another venue — like Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville or Hodges Stadium at University of North Florida, perhaps — or four years at home during a lengthier and costlier construction project.

This week, he offered a third, more palatable option.

Lamping told reporters in London that the Jaguars are looking to “see if there’s anything we can do to maybe go from playing away for two years to just one year.”

“We don’t have that solved yet,” Lamping said, via John Oehser of Jaguars.com. “But we’re going to continue to do everything we possibly can to still get the stadium done on time and have it be the least disruptive as possible as far as our games in Jacksonville are concerned.”

The Jaguars have a lot of potential solutions for a temporary home, including even Daytona International Speedway, but there’s far from a perfect one. Gainesville and Daytona Beach are both more than an hour drive from Jacksonville. While Hodges Stadium is nearby, Lamping has said it’d cost “in excess of $100 million” to bring it up to NFL standards.

Playing away from EverBank Stadium for just one year, wherever that ends up being, would be a win for the Jaguars.

The first step, though, is reaching a deal with the City of Jacksonville on a renovation project in the first place. Any agreement with Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan will also need approval from city council and then 75 percent of NFL owners.

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Mark Lamping: Stadium deal in spring 2024 would ‘line up well’

Mark Lamping says a stadium deal in the second quarter of 2024 would “line up pretty well” for the Jaguars.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are hopeful they can reach a deal with the City of Jacksonville on a massive renovation of TIAA Bank Field. Jaguars president Mark Lamping doesn’t see it happening in 2023, though.

In an interview with 1010XL, Lamping said the team hasn’t set any deadlines for its negotiations with the city and he doubts that a deal will be done by October when he says the team will need to decide whether it continues investing in stadium design.

Lamping did offer a timeline that would work out well for the Jaguars, though.

“If we could get something done second quarter next year, it lines up pretty well,” Lamping said. “We could go to the owners’ meeting, try get approval next May.

“We’re all searching for the same thing, a deal that makes sense for the City of Jacksonville, makes sense for all the residents of the City of Jacksonville and all of Duval County, that works for the Jaguars, and works for the National Football League.”

Negotiations with the city haven’t started yet as mayor-elect Donna Deegan won’t take office until July. For now, the Jaguars are meeting with members of the community to discuss the project, which is expected to cost about $2 billion. The Jaguars plan to ask the city to cover about half of that cost.

Earlier this week, Deegan applauded the Jaguars for meeting with the community ahead of the negotiations and said she’s optimistic about the upcoming talks.

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Jaguars to meet with Daytona Speedway officials about possibly hosting games

Jaguars games at Daytona International Speedway? Team president Mark Lamping isn’t ruling it out.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are preparing for the possibility that they’ll need a temporary home in the future during the renovation of TIAA Bank Field. While Gainesville and Orlando have been at the forefront of the conversation, the Jaguars aren’t dismissing outside-the-box ideas either.

According to trade magazine VenuesNow, Jaguars president Mark Lamping plans to meet with Daytona International Speedway officials soon about the possibility of hosting games.

“It would be an interesting solution, but would also require significant investment in terms of infrastructure,” Lamping said Wednesday, via VenuesNow. “It can accommodate a big crowd. It would be a little wonky, but it’s worth considering. After the renovations, it’s nice.”

The racetrack underwent a $400 million renovation that was completed in 2016 to update the concourses and luxury suites. The 2.5-mile tri-oval track seats more than 100,000 fans, but placement of a football field so attendees have a good view would be a challenge.

In the 1970s, Bethune-Cookman played a few games on the grass infield by the front stretch.

While it would a creative solution to the Jaguars’ potential need for a short-term home, Daytona is certainly a long shot. Just like Gainesville and Orlando, Daytona Beach is well outside of Jacksonville. And if the Jaguars believe the speedway requires a significant investment, it seems they are likelier to spend on a local venue like the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium.

Jaguars games at NASCAR’s most famous track is a fun concept, but the idea doesn’t seem very realistic. Still, the team is clearly considering all options as it gets closer to a stadium renovation.

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Jaguars to hold ‘community huddles’ to discuss stadium with public

Jaguars president Mark Lamping will hold 14 town hall meetings around Jacksonville to hear from the public about the stadium renovations.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are getting out ahead of the future battle to win support among residents for a massive renovation of TIAA Bank Field.

Eventually, the Jaguars will need taxpayers to approve a huge chunk of public funding for the project. To answer questions, get feedback, and hear opinions from Jacksonville residents and Jaguars fans, the team announced Wednesday that it’ll spend nearly two weeks holding “community huddles” around the city.

Here are the dates, locations, and times for all 14 of the huddles, which will have Jaguars president Mark Lamping in attendance.

June 12: String Sports Brewery – 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
June 13: Ramada by Wyndham – 5-6:30 p.m.
June 14: Jacksonville Golf & Country Club – 5-6:30 p.m.
June 15: Hyatt Place Jacksonville Airport – 5-6:30 p.m.
June 16: Argyle Branch Library – 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
June 17: Deerwood Country Club – 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
June 17: Atlantic Beach Country Club – 5-6:30 p.m.
June 19: Community First Igloo – 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
June 19: Fairfield Inn & Suites Jacksonville West – 5-6:30 p.m.
June 20: Grounds of Grace – 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
June 20: Bradham and Brooks Branch Library – 5-6:30 p.m.
June 21: Casa Marina Hotel & Restaurant – 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
June 21: Charles Webb Wesconnett Regional Library – 5-6:30 p.m.
June 22: Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens – 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Two years ago, the Jaguars’ Lot J development was shot down in a vote by residents in part because the team did little to no community outreach.

“They should have a lot of town meetings,” Jacksonville City Council member Matt Carlucci told the Florida Times-Union in May. “When you take things out into the community, and are being transparent, that’s how you gain favor with people who are skeptical about the whole thing.

“If you don’t talk to people about it in the open, you’re asking for trouble. Trust is the most important asset that business people and politicians can have. If you do anything that begins to lose that asset, you’re done.”

The Jaguars are seeking to learn from their prior mistakes and earn the public’s trust.

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Mark Lamping: Jaguars’ recent success should help stadium negotiations

Mark Lamping thinks the Jaguars having Trevor Lawrence could help a stadium renovation deal get done.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are hoping to do a massive renovation of their home stadium, TIAA Bank Field. Standing in their way is a negotiation with the City of Jacksonville for a deal on the construction project that is expected to land in the $600 million to $1 billion range.

Fortunately for the Jaguars, they have Trevor Lawrence.

According to Jaguars team president Mark Lamping, having the 23-year-old Pro Bowl quarterback and a recent playoff victory under their belt should help grease the wheels during renovation negotiations.

“We didn’t plan for the stadium when it was originally opened almost 30 years ago to reach the end of its economic life after a fascinating run in the playoffs with a young quarterback leading it,” Lamping told Jeff Howe of The Athletic. “The reality is when the local NFL team is winning, everybody has a little broader smile on their face, maybe a little more pep in their step, and they sometimes feel like it’s an easier decision to support advancing a major project.”

The Jaguars’ lease of the stadium with the City of Jacksonville runs through the 2029 season. That leaves a decent amount of time for the Jaguars to secure a deal on the renovation project, especially after the University of Florida and University of Georgia committed to playing at TIAA Bank Field in 2024 and 2025 — seemingly guaranteeing that no construction will happen until at least 2026.

Lawrence won’t be going anywhere anytime soon and, barring a sudden collapse, the Jaguars are set to be a contender for a while. If that helps a stadium renovation get done, that’s good news for all parties.

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Jaguars could stay at TIAA Bank Field with 4-year renovation

Jaguars president Mark Lamping said the team could avoid a temporary relocation with a lengthier, more expensive renovation.

The logistics of a potential renovation of TIAA Bank Field were put under the microscope last week when Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry told 1010XL that the Jaguars will need to find another place to play for two years during the project.

Jaguars president Mark Lamping says that assertion is premature and he offered an alternative in an interview with Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union.

Another option, also at a more expensive price tag, would be for the TIAA Bank Field renovation to take place over four years without the team going anywhere.

But there’s a caveat to that, too. It would mean a start-stop construction process that Lamping says would also increase the stadium deal by over $100 million. It’s another reminder this stadium issue is an onion with a lot of layers.

Last week, the Times-Union reported that the Jaguars have broached the subject of a temporary relocation in conversations with the University of Florida and University of North Florida.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. boasts a capacity of 88,548, but is more than 70 miles from TIAA Bank Field. While UNF’s Hodges Stadium is significantly closer, it seats just 9,400 fans.

Lamping said bringing Hodges Stadium up to NFL standards would cost “in excess of $100 million.”

“Whether you build a new stadium or renovate an old one, it’s going to result in a disruption for the team and its fans,” Lamping told the Times-Union. “The degree of disruption we’ll experience in Jacksonville with a stadium renovation and how many seasons will be impacted is a function of the scale of the renovation, the cost and the renovation schedule. The Jaguars are committed to a path that results in the least disruption to the team, our fans and the community.”

Negotiations between the Jaguars and the City of Jacksonville regarding a stadium renovation are expected to ramp up after a new mayor takes office in July.

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Jaguars reportedly considering back-to-back London games in 2023

The Jaguars may play back-to-back games in London during the 2023 season, according to team president Mark Lamping.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been the NFL’s quasi-ambassador in the United Kingdom for a decade now, and that international effort may ramp up in 2023.

On Friday, Jaguars team president Mark Lamping told the Florida Times-Union that there’s a possibility the team will play back-to-back games in London during the upcoming NFL season.

“The stars are aligning with the Jaguars’ home schedule and the NFL schedule of London games for the first time,” Lamping told the Times-Union’s Gene Frenette. “There’s a much greater likelihood this year we could be asked to play as a visitor.

“The NFL knows who our road opponents are. We knew there was a possibility we could be asked to play [a second game in London].”

The Jaguars have played one home game in England in nine of the last 10 NFL seasons. The only exception was 2020 when the league’s international slate of games was scrapped due to COVID-19. The Jaguars will again play one home game overseas in 2023 and will reportedly only consider a second game in London if it’s as a visitor.

In January, the NFL announced that the Jaguars would host a game at Wembley Stadium in 2023 and both the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills would play games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. With both the Titans and Bills on the Jaguars’ list of road opponents in 2023, the possibility of consecutive games in London makes sense for Jacksonville.

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