JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jaguars Stadium of the Future lease has been officially sent to all of Jacksonville City Council for its final vote.
On Friday, council members approved the draft of the lease agreement with some amendments that council members believe will benefit the fans and protect taxpayer dollars.
Jaguars team President Mark Lamping said he's happy to have reached an agreement with the city that will keep the Jaguars in Jacksonville for at least the next 30 years.
"At the very beginning of this the goal was to ensure that the Khan family kept football in Northeast Florida for generations to come," said Lamping, "and that goal that Shad and his family had at the very beginning, I think we're on the verge of turning that goal into reality and it's a goal the entire community shared."
Since the renovations were announced in June 2023, Mayor Donna Deegan's team has negotiated with the Jaguars, eventually announcing a deal in May. City Council voted Thursday to remove $94 million in community funds set for areas near the stadium, with council members waiting for the mayor's budget in July.
"We had a very aggressive schedule, a lot of meetings to make sure everyone had every question answered," said Jacksonville City Council President Ron Salem, "I'm very satisfied with the whole process and I'm sure I'll look back on this as a major accomplishment."
"This is really exciting, and I think it's not only exciting if you're a Jaguar fan, but if you're a fan of Jacksonville, this is a great day," Lamping said.
"I think the deal is very fair," said Salem, "I think we tweaked it without any major changes through this process."