Jacksonville Jaguars reveal plans for proposed stadium renovations
Duval Nation has unveiled renderings for a $2 billion stadium renovation project for their home at TIAA Bank Field Wednesday. The project will include renovations to the Jaguars’ Stadium, and development of the surrounding area.
Views #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/RqOAwArKl2
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) June 7, 2023
Although TIAA Bank Field is less than 30-years-old, renovation is long overdue and will benefit Jacksonville and the Jaguars greatly.
Home of the Jacksonville Jaguars since 1995, TIAA Bank Field has never been one of the NFL’s premier stadiums. The city and stadium have only hosted one Super Bowl which was in 2005. It also routinely has had underwhelming attendance during the many lean seasons the franchise has experienced.
Plans for the Jacksonville Jaguars stadium renovations include a base of 62,000 seats, with the potential to expand up to 71,500. Similar to the Miami Dolphins stadium renovation in 2016, a shaded canopy will be added to the stadium, reducing the hot Florida heat factor by as much as 70 percent. There will be an elevated main concourse level four times the size of the current one, so thankfully, the stadium’s trademark swimming pool sections are not going anywhere.
Although the Jacksonville Jaguars are one of the newest NFL franchises, their stadium is long overdue for an upgrade.
The timing of these proposed stadium renovations is large because of the Jaguars’ current lease at TIAA Bank Field — which ends in 2029. Team president Mark Lamping discussed what the financial side will look like between the Jaguars and the city of Jacksonville.
“What we’ve discussed with the city and what’s contained in this memorandum of understanding is we get to 50-50,” he said. “But more of their [the city’s] 50 percent is going to have to go into the stadium because that’s what the league’s going to look at and more of Shad’s 50 is going to have to go into the development around the stadium.”
Plans to upgrade the stadium will take an estimated two years to be completed, which means that the Jaguars will likely have to play in a temporary home for two seasons. Options include the University of Florida and Orlando Camping World Stadium, home of the XFL’s Guardians.
Although it would be an inconvenience for two years, the massive undertaking of a stadium renovation would be worth it to the team and city; last season appeared to be the beginning of a revival for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
After two consecutive seasons of finishing with the worst record in football, things changed in a major way for Doug Pederson’s squad. They started 4-8, but won all five of their remaining regular season games to finish the season, clinching the AFC South at home in Week 18 against division rival Tennessee capped by the Jaguars storming back from a 27-0 hole in the AFC Wild Card game to win 31-30 against the Los Angeles Chargers. It was one of the best comebacks in playoff history and something the Jaguars franchise and fanbase greatly needed.
Excitement and expectations for the Jacksonville Jaguars are high heading into the 2023 season, and this likely correlates directly with the franchise revealing plans for a massive renovation to their stadium and the surrounding area. For a team that seemed to have no hope for the last five years, the potential now seems limitless.
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