Jacksonville Jaguars sacrifice home turf and stadium capacity now for a revolutionary, fan-centric venue that will last for generations, team president says.
There is a vision in Jacksonville of fielding a dominant NFL franchise, which will play in an equally impressive stadium.
The venue will evoke the ultimate home-field advantage for the passionate Jacksonville Jaguars fan base that will creep into the psyche of opposing players. It will stand as a monument to what a quality NFL franchise is supposed to be.
Owner Shahid Khan has pulled out all the stops to build that monument that will be a symbol of pride for a franchise that is already a winner, and has the right people in the right seats on the bus (team president Mark Lamping, general manager James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen), with the right mindset for sustained success for years to come.
EverBank Stadium, over the next two years, will become what planners are calling the Stadium of the Future, the result of sacrifice on the business end now to put the football operations in a place for further success in the future.
The trade-offs of this sacrifice include in-season construction, reduced revenue because of lower stadium capacity, and expectations of high demand and strong sell-outs once the "new" stadium opens for play in 2028.
The organization took the approach of renovation over a new build, which will save an estimated $1 billion. Roughly 15 percent of the project is already completed and the construction is on schedule.
This project is in coordination with development of the surrounding area:
· The construction of a Four Seasons Hotel
· Private Residences-Jacksonville
· The opening of new, public marina
· The opening of a second location of a popular, local restaurant called Asado Life
The football side of the equation will make sacrifices, like the back-to-back games next season in London and playing the entire 2027 season on the road. This is all to create windows of opportunity for construction crews to wield their tools to transform EverBank Stadium into an NFL-quality masterpiece that could someday host a Super Bowl.
That relocation for the 2027 season is subject to approval of all 32 owners, which could be decided at their next meeting in Phoenix later this month. EverBank is expected to reopen in 2028.
Possible alternative venues for the relocation efforts include Ben Hill-Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida, home of the Florida Gators, and Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. These venues will be judged on the following criteria: facilities that are NFL-quality, convenience for the fans, the potential for sell-outs, and input from sponsors and stakeholders.
What Jaguars fans will witness over the next two seasons is leadership and forward-thinking by a contingent of football and business minds dedicated to a singular goal: To build a franchise and a venue that is a shining example of sustained winning and success at the highest level of the sport. Fans of the teal and black have a lot to look forward to.
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