JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Update: You can read about the deal by clicking here.
Tuesday was the first time the Jacksonville City Council heard the proposed deal to fund the Jacksonville Jaguars' new stadium.
The source of funding for the stadium, dubbed the Stadium of the Future, has been a concern of the council and public since the idea was introduced.
First Coast News spoke to several councilmembers ahead of the meeting. The councilmembers say keeping the Jags in Jacksonville is what their constituents want. But they also want to reach a deal that is in the best interest of the city.
We asked several city council members the same question – if opening day of a new stadium is a touchdown, what yard line are we at?
“Tonight is sort of the kick off for me," Councilman Joe Carlucci said.
“We’re on the 20 yard line, so we have 80 yards to go," says Councilman Reggie Gaffney Jr.
“We’re on the 40 perhaps, nearing the 30," said Councilman Jimmy Peluso.
Rory Diamond also shared that he feels we’re right about mid-field, and he feels confident the city will reach some sort of deal.
Answers spread across the field, but with one thing in common: the feeling that the city is making progress.
“Keep in mind, we have city council that needs to do something, then they have to go to the NFL to make sure it gets approved by them. Once that happens, we’re really a go, but then we have to actually see the work get done, so we have a little bit of work left to do," Peluso said.
We asked if there’s anything they could hear that would be a deal breaker.
“Yeah, if they say we have to pay for the whole thing," Carlucci said.
“If the numbers are out of control and the city seems like it's really on the hook. I think everyone is coming to the table with good intentions, Jaguars included, so I’m not super concerned," answered Peluso.
The council has until October to approve a plan and send it off for NFL approval.
Carlucci says that approval vote could require either 10 or 13 councilmembers to agree, depending on where exactly the money is coming from and how much.
Their votes will immediately play a role in shaping Jacksonville’s future.
“You can say you left a legacy, especially if the Jaguars are able to win a Super Bowl. You had your hand involved in that, that you played a role, that you shaped the city of Jacksonville forever," Gaffney Jr. said.
Gaffney said he hears from his constituents in District 8 every single day with questions about the stadium, so he’s looking forward to now being able to get some of those answers.
And he’ll be able to hear from even more folks in the community tomorrow when they have the first of several community huddles on the plans.
Several councilmembers mentioned they plan to be at those meeting so they can make sure they're taking community input into account before making their decision.
Opportunities to share your opinion
As the city works to come to a deal to fund the Jaguars new Stadium of the Future, they are inviting the public to join in the process.
The City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Jaguars will host five Stadium of the Future 'community huddles' so that citizens can learn more about the deal.
They will also be invited to ask questions.
The events are free and open to the public. Mayor Donna Deegan, Jaguars President Mark Lamping and Mike Weinstein, the lead negotiator for the COJ, will be at the meetings.
The dates and locations are as follows:
- Mandarin High School
4831 Greenland Rd.
Jacksonville, FL 32258
May 15, 2024, 6-7:30 p.m. - Legends Center
5130 Soutel Dr.
Jacksonville, FL 32208
May 16, 2024, 6-7:30 p.m. - Fletcher High School
700 Seagate Ave.
Neptune Beach, FL 32266
May 20, 2024, 6-7:30 p.m. - Sandalwood High School
2750 John Promenade Blvd.
Jacksonville, FL 32246
May 29, 2024, 6-7:30 p.m. - Westside High School
5530 Firestone Rd.
Jacksonville, FL 32244
May 30, 2024, 6-7:30 p.m.
