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Jacksonville Jaguars are close to submitting a recommendation to NFL on 2027 game sites
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- Jacksonville Jaguars are close to submitting a recommendation to NFL on 2027 game sites
Jacksonville Jaguars President Mark Lamping said a report will be submitted within 30-to-45 days to the NFL about the two alternative sites to play home games in 2027 while EverBank Stadium is being renovated.
Approval by league owners could come as early as their spring meeting in Minneapolis on May 20-21.
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Lamping also said preliminary work began on the stadium about 45 days ago, with some areas fenced off and a large crane visible in the South end zone.
Small area of EverBank Stadium are having construction work done as a prelude to the full stadium renovation that will begin in earnest next year. The new stadium is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2028 season.
"There's some deep pile work that's going on there ... so far, no surprises," Lamping said about the early groundwork Monday when he appeared at a news conference introducing general manager James Gladstone at the Miller Electric Center. "But a long, long way to go."
Jaguars will play 2027 games in either Gainesville or Orlando
The Jaguars will play their home games as usual in 2025, play with reduced capacity in 2026, and play their home games at either Gainesville's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium or Orlando's Camping World Stadium in 2027. The stadium renovation will be completed in time for the 2028 season.
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Lamping said the process begins with the team's report submitted to the NFL around the beginning of April. The team will make its own recommendation but Lamping did not say if the Jaguars were leaning toward Gainesville or Orlando.
Alternative site requires 75 percent owner approval
The proposal will go through a committee before the owners meeting. Lamping said the decision needs the same percentage of owners to approve as for a new stadium deal or lease, 75 percent.
"The league will receive [the team's recommendation] ... they'll study that. We'll have a lot of back and forth," he said. "If we can get to a consensus, which I'm sure we'll be able to do that, we'll then go through the normal NFL approval process. It would go to committee meetings in advance of, probably the May owners' meeting, and then if things advance through the committee process, I think maybe by the [owners' meeting] there may be something to consider."
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The stadium renovation has a $1.4 billion price tag, with Jaguars owner Shad Khan paying $625 million and the city of Jacksonville $775 million.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars close to a recommendation to NFL about 2027 sites
