A renovated EverBank Stadium could open in 2028. | City of Jacksonville
Published on May 15, 2024 at 12:50 pm
Find everything you need to make informed decisions this election season, plus so much more. Sign up for the Jacksonville Today newsletter.
The agreement to renovate EverBank Stadium into “the Stadium of the Future” would cost the city $775 million, but city officials describe it as a superior financial deal in the world of professional football.
For example, the $1.4 billion project would come in less than the $2 billion stadium for the Buffalo Bills and $2.1 billion for the Tennessee Titans, according to information distributed by the city Tuesday.
Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.
At least eight other stadium projects also have required a larger share of taxpayer money than the 50-50 split in the Jacksonville deal, the city says. And Jacksonville would make 54% more money in average base rent from the Jaguars than under the current lease.
The city’s share of maintenace and operating expenses also would decline, the city says.
“This is light years ahead of the last lease,” Mayor Donna Deegan said at a news conference Tuesday.
Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.
Many of the details of the agreement are outlined in the following presentation from the city:
The stadium plans include a large shady canopy to reduce temperatures in the stadium, one of fans’ leading complaints. Plans also provide for larger concourses, lookout decks offering citywide views, more elevators and escalators, and expanded food and beverage sales.
Deegan, Jaguars President Mark Lamping and chief negotiator Mike Weinstein presented the agreement to City Council on Tuesday. The council is expected to spend weeks reviewing it.
A series of “community huddles” begins tonight to solicit the public’s reaction to the agreement. Here’s the schedule:
- May 15: Mandarin High School, 4831 Greenland Road, Jacksonville, 6-7:30 p.m.
- May 16: Legends Center, 5130 Soutel Drive, Jacksonville, 6-7:30 p.m.
- May 20: Fletcher High School, 700 Seagate Ave., Neptune Beach, 6-7:30 p.m.
- May 29: Sandalwood High School, 2750 John Promenade Blvd., Jacksonville, 6-7:30 p.m.
- May 30: Westside High School, 5530 Firestone Road, Jacksonville, 6-7:30 p.m.
Randy comes to Jacksonville from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, where as metro editor, he led investigative coverage of the Parkland school shooting that won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for public service. He has spent more than 40 years in reporting and editing positions in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio and Florida.
