Florida Citrus Sports, an Orlando-based nonprofit event organizer, is pitching Orlando to be considered as a temporary home for the Jacksonville Jaguars should the NFL team need to relocate during upcoming renovations to its current stadium.
“We’d love to have the Jags come down here and play,” Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan told the Orlando Sentinel. “If they call, we’re going to be all over it. . . . NFL regular-season football needs to be in Orlando. If we can’t have our own team, then I think Orlando is the perfect market to help build your brand in.”
Jacksonville mayor Lenny Curry said last week that renovations to TIAA Bank Field, the Jaguars’ current home, could force the team to play home games elsewhere for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. The second largest stadium in Jacksonville is at the University of North Florida, but it is limited to a capacity of about 12,000 fans.
Florida Citrus Sports operates the Cheez-It Bowl and Citrus Bowl college football playoff games held at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium, which can seat roughly 60,000 fans.
Hogan added that he and local Orlando politicians “will move heaven and earth to make this happen,” for the Jaguars to come to the city. The University of Florida has confirmed to be in talks with the Jaguars to consider hosting home games at The Swamp in Gainesville.
