Ben Hill Griffin Possible Solution for Jags Part-Time Home
The Jacksonville Jaguars are looking for a temporary home while EverBank Stadium undergoes $1.4 billion renovations in the coming years, and they may be looking no further than Gainesville.
The project will begin following the 2025 season and last until the Stadium of the Future’s grand opening in August 2028. The team began considering renovation plans in 2016.
This year, no construction will occur inside the stadium, leaving it at full seating capacity while workers remodel the exterior. For the 2026 season, the upper bowl will be under construction, lessening capacity to only 43,500 seats.
For 2027, the team is considering moving to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville or Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The Jags also have the opportunity to play up to three home games in London. Once a recommendation has been proposed, it will have to go through a staff review, NFL owner committee review and a vote among all 32 team owners, which requires a 75% approval rate to pass.
Both stadiums bring their fair share of pros and cons. For Ben Hill Griffin, its main benefit is being almost an hour closer to Jacksonville than Orlando, making it easier for season ticket holders and Jacksonville natives to continue to go to games. It can also hold roughly 30,000 more fans. Its biggest detriment, however, is the possible scheduling conflicts with Florida football playing on Saturdays, leaving less than 24 hours to turn around before the Jags play on Sundays.
Camping World, while smaller and farther away, does not regularly host any games during the NFL season. But it is home to the Cheez-It Bowl, Citrus Bowl and Pop-Tarts Bowl.
The construction will also affect the location of the Florida-Georgia football game, which has been played in Jacksonville since 1933, with the exception of 1994 and 1995. The game will continue to be played at EverBank in 2025, but will move to Atlanta and Tampa in 2026 and 2027.
Category: Football, Gainesville, Jacksonville Jaguars
