Jacksonville Jaguars' Shad Khan 'optimistic' NFL owners will approve stadium renovations

LONDON — NFL owners are slated to vote next Tuesday on whether or not they approve of the Jaguars and the city of Jacksonville's stadium renovation project.

Approval requires backing from 75% of NFL owners.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan is optimistic that the owners will vote in the team's favor, but you never know until the vote is cast Khan said in an exclusive interview with the Times-Union on Saturday.

"You never know, at least until the vote is cast. But certainly, I have every reason to be very optimistic," Khan said of the team getting over the finish line of the $1.4 billion stadium renovation.

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The league and team owners have been involved in the process. Part of the process is a presentation to the joint stadium and finance committee composed of 18 NFL owners. Khan said that he felt the presentation went well.

"I felt very good after that was done. So, I think we'll know Tuesday [whether the deal will be approved], but we have every reason to be optimistic," he said.

Shad Khan, Jaguars feel NFL owners' concerns over stadium project are 'nothing we can't overcome'

Stadium deals, especially ones of this magnitude, are heavily scrutinized by the league and its owners. For the Jaguars, though, Khan and team president Mark Lamping don't feel like there will be issues.

"Nothing we can't overcome," Khan said.

Lamping said that owners' concerns were more curiosity than questioning.

"[NFL owners] had questions about fundamental things in terms of being able to do a renovation versus new construction. That's sort of a top-line question" Lamping added.

"Then, when you dig into it, you realize that it goes so much deeper than that. It's really an unbelievably strong sustainability story. It's a very efficient construction as it relates to the bang for your buck, which benefits both the public participant as well as the team."

The Jaguars opted for a renovation rather than a new construction because the current stadium is structurally sound and its useful life can be extended. In the past, Lamping has referred to the renovation as a " gut rehab than a renovation ."

The stadium project calls for a $775 million investment (55% of the total cost) that includes a $150 million investment in a community benefits agreement by the city. Overall, this is the largest single spending development deal in city history.

Here's how Jacksonville's portion of the $300 million total joint community benefits agreement with the Jaguars breaks down:

• $56 million toward construction of three downtown riverfront parks and improvements to the flex field in the sports complex.
• $40 million for countywide programs in workforce development, affordable housing, workforce housing and homelessness.
• $40 million for the Eastside neighborhood north of the sports complex for affordable housing, workforce housing, economic development and homelessness
• $14 million for park improvements across the city

The Jaguars' $150 million community benefits investment , over the 30-year lease, is the largest community benefits agreement in NFL history.

Here's how the Jaguars' investment breaks down:

• $75 million to the Eastside neighborhood for programs similar to what the city is supporting in Eastside
• The remaining amount for programs elsewhere will be $15 million for reducing homelessness, $30 million for facilities and programs supporting youth sports, and $30 million for maintenance and programming at downtown riverfront parks on the Northbank.

Lamping says there's 'no compromise' with end result of Jaguars EverBank Stadium renovation

The final details and design of the Jaguars' new stadium renovation have not been finalized. The conceptual design is finished, but the schematic design won't be at 100% until November this year, Lamping said.

"This is a living, breathing project. This is a renovation, and there's surprises around every corner," he added. "Each state of that further defines exactly what the plan is, but we've got a long way to go from where we are with a schematic design all the way through 100% construction drawings. But there is no compromise on the end result."

The EverBank Stadium renovation will be akin to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. It calls for a shaded canopy over every seat, reducing the Florida heat felt by fans by about 15 degrees. The seating capacity would be reduced from 67,838 to 63,000.

In addition, the stadium will include expanded concourses (140% increase in current space), 16 new escalators, 12 new elevators, 12 new restrooms, new viewing platforms at the upper concourse level and much more.

"The end result is to have a stadium that supports the needs of the Jaguars and the city for a period not less than 30 years," Lamping said.

"And one of the things that worked really well over the last four years, and I expect it to continue, is that our interests have been very much aligned, and what we want to do is deliver it on time and deliver it under budget. I'm confident that we are on a path [and] that we'll be able to do that."

Lamping says plans evolve, getting more precise and definitive over time. But, nothing changes at all of what the expectations from both the city and the team are upfront and that is that there's a stadium.

"It'll support the needs of the team and the city for 30 years," he said.

Shad Khan wants to make a long-term difference in the city of Jacksonville

Khan has always been upfront about his belief in the city of Jacksonville. In a 2021 interview with media members on an interaction of his Kismet yacht , he gave a very frank response when asked why he cares about the city and why he believes he can make a difference in the future outlook.

“What gives me that feeling and what I like about Jacksonville is there’s a vacuum here. There’s a football team and as an owner, I can move the needle. How many times do you get a chance to move the needle in a good way in a great American city? OK? Very rarely. That really is the power here," he said at the time.

Khan has also offered his influence in other ways in Jacksonville. In 2017, he expressed support for the expansion of Jacksonville's Human Rights Ordinance to include protection on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression at work, in housing and in public accommodations in businesses that aren't churches or small businesses.

That eventually got passed.

His thoughts on what he can do to help influence the culture and city of Jacksonville on a socioeconomic level remain unchanged, perhaps expanded.

"I think you want to make a difference and the NFL is a powerful cultural institution, along with, obviously the sport. I think, how do we use that, the power of the NFL to make the city better?" Khan asked.

It starts with the sport with a focus on winning a game, the spiritual support to do that, but much more is important in the NFL's process, Khan said.

"I want the Jaguars to be uniters, not the dividers. So, whether you're Black, white, brown, rich, poor, whatever, you can come together. The Jaguars are uniters for the city of Jacksonville," said Khan.

"That's the role we want to play, especially I think in these days, there's a huge amount of polarization on just about every issue, and our goal is really to be anti that, and economic development is a big part of it. I think, in the area we're in, it's economically among the more depressed areas in the community," Khan said referencing Jacksonville's downtown.

"So, how do we help that? I think, historically, obviously downtown, the river. They were very vital," Khan added, drawing a comparison between the St. Johns river that Jacksonville's downtown is surrounded by and London's Thames River. "How the city ended up on the river, and it was the birth of the city and it's been a vital artery of economic growth. We got away from that for many, many reasons, obviously."

Khan's vision is to "bring the river alive" and to support the life of people, what it can do for the parks and the vibrancy needed for the quality of life of Jacksonville residents.

"So socially, culturally, and I think better life for all. I think that's what the Jaguars should stand for," said Khan.

Lamping believes stadium renovation, surrounding area development can help impact Jacksonville economically, socially

The stadium and the surrounding developments can have a big impact on the community from a business and social perspective, Lamping said.

"It puts a lot of people to work. It increases the experience and the satisfaction of our customers. It serves as an opportunity to bring even more big events to your local community," he noted. "And with those big events comes economic impact that's felt through the entire community."

The Jaguars' new stadium renovation project will also push the NFL forward, Lamping said.

"The National Football League has been successful because they continue to raise the bar, and I think you see that with each and every stadium. So, as it relates to, how does it impact the league? Well, we bring something forward that others will begin to emulate," he added.

"Those that may fall lower in terms of what their expectations from their markets might be, might motivate them to continue to invest. I think that's one of the reasons why, not only has the league been so successful, but the community that have teams really understand and cherish the fact that they are an NFL city."

Times-Union staff writer David Bauerlein contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville Jaguars' Shad Khan 'optimistic' NFL owners will approve stadium renovations