JEA reviewing utility service at Stadium of the Future construction

The Jacksonville-owned power provider’s review is one of many steps toward the proposed $1.4 billion project.


  • By Karen Brune Mathis
  • | 10:11 p.m. May 16, 2024
  • | Updated 12:10 a.m. May 17, 2024
  • | 4 Free Articles Remaining!
The Jacksonville Jaguars "Stadium of the Future" is shown in this rendering released May 14.
The Jacksonville Jaguars "Stadium of the Future" is shown in this rendering released May 14.
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Call it power for the Stadium of the Future project.

As Jacksonville City Council starts reviewing an incentives deal for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ proposed stadium renovation, city-owned utility provider JEA issued a service availability determination letter May 13 about utility service for the construction site.

The May 7 application to JEA is for relocating utility lines in conflict with the stadium structural changes.

Jacksonville civil engineer England-Thims & Miller Inc. is the applicant.

ETM asked JEA about the availability of electric, reclaim, sewer and water services.

JEA responded with details about what JEA and the applicant will need to do as they set up a pre-construction meeting.

The JEA determination of service availability is one of several steps necessary in the expected $1.4 billion project to renovate EverBank Stadium.

The agreement

Mayor Donna Deegan and the Jaguars propose a deal for the city to provide $775 million in public funding to remake EverBank Stadium into the Jacksonville Jaguars’ “Stadium of the Future” and provide long-term maintenance for the facility under a proposed deal presented May 14 to the Council.

The framework includes a 50-50 split with the Jaguars for the estimated $1.25 billion cost of building the stadium. In addition, the city would provide $150 million for deferred maintenance and ongoing capital improvements. 

That will bring the total cost for the project to $1.4 billion and split of 55-45 with the city picking up the majority. The Jaguars will cover cost overruns.

The Jaguars would play the 2025 season in Jacksonville with a 60,000-seat capacity and remain in the city in 2026 with a reduced capacity of 43,500. The 2027 season would be played away from Jacksonville.

Choosing companies

Meanwhile, Shad Khan’s Jacksonville Jaguars LLC is choosing companies that responded to sealed bids for work on the Stadium of the Future, subject to a deal with the city.

The 1stdowntownjacksonville.com site says that the Jaguars have awarded eight RFPs. The Jaguars posted public notices that it intends to negotiate contracts with top-ranked respondents to four more requests for proposals.

Other bids are in review. 

The Jaguars released conceptual plans for the stadium in June 2023, nearly three years after the team started exploring long-term stadium plans. 

Upgrades would include a shade covering the entire stadium from sun and rain. The stadium would remain open-air and the covering would be more transparent toward the center. Renderings also showed a mirrored facade and an elevated, wraparound concourse with observation decks providing views of the St. Johns River and Downtown skyline. The team said the concourse would be four times wider than the current versions and would include “interactive social bars” and local food offerings. 

Fans would enter the upgraded stadium through a “tropical Floridian park.” 

Additions include 190 new points of sale for concessions, 12 new restrooms, 16 new escalators and 1.92 million square feet of new space.


 

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