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Former Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver urges Jacksonville City Council to approve stadium deal
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- Former Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver urges Jacksonville City Council to approve stadium deal
The Jacksonville Jaguars and the City of Jacksonville continue to work toward a $1.4 billion deal to renovate EverBank Stadium.
On Tuesday, former Jaguars owner and team founder Wayne Weaver released a statement supporting the proposed agreement, and urged the Jacksonville City Council to approve the agreement "for the betterment of us all."
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"The much-needed renovations to the stadium will keep the team in our city for generations to come, by providing more shade, better food choices, and an upgraded entertainment venue that will now be able to attract premiere events," Weaver said in part.
"In addition, the corresponding community benefits package is an outstanding investment in our long-term prosperity. This package is vital, because it will fund critical workforce development initiatives, affordable housing and homelessness reduction efforts, and the completion of our riverfront parks. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make real progress for thousands of Duval County residents.
"It's a huge step toward helping Jacksonville realize its full potential, and it will not raise taxes even one cent. I urge the Jacksonville City Council to approve this agreement for the betterment of us all. Go Jaguars!" he added.
Dec. 16, 2011: (Left to right) Jacksonville Jaguars former owner Wayne Weaver, his wife Delores Barr Weaver, Ann Khan and her husband, and new Jaguars owner Shahid Khan pose for photos after Khan's formal introduction in Jacksonville Friday afternoon. Jacksonville Jaguars former team owner Wayne Weaver introduced the team's new owner, Shad Khan to the media and local officials Friday afternoon in the West Touchdown Club of EverBank Field.
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Weaver was the Jaguars' first owner, ushering in an NFL team to the City of Jacksonville in 1993. He owned the team until 2011 when current Jaguars owner Shad Khan bought the franchise for $770 million.
In May, the Jaguars and Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan presented a proposed stadium deal that would stand as Jacksonville's largest investment ever in being an NFL city.
On Wednesday, June 5, the Jacksonville City Council will workshop the stadium renovation agreement. Council President Ron Salem has said that he would prefer to vote on the agreement "no later" than June 25. The Jacksonville City Council is comprised of 19 members, and any vote regarding the stadium will take a simple majority to pass.
The city would pay $775 million of the $1.4 billion proposal, or 55% of the bill. Following City Council approval, Jaguars owner Shad Khan would then need at least 75% of NFL owners to approve of the renovations. That approval would come in the form of a vote in October.
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What is the Jaguars' stadium renovation timeline?
The Jaguars plan to complete stadium renovations in time to open in August 2028. The Jaguars would play one season away from Jacksonville, in 2027.
Here is the timeline for the team's provided by 1st DownTown Jacksonville .
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June 25: Potential City Council Vote on Legislation
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October 2024: NFL Owners Approval (75% needed)
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February 2025: Construction begins
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2025 Jaguars Season: Jaguars play in Jacksonville with 60,000+ capacity
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2026 Jaguars Season: Jaguars play in Jacksonville with reduced capacity (approx. 43,500)
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2027 Jaguars Season: Jaguars play one season away from Jacksonville (Location TBD)
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August 2028: Stadium of the Future opens
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 .
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Ex-Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver supports proposed stadium deal
