Jaguars Threaten To Leave Without $1 Billion From Jacksonville Taxpayers
The Jacksonville Jaguars have made their demands for stadium finance public, even threatening to relocate if $1 billion in taxpayer money is not obtained.
“Do you want to keep the NFL in Jacksonville?” When questioned about a hypothetical vote from Jacksonville citizens on accepting the team’s proposed contract, Jaguars president Mark Lamping said at the AXS DRIVE conference.
Jaguars Threaten To Leave Without $1 Billion From Jacksonville Taxpayers
According to a recent study performed by the University of North Florida, a majority of Duval County residents are opposed to using public monies to assist in building a new stadium for the Jaguars and a sports district in the surrounding region.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have gone public with their demands for stadium funding — even proposing relocation if $1 billion in taxpayer money is not secured.
“Do you want to keep the NFL in Jacksonville?”
Details » https://t.co/Wb3KAP1YSH pic.twitter.com/79y4bm79Ft
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 22, 2023
According to the study, just 6% of Duval County citizens favour the Jaguars’ projected $1 billion public investment supported by taxpayers. Furthermore, 47 per cent stated they would rather see the $1 billion in public investment go somewhere else, even if it meant losing Jacksonville’s NFL club.
The Jacksonville Jaguars' "Stadium of the Future" would cost more than $2 billion.
The team is seeking a 50-50 split with the city.https://t.co/yVO6Cm9ds6
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 22, 2023
Faced with dwindling public support, Jaguars president Mark Lamping recently replied to a survey at the AXS DRIVE conference with a remark implying he is prepared to take the team out.
Could the Jaguars leave Jacksonville?
Yes, according to team president Mark Lamping.
😳
Why?
They want $ 1 billion from taxpayers for their stadium.https://t.co/8V2T0Vy7ll— Matthew Tabeek (@MatthewTabeek) September 22, 2023
The Jaguars released designs for their new stadium project earlier this summer, which is already anticipated to cost $2 billion. Officials from the club requested a 50-50 split with the city, asking each party to contribute at least $1 billion in cash and cover any additional expenditures that arose throughout the process.
'Local taxpayers are going to end up shelling out an enormous sum of money for this endeavor.'
New @UNFPORL poll suggests inevitability of @CityofJax spending big on stadium to keep @Jaguars
Reporting by @AGGancarskihttps://t.co/Td6c4kJ4q9#FlaPol pic.twitter.com/ihrzcxmRpy
— Phil Ammann (@PhilAmmann) September 18, 2023
A relocation would be a significant step forward for the Jaguars, who just completed a $120 million practice facility adjacent to their stadium. However, Lamping’s remarks raise fears about the future. “If Jacksonville loses an NFL team, they’re never going to get another one,” he remarked.
Jaguars would pay 33 percent of the cost of a renovated stadium in Jacksonville; that split would still require nearly $1 billion in taxpayer money. https://t.co/HWcxszUAVc
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) June 8, 2023
It’s apparent that it’s not what the Jaguars want, and months of pressing on Duval County citizens chipping in $1 billion for the stadium haven’t gone over well. So it looks like the Jaguars’ next move is to threaten relocation.
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