The Jacksonville Jaguars renovation of TIAA Bank Field – including shade for fans – is taking another step forward.
The Jaguars announced Jan. 5 it selected St. Louis-based HOK Architects as the design consultant for its “Stadium of the Future” project.
“Excited to partner with the Jacksonville Jaguars on renovations to TIAA Bank Field,” HOK Architects posted Jan. 5 on Twitter.
“While much work remains to be done, we are pleased to have completed one more step in what remains a long but manageable journey,” Jaguars President Mark Lamping said in a news release.
The Jaguars said it began exploring a long-term stadium solution in July 2020 and it worked with eight sports architecture firms beginning in December 2021 to provide conceptual visions for the stadium.
The release said HOK’s initial concepts included shade over all seats, improved airflow, wider concourses, unique fan amenities, flexible capacity and rain protection to help attract other major non-football events to Jacksonville.
“HOK did an exceptional job of studying the current state of TIAA Bank Field and creating an innovative introductory concept that we are confident will – with further development – meet the needs of our fans and other stakeholders and also spur additional downtown revitalization efforts, which will enhance pride in our city,” the Jaguars said in the news release.
The Jaguars said an engineering assessment of TIAA Bank Field concluded it “was possible to solve our long-term stadium challenges via a renovation of the current stadium versus new construction.”
Lamping told the Daily Record in June that the team wants to complete designs and planning for a full renovation of TIAA Bank Field “well in advance” of the 2029 season when the team’s current lease expires.
The team said it would begin talks with the city about the renovation – and its cost– at a later date.
“We look forward to working through the creative process as these very conceptual designs evolve into more definitive renovation plans. In addition, when we have a more definitive renovation plan, construction timelines and cost estimates can be determined. At that point, we will be better positioned to begin a productive dialogue about a partnership structure among the Jaguars and the City of Jacksonville.”
The team said any stadium lease extension will require the approval of the NFL and 75% of the teams.
Venuesnow.com reported Dec. 30 the Jaguars selected HOK.
It said the HOK’s plan includes a shade roof covering the seating bowl and downsizing the stadium to 57,500 to 60,000 fixed seats. The stadium has a capacity of about 67,000.
Venuesnow.com said HOK designed the $755 million transformation of Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Miami Dolphins, showcasing a roof canopy retrofit. The three-year project was completed in 2016.
The Jaguars consider construction of its new training and practice facility the Miller Electric Center, a $120 million joint project with the city, as the first step toward a new stadium.
It will allow team administrative offices and training needs to relocate from TIAA Bank Field.
HOK Sport Venue Event was the architect in the early-1990s when the stadium, then called the Gator Bowl, was renovated for the expansion Jaguars. The team played its first game there in 1995.
In 2009, HOK Sport would later leave HOK in a managers' buyout and be renamed Populous.
Associate Editor Mike Mendenhall contributed to this report.
