Caleb Harris
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ “Stadium of the Future” is ready as the franchise and city reached an agreement on a $1.4 billion project on Tuesday. The proposal would see each side contribute $625 million to the project and Jacksonville would contribute another $150 million to get EverBank Stadium ready for construction starting in 2026. The team also will not include any new taxes to pay for the reconstruction .
Now that the plan was presented to the city council on Tuesday, members are expected to vote on it in June, requiring a majority of 19 members for approval. It would then advance to the NFL owners meeting in October, where they would need 24 of 32 votes to reach final approval.
With construction expected to begin after the 2025 season, the Jaguars would play before a reduced-capacity crowd in 2026 and then host home games in Gainesville or Orlando in 2027.
EverBank Stadium’s updated look was unveiled last summer, representing the next step in the team’s efforts to transform downtown Jacksonville. The Jaguares plan to make the stadium four times larger than the current one, with interactive social areas and local food in the city. The stadium will feature cutting-edge technology and a shade canopy to reduce heat retention by 70%.
As for other opportunities to improve the stadium? When announcing the stadium project last year, the franchise said the following changes will be made:
- Shade on all seats
- A 360-degree lobby
- Wider lobbies
- Greater space for football operations
- Better vertical transport
- Replace HVAC, plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems
The Jaguars, who have been rumored for years as a potential franchise relocating to London, have long-term plans to remain in Jacksonville. This new stadium would guarantee its stay in the market for another 30 years. The franchise opted to renovate EverBank Stadium rather than build a new one once the organization concluded it was structurally possible. This revamp will also put Jacksonville in line to once again host a Super Bowlwhich the city has not done since Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005.
The Jaguars built a 125,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art sports performance center as part of the team’s renovation plan, which was revealed during training camp last year. The new practice facilities included locker rooms, team and positional meeting rooms, training and recovery areas, medical support facilities, weight room, cafeterias, offices and recruiting room. Two full-size grass practice fields and a full-size indoor practice field will also be part of the new training complex.
The renovated stadium will be the centerpiece of the Jaguars’ facility reconstruction, showcasing the franchise’s commitment to the city.
