Florida’s three professional football stadiums, including EverBank Field in Jacksonville, and Daytona International Speedway are seeking millions of dollars from the state to help pay for upgrades that in most cases are underway.
The applications have been filed despite continued opposition from House leaders to such funding.
Applications submitted Monday — the deadline to file — were from the city of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Jaguars for EverBank Field and Buccaneers Football Stadium Limited Partnership for Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
The speedway filed its application Friday, joining an earlier submission from South Florida Stadium LLC, which oversees the Miami Dolphins’ home, Sun Life Stadium.
The Department of Economic Opportunity will begin reviewing the applications to determine the potential returns on investment and to rank the proposals for the 2016 stadium funding process.
Earlier this year, House leaders turned back attempts to steer state money to Sun Life Stadium, the speedway, EverBank Field and a soccer stadium in downtown Orlando.
The state process allows stadium backers to apply for as much as $3 million a year when projects total more than $200 million. They can seek up to $2 million a year if construction or improvements are between $100 million and $200 million. The requested amount is limited to $1 million a year when the work is below $100 million.
Jacksonville sought $1 million a year for three decades from the state during the 2015 process.
In a letter accompanying its latest application, Jacksonville Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa and Jaguars General Counsel Megha Parekh indicated the proposal could soon be updated.
“The city and the Jaguars are currently negotiating $90 million in additional improvements to EverBank Field and its surrounding premises, including club space improvements, a covered practice field, and an amphitheater; this will bring the total public-private investment in the stadium to $172.7 million during the application period,” they wrote the state.
Jaguars owner Shad Khan wants to develop the Shipyards property near the stadium. The city is negotiating with Khan’s development company.