The Jacksonville Jaguars are temporarily vacating EverBank Stadium as it undergoes huge renovations.
With the stadium overhaul expected to be completed by August 2028, it has long been expected that the Jaguars will play their home games at a neutral site in Orlando for the 2027 NFL season.
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This is because EverBank, which opened in 1995, has already begun its $1.4 billion renovations on their ‘stadium of the future’, which will see a limited capacity of 43,500 fans for the 2026 campaign.
Jaguars will play 2027 home games in Orlando after proposal unanimously approved
A proposed move to 60,000-seater Camping World Stadium in the West Lakes neighborhood in Downtown Orlando, 150 miles south of the Jags’ current home, was voted on back on March 31.
The vote took take place among team owners at the 2026 NFL Annual League Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona to determine where the Jaguars’ home for the 2027 season will be.
It was unanimously approved (32-0 vote) by the NFL’s owners, meaning the Jags will officially play their home games in Orlando during the 2027 season.
“The Jaguars couldn’t ask for a better scenario than Orlando and Camping World Stadium as our temporary home in 2027,” team owner Shad Khan – who is also owner of Premier League team Fulham – said.
“This couldn’t have happened without the endorsement of the league and team owners who approved our plan two years ago for a renovated Stadium of the Future in Downtown Jacksonville, and we’re especially appreciative of the support of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the process.
“We’re also grateful to the team at Florida Citrus Sports that made this solution a reality that will benefit all, including Jaguars fans just a few hours away in Jacksonville. This is a win that everyone can celebrate.”
“I look at it as an exciting opportunity,” general manager James Gladstone stated on Tuesday. “You have a chance to breach a region of the state that [we] otherwise wouldn’t have the luxury of doing, and any challenge just brings with it further chances for growth. …
“And obviously it’s still far aways, so we’ve got the 2026 season to really focus our attention on [it], but looking forward to that moment once it comes.”
“I do think it could be a way to connect with a new fan base,” head coach Liam Coen added. “[Are] there going to be challenges and stressors and things that we have to work through? Absolutely.
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“But I do think generally for our brand and for Jacksonville Jaguars football, I don’t think it’s going to kill us.”
Leaders from both Orlando and Orange County – who have reportedly invested $11 million in incentives in their efforts to lure the team – traveled to Phoenix to monitor the league’s vote.
The Camping World Stadium was the leading frontrunner to land the Jags on what is essentially a one-year rental from the start, with the 80,000-capacity University of Florida’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville also putting their name forward to host the team.
EverBank Stadium’s ambitious renovations are set to include a reflective roof which bids to cover an estimated 90 percent of the its 63,000 seating, though there is the potential to expand its capacity to 72,000 for special events.
The plans also include a complete overhaul of the surrounding concourses, offering panoramic views of the city, as well as vast technological improvements throughout.
In addition to the renovation, the agreement between the city and the Jaguars includes a 30-year lease that would begin once the stadium reopens in 2028.
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NFL Stadium Status
It also includes a clause that allows the Jaguars to play up to six home games internationally from 2025-27, with a maximum of three in 2027 as they await the completion of EverBank Stadium.
EverBank Stadium construction update
Reports indicate that construction at EverBank Stadium has intensified of late, with major structural changes – both internally and externally – now noticeable.
According to Jags president Mark Lamping, an estimated 15 percent of construction has been completed, with the “entire bones” of the stadium have begun, which includes steel installation, concourse expansion and bowl demolition.
An estimated 22,000 of the 27,000 seats that are due to be out of use for the 2026 season are from the upper deck.
Further seating at the 200 level corners are being removed, as to comply with the latest NFL broadcast camera standards, while some lower bowl seats are being temporarily removed to strengthen the underlying structures of the stadium.
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Work has also begun on making a 360 degree concourse which is elevated 30 feet above ground level.
When completed, this will provide fans with views of the surrounding city and river, while the design structure also boasts the benefit of improving airflow throughout the stadium.
Steel trusses have already begun to be installed, providing the support system for the new overlaying canopy which is expected to span the entire seating bowl.
This canopy is projected to reduce heat retention by 70 percent.
Camping World Stadium’s own renovation deadline
Camping World Stadium has been a short-term home for multiple professional sports teams over the years, including MLS outfit Orlando City SC (2011-2013, 2015-16) and XFL team Orlando Guardians (2023).
But the 90-year-old stadium has been primarily used as a venue for the NCAA‘s Cure Bowl, Pop-Tarts Bowl and Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, where Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns defeated the Michigan Wolverines 41-27.
Most recently, the stadium has transformed into a soccer field having hosted the international friendly between Colombia and Croatia, which featured some of the sport’s biggest names, including that of Luis Diaz, James Rodriguez, and Luka Modric.
However, Camping World Stadium is also currently undergoing a renovation of its own, having begun work on a $400 million transformation back in February.
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All works, though, are projected to be completed in time for the Jags’ expected move-in date of the 2027 NFL season.
“You’re talking about somebody who needs a place to play for a year. Our community is set up for that, and this new building will be ideal,” Steve Hogan, CEO of Florida Citrus Sports, told News6 in February.
“We just have to meet the construction schedule, and we will.”
Jags’ 2026 offseason
The Jaguars are coming off a hugely impressive 2025 campaign, where, spearheaded by quarterback Trevor Lawrence‘s 4,000-plus yard season, their 13-4 winning record saw them clinch the AFC South title for just the second time in franchise history.
A large part of their success was the acquisition of wide receiver Jakobi Meyers at the trade deadline, who, in nine games had 483 receiving yards for three touchdowns.
Going into 2026, they will be doing so without one of their premier running backs in Travis Etienne Jr. after his departure in free agency to the New Orleans Saints.
Devin Lloyd and Andrew Wingard also exited the team to the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals, respectively.
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