{"url":"https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/03/jaguars-stadium/","title":"Never subsidize Jaguars stadium like Jacksonville did","domain":"washingtonpost.com","imageUrl":"https://images.pexels.com/photos/13890305/pexels-photo-13890305.jpeg?auto=compress&cs=tinysrgb&h=650&w=940","pexelsSearchTerm":"Jacksonville Jaguars stadium","category":"Sports","language":"en","slug":"6047192d","id":"6047192d-d226-4dee-acac-0f69da0b0762","description":"Washington Post editorial opposes Jacksonville's public funding for Jaguars stadium renovation.[[1]](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/03/jag","summary":"## TL;DR\n- Washington Post editorial opposes Jacksonville's public funding for Jaguars stadium renovation.[[1]](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/03/jaguars-stadium/)[[2]](https://muckrack.com/media-outlet/washingtonpostOpinions)\n- City taxpayers cover **$775 million** of the **$1.4 billion** project, called the largest local expenditure.[[3]](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/03/jaguars-stadium)[[4]](https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2024/10/15/nfl-owners-back-stadium-deal-by-jaguars-and-jacksonville/75683820007)\n- Stadium deals rarely deliver promised economic benefits, fleecing public purses nationwide.[[3]](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/03/jaguars-stadium)\n\n## The story at a glance\nThe Washington Post editorial board argues against subsidizing sports stadiums, spotlighting Jacksonville's deal to fund half of a $1.4 billion renovation of EverBank Stadium for the Jaguars. NFL owners recently approved the team's plan to play its **2027 home games** at Orlando's Camping World Stadium during construction, with the city on the hook for **$775 million** including deferred maintenance. This comes after Jacksonville City Council approved the package in 2024, securing a 30-year lease amid fears the NFL team might otherwise relocate.[[3]](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/03/jaguars-stadium)[[4]](https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2024/10/15/nfl-owners-back-stadium-deal-by-jaguars-and-jacksonville/75683820007)\n\n## Key points\n- NFL owners unanimously approved Jaguars playing 2027 season in Orlando to accommodate stadium work starting post-2026, dubbed \"Stadium of the Future\" with canopy roof, upgraded concourses, and tech enhancements.[[5]](https://www.jaguars.com/news/o-zone-raise-em-up)[[6]](https://frontofficesports.com/jacksonville-jaguars-orlando-2027-stadium-renovations)\n- Total renovation cost: **$1.4 billion**; Jaguars owner Shad Khan commits **$625 million** plus overruns and most game-day expenses; city pays **$775 million** (**$625 million** construction + **$150 million** maintenance).[[3]](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/03/jaguars-stadium)[[7]](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41815188/nfl-owners-unanimously-approve-jaguars-14b-stadium-renovation)\n- City Council passed deal 14-1 in June 2024 (largest capital project in city history), followed by NFL approval; includes 30-year lease and non-relocation agreement.[[4]](https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2024/10/15/nfl-owners-back-stadium-deal-by-jaguars-and-jacksonville/75683820007)[[8]](https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2024/jun/25/its-a-deal-jacksonville-city-council-approves-stadium-agreement-with-jaguars)\n- Editorial calls it a \"shakedown,\" claiming taxpayers foot half the bill while stadium subsidies historically fail to boost local economies as promised.[[2]](https://muckrack.com/media-outlet/washingtonpostOpinions)[[3]](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/03/jaguars-stadium)\n- Deal ties to **$150 million** community benefits (largest NFL team pledge), with city adding **$56 million** for parks and flex field.[[9]](https://www.news4jax.com/sports/2024/10/15/jaguars-stadium-of-the-future-clears-final-hurdle-approved-by-nfl-owners)\n\n## Details and context\nThe editorial frames the Jaguars' renovation as the \"latest stage\" in taxpayer exploitation, triggered by the NFL's approval of the Orlando relocation just days before publication on April 3, 2026. It highlights the **$775 million** as Jacksonville's biggest-ever spend, arguing owners like billionaire Shad Khan leverage monopoly power and relocation threats to extract public funds despite scant evidence of economic returns from such deals.[[1]](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/03/jaguars-stadium/)[[3]](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/03/jaguars-stadium)\n\nNegotiations began years earlier amid expiring lease concerns; polls showed Duval County residents reluctant for **$1 billion** asks but more supportive if needed to retain the team. The city avoided new taxes, using sales tax extensions like Better Jacksonville Plan funds, though critics noted past stadium outlays (e.g., **$88 million** pre-2024).[[10]](https://floridapolitics.com/archives/634953-poll-jacksonville-may-not-want-to-pay-for-jaguars-stadium-renovations-but-it-will)[[11]](https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/drugs/2023/09/18/unf-poll-shows-split-verdict-on-1-billion-for-stadium-to-keep-jaguars/70865385007)\n\nStadium opens 2028 with reduced capacity in 2026; recent reports note **$100 million** overruns from tariffs, covered by Jaguars per agreement.[[12]](https://www.news4jax.com/topic/Stadium_of_the_Future)\n\n## If the article is paywalled or incomplete\nThe article was partially accessible, showing only headline, teaser, and brief excerpt; this summary draws on matching details from NFL.com, ESPN, Florida Politics, Jacksonville.com, and other reputable sources confirming the deal's terms and timing.[[3]](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/03/jaguars-stadium)[[4]](https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2024/10/15/nfl-owners-back-stadium-deal-by-jaguars-and-jacksonville/75683820007)\n\n## Why it matters\nStadium subsidies divert billions from public needs like infrastructure or schools to benefit wealthy team owners, perpetuating a pattern across U.S. cities with little net economic gain. Jacksonville residents face higher taxes or redirected funds for **$775 million** that secures the NFL franchise but risks regret if promised growth falters. Watch construction progress, 2027 Orlando games, and post-2028 revenue reports to gauge if benefits materialize.","hashtags":["#nfl","#jaguars","#stadium","#taxpayerfunding","#publicsubsidies","#sportsbusiness"],"sources":[{"url":"https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/04/03/jaguars-stadium/","title":"Original article"},{"url":"https://muckrack.com/media-outlet/washingtonpostOpinions","title":""},{"url":"https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2024/10/15/nfl-owners-back-stadium-deal-by-jaguars-and-jacksonville/75683820007","title":""},{"url":"https://www.jaguars.com/news/o-zone-raise-em-up","title":""},{"url":"https://frontofficesports.com/jacksonville-jaguars-orlando-2027-stadium-renovations","title":""},{"url":"https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41815188/nfl-owners-unanimously-approve-jaguars-14b-stadium-renovation","title":""},{"url":"https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2024/jun/25/its-a-deal-jacksonville-city-council-approves-stadium-agreement-with-jaguars","title":""},{"url":"https://www.news4jax.com/sports/2024/10/15/jaguars-stadium-of-the-future-clears-final-hurdle-approved-by-nfl-owners","title":""},{"url":"https://floridapolitics.com/archives/634953-poll-jacksonville-may-not-want-to-pay-for-jaguars-stadium-renovations-but-it-will","title":""},{"url":"https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/drugs/2023/09/18/unf-poll-shows-split-verdict-on-1-billion-for-stadium-to-keep-jaguars/70865385007","title":""}],"viewCount":3,"publishedAt":"2026-04-05T15:16:58.036Z","createdAt":"2026-04-05T15:16:58.036Z","articlePublishedAt":null}