While the Jacksonville Jaguars fell to the Chicago Bears 35-16 in London on Oct. 13, news of a better outcome about the team’s future could be days away.
The next step in the city and Jaguars’ $1.45 billion “Stadium of the Future” plan is approval from NFL owners. At the league’s Fall League Meeting on Oct. 15-16 at The Whitley, a luxury hotel in Atlanta, the agreement needs the support of 24 of the 32 team owners to proceed.
On June 25, City Council finalized a deal to revamp and modernize EverBank Stadium, including adding a shade cover, and keep the team in it for the next three decades.
“I’m optimistic we’ll get it done,” Jaguars owner Shad Khan told John Oehser in a story published Oct. 13 on Jaguars.com. “It’s going to be awesome. It’s a game-changer for the city.”
“You never know it’s done until it’s done, but I think the confidence is high,” Khan said. “[Jaguars President] Mark Lamping, the team, have been actively involved with the city, with the league for a long time. We had the joint stadium finance committee meeting here a couple of weeks ago. It was well received.
“Everything they needed is on the table. The league office has spent quite a bit of time going over it to make sure we’re compliant with all the league rules, so they’re ready to present.”
Stadium package
The stadium package included funding for the stadium’s makeover, a 30-year lease, a nonrelocation agreement and $56 million in spending on riverfront parks and the stadium-adjacent flex field.
The deal includes $775 million in public funding for the stadium, the most expensive single capital project in the city’s history.
The deal calls for the team and city to each contribute $625 million for construction, with the city adding $150 million for deferred maintenance and capital improvements to prepare EverBank Stadium for the project.
Construction timeline
The team’s timeline calls for the stadium construction to begin in 2025, with capacity virtually unchanged in that year.
As construction proceeds, capacity will be reduced to about 43,500 in 2026 with the upper seating sections closed. In 2027, the team would play either in Gainesville or Orlando, but with the option to play up to three home games in London.
The remade stadium would open in 2028.
The Jaguars (1-5), in London for back-to-back games, next play the New England Patriots (1-5) at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 20 before returning to Jacksonville on Oct. 27 to play the Green Bay Packers.