The logistics of a potential renovation of TIAA Bank Field were put under the microscope last week when Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry told 1010XL that the Jaguars will need to find another place to play for two years during the project.
Jaguars president Mark Lamping says that assertion is premature and he offered an alternative in an interview with Gene Frenette of the Florida Times-Union.
Another option, also at a more expensive price tag, would be for the TIAA Bank Field renovation to take place over four years without the team going anywhere.
But there’s a caveat to that, too. It would mean a start-stop construction process that Lamping says would also increase the stadium deal by over $100 million. It’s another reminder this stadium issue is an onion with a lot of layers.
Last week, the Times-Union reported that the Jaguars have broached the subject of a temporary relocation in conversations with the University of Florida and University of North Florida.
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. boasts a capacity of 88,548, but is more than 70 miles from TIAA Bank Field. While UNF’s Hodges Stadium is significantly closer, it seats just 9,400 fans.
Lamping said bringing Hodges Stadium up to NFL standards would cost “in excess of $100 million.”
“Whether you build a new stadium or renovate an old one, it’s going to result in a disruption for the team and its fans,” Lamping told the Times-Union. “The degree of disruption we’ll experience in Jacksonville with a stadium renovation and how many seasons will be impacted is a function of the scale of the renovation, the cost and the renovation schedule. The Jaguars are committed to a path that results in the least disruption to the team, our fans and the community.”
Negotiations between the Jaguars and the City of Jacksonville regarding a stadium renovation are expected to ramp up after a new mayor takes office in July.
