ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – While renovations are underway at EverBank Stadium, Orlando is making a bid to be the temporary home of the Jaguars.
Orange County recently recommended $11 million to cover the bid fees to host the Jaguars’ 2027 season, which will have to be played outside of Jacksonville while the team creates the “Stadium of the Future.”
Some of the criteria to host an NFL game include:
- Being equipped with the specific communications infrastructure
- Goal posts
- Field markings
- Playing surfaces jointly approved by the NFL and its players’ union.
The two top potential landing spots for the Jags in 2027 are Gainesville and Orlando.
In addition to the millions for the bid, Camping World Stadium’s recent $400 million upgrades could make it a top choice.
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“We are blessed that TDT is here, that we can do some of these things on the back of the visitation as opposed to from our local residents so that we are not taking from the resources you have as commissioners in our general funds to take care of our population,” Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan said of the millions for the Orlando home Jaguars bid.
Hogan added that this would be a good return on investment and said $20 million per game for the season is a relatively conservative approach when it comes to the value of the opportunity.
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Orlando isn’t the only option for the Jaguars; Gainesville is also on the table, and the organization could make its decision as early as next month.
In Gainesville, the Jaguars would play in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, also known as “The Swamp,” which is home to the Florida Gators.
When it comes to location, Gainesville is closer to Jacksonville, being about 90 minutes away, while Orlando is about 2.5 hours away.
