The owners of the 32 NFL franchises will gather for their spring meetings next week, but a decision on where the Jacksonville Jaguars will play in 2027 has been punted to October.
Orange County officials have been anxiously awaiting that decision, which could bring the team’s home slate to Orlando’s Camping World Stadium because of extensive renovations planned that year at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville. If Orlando is chosen, the region anticipates a stream of big-spending sports fans who would include an NFL game in their trip to the nation’s tourism capital.
Last month, Orange County voted to provide up to $11 million in an incentive deal to the team if they choose Orlando – with the head of Florida Citrus Sports pressing the county to pony up the money ahead of an expected league vote on the matter in May.
But dueling proposals from Orlando and Gainesville remain under consideration by the league and the team, a Jaguars official confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel this week.
“The 2027 location proposals are still under review by the Jaguars and NFL staff. Once this review is completed, the recommendation will be considered by the appropriate NFL ownership committees, and if approved, brought forward to a vote of all NFL owners,” said Lyndsay Rossman, a spokesperson for the Jaguars. “It is our expectation that the matter will be considered at the NFL Owners’ Meeting in October.”
An NFL spokesman confirmed no vote has been scheduled at the spring owners’ meeting, which occurs next week.
It appears no similar subsidy has been offered to back Gainesville’s bid, which would bring the Jaguars’ home games to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, nicknamed “The Swamp,” on the campus of the University of Florida.
Both the City of Gainesville and Alachua County said this week they hadn’t offered an incentive deal, though an Alachua spokesman didn’t rule it out.
“While Alachua County has not offered any specific incentives at this time, we are open to further conversations to see how the County can help the University Athletic Association and the Jaguars in this endeavor,” said Mark Sexton, a spokesman for Alachua County.
Among the arguments in favor of the Jags playing in The Swamp is that one of the largest University of Florida booster clubs in the country is based in Jacksonville, which is the host city of the annual Florida-Georgia rivalry football game.
“Alachua County would be honored to host the Jaguars’ home games,” Sexton said. “Our deep-rooted connection with football and shared cultural ties with Jacksonville makes this a natural fit.”
Gainesville is also a shorter drive for Jacksonville fans — roughly 75 miles compared to 140 miles from Jacksonville to Orlando.
Orange County’s bid includes $10 million paid to the team to host its regular season slate, and an additional $500,000 for up to two home playoff games – though the team hasn’t hosted two in the same season since 1999.
The money comes from the county’s Tourist Development Tax, a 6% levy on hotel rooms and short-term rental nights which is spent on tourism marketing, building and upgrading stadiums and venues and luring major sporting events.
The Jaguars’ incentive was approved alongside a separate $18 million deal for a host of WWE and UFC events, which could include a WrestleMania.
rygillespie@orlandosentinel.com