Jacksonville approves stadium deal to secure future of Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars have long been a target for potential relocation in the NFL, but it seems that discussion can officially be finished. 

The city of Jacksonville approved a new stadium deal that will contribute $775M in stadium renovations and another $56M in “altered community benefits.” 

It is the largest single development spending deal in city history, and was approved by a 14-1 vote by the city council.

The Jaguars first announced plans to renovate EverBank Stadium eight months ago and had to go through a series of negotiations and city council meetings to finally get it all finalized. 

It is going to take several years for the renovations to be completed and for all of the drawings and renderings to become a reality, and it is going to result in the Jaguars eventually having to play at a neutral site while work is completed.

The plan is for them to play with a reduced capacity during the 2026 season and then play at a neutral site, likely Orlando or Gainesville, for the 2027 season. 

The important thing for Jaguars fans, though, is that they now have some comfort in knowing their team is not going anywhere. 

EverBank Stadium is the seventh oldest stadium in the NFL and has been home to the Jaguars since the 1995 season. 

Soldier Field (Chicago), Lambeau Field (Green Bay), Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City), New Era Field (Buffalo), the SuperDome (New Orleans) and Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) are the only stadiums in the NFL that are older. 

Chicago, Green Bay, New Orleans and Miami have all undergone significant renovations over the years, while Buffalo has a new stadium under construction. The Chiefs are also working to secure a new stadium either in Kansas City or perhaps even Kansas.