ATLANTA — The Jaguars "Stadium of the Future" deal overcame its final hurdle Tuesday at the NFL Owners Meeting, as owners passed the project with a unanimous vote.
Jacksonville and the Jaguars needed a 75% or higher favorable vote for the stadium deal to pass. Now that it has, construction is scheduled to begin on the project at the conclusion of the 2024 season, in which the Jaguars sit at a disappointing 1-5.
Tuesday's approval by the NFL owners has secured another few decades for the Jaguars in Jacksonville.
Statement from the Jaguars:
It’s official! Following the unanimous vote of the National Football League team owners today, the Stadium of the Future will move forward as planned. With today’s vote, it is certain that the Jaguars will thrive in Jacksonville for decades to come, and stadium patrons can expect a world-class experience for both NFL and non-NFL events alike.
The Stadium of the Future is a complement to the tremendous growth happening in Downtown Jacksonville, which includes the completion of riverfront parks through the Community Benefits Agreement, and the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Jacksonville which will serve as the centerpiece of the Jacksonville Shipyards development. The stadium transformation will commence in early 2025, with a planned grand opening in August 2028.
The Jaguars and the City of Jacksonville are grateful to the NFL owners and NFL staff, Jacksonville City Council and other stakeholders who worked diligently to bring this historic agreement to fruition. As we celebrate 30 years of Jaguars football this season, we now look forward with immense pride and enthusiasm to the next 30 years.
Statement from Shad Khan:
“Never doubt Jacksonville. That was my message in the summer to Mayor Deegan, the Jacksonville City Council and our residents, and I am humbled and grateful that my fellow NFL team owners agree. Today’s League approval of our Stadium of the Future plan means we will realize our vision for a reimagined home of the Jaguars in Downtown Jacksonville, scheduled to open in 2028. The venue will be world-class by every definition. It will impressively serve the Jaguars and their fans, attract major sports and entertainment events to our region, and serve as an economic catalyst for decades to come. It also means a new and vibrant Downtown Jacksonville that once may have seemed unimaginable will indeed come to life. I send my deepest appreciation to all who believed, and especially to everyone who did the hard work to make this happen. We have much more hard work ahead, but a lot to be proud of today. Celebrate!”
Statement from Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan:
“With today’s vote by the NFL, we are on the cusp of taking a huge leap forward and showing once again that Jacksonville is a can-do city. We will soon have a world-class stadium for our citizens to enjoy, and we are making historic investments that will transform our community, realize the dream of a vibrant downtown, and reinvigorate our riverfront. I’d like to express my profound thanks to the League, to Shad Khan, and to the entire Jaguars team. Together, we are creating a bright future for our city.”
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, Jaguars owner Shad Khan, and Jaguars President Mark Lamping held a press conference from London Tuesday afternoon. Khan called the news a 'vote for Jacksonville,' and said the NFL believed in the city. Deegan was proud of the unanimous vote by the NFL owners.
"Never bet against Jacksonville, never count Jacksonville out. This is a can-do city and I think we showed it again tonight with a 32 to nothing vote from the NFL," Deegan said.
Deegan also touted the historic community benefit agreement attached to the stadium deal. The Jags and the city will devote $300 million to projects benefiting communities surrounding the stadium.
"The fact that attached to that is a community benefit agreement that is historic, largest of its kind, incredibly generous form this organization that will transform our community on so many fronts for years to come. So a great night for Jacksonville," Deegan explained.
Now that the Jags have been given the green-light, the construction process rests in their hands. Construction is set to start in February 2025. Capacity will be reduced to about 60,000 fans in 2025. In 2026, capacity will be reduced further to 40,000 fans. In 2027, home games will be played elsewhere. President Mark Lamping said no decision has been made yet on where they will play. Construction is expected to be finished in 2028.
Jacksonville City Councilman Ron Salem also weighed in on the vote. He served as council president during the negotiation process. He is glad the process is finally complete.
“A little bit of relief that it's all done," Salem said. "I mean, the city council worked extremely hard in June when I was president to get the deal, the agreement done. It was voted on in our last meeting in June."
Along with the new stadium, people can expect to see more construction in the sports district, including a new Four Seasons hotel. Salem said this deal will kickstart more development.
“I think before long we'll be looking at some type of entertainment venue, Lot J down the road a bit. The Four Seasons is coming along. We've got substantial dollars going into the parks along the river. So, I just think this is part of the pieces to really develop,” Salem said.
This vote comes during a time of frustration for fans. The Jags currently have a losing record. Salem believes this stadium deal gives hope for the future of the team.
“The record of the team right now is very unfortunate. We're all Jaguar fans and want to see them win, but this is a 30 year lease and we just have to keep that in mind that hopefully, very soon, the Jaguars will be in the playoffs and competing for championships, and that's what we're all hoping for,” Salem said.