Jaguars and Panthers getting Stadium Renovations

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The Jacksonville city council has agreed to a $1.4 billion plan to renovate EverBank Stadium. The vote was 14-1 in favor, with two people not voting. This decision is a big step for the city’s NFL team, the Jacksonville Jaguars. The renovations will start after the 2025 season. The city will give $775 million in public money, and the Jaguars will provide $625 million.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan said, “The belief and determination of Delores and Wayne Weaver to make the Jacksonville Jaguars a reality more than 30 years ago was reaffirmed today by the leadership of Mayor Donna Deegan, her team, and the Jacksonville City Council. The message then, and now, should be clear. Never doubt Jacksonville!”

After the council approved the plan, the Jaguars shared drawings of the new stadium and a timeline for the project. EverBank Stadium will only hold 43,500 seats during the 2026 season. 

In 2027, the team will play at a different place that has not been decided yet. The new stadium is set to open in 2028. Right now, EverBank Stadium, which has been the Jaguars’ home since 1995, can hold 67,838 fans.

This plan also stops rumors that the team might move to London. Khan owns Fulham F.C., a soccer team in the Premier League. The Jaguars have played in London 11 times and agreed in 2012 to keep playing there for several years. 

In 2024, the Jaguars will play the Chicago Bears at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 13 and the New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium on October 20.

Panther’s Home Getting A New Look Too

This news comes right after the Charlotte city council approved an $800 million renovation for the Carolina Panthers‘ Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers’ stadium will get a lot of new features, like a better sound system, new scoreboards, updated bathrooms, faster escalators, and new seats. 

They will also add gathering spaces outside the stadium and turn part of the upper deck into a “social patio” with views of Charlotte’s skyline.

The public money for the Panthers’ renovation, which is $650 million, will come from hospitality tax funds that are meant for tourism projects. The Charlotte city council approved the spending with a 7-3 vote after a long meeting. Some council members were worried about the fast process and past problems with Panthers owner David Tepper, but the vote passed.

Construction on Bank of America Stadium will start in 2026, after a 10- to 12-month design phase. The renovations should be finished by 2029. The agreement will keep the Panthers and Charlotte FC, the soccer team also owned by Tepper, in the city for the next 15 years. 

Tepper will have to pay off the remaining debt if he moves either team out of Charlotte in the last five years of the deal.

Former Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart spoke in favor of the renovations. He said the team brings people together. “I know firsthand the Panthers unite people from all walks of life. The fans deserve this and the community also deserves this,” Stewart said. “Let’s embrace this opportunity to let the Queen City shine brighter even more so than it did in 2015.”

David Tepper released a statement after the city council’s vote, sharing his excitement about the future of Bank of America Stadium. “Today’s vote by the Charlotte City Council is the culmination of many thoughtful discussions with city officials, local leaders, and our fans to create a shared vision for Bank of America Stadium,” he said.

As Jacksonville and Charlotte get ready for these big renovations, NFL fans and bettors will keep an eye on the NFL Lines. They will want to see how these changes might affect team performance and game-day experiences.