JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jaguars returned to the stadium Friday night for their first preseason home game against the Carolina Panthers.
But with Everbank Stadium under construction until the Stadium of the Future opens in August 2028, fans can expect a slightly different experience this season.
There will be 27,000 fewer seats than usual with the Upper Bowl, Lower Corners, Spa Deck and Sky Patio closed, bringing their capacity to just over 42,000.
Parking and traffic are expected to be similar to last season, but as always, fans are asked to come out two to three hours before each home game to avoid traffic delays.
If you weren’t able to buy a parking pass this season, there are several other options within walking distance from the stadium, like the Tailgaters Parking Lot and Sports Complex Garage.
The shuttle program will also still be up and running for three hours before kickoff and one hour after each game. Pickup will be at Lot S, Lot X, Lot Z, Met Park and Old Cypress Lot.
But even with some slight changes, fans still showed up Friday night to show their support.
“We’re excited about the game for sure,” said Samantha Tastan, a Jaguars fan. “Excited to see some old faces, some new faces. Get Trevor Lawrence with a hair flip.”
Tastan says she’s been a Jags fan even before moving to the city from upstate New York, and the construction won’t stop her from coming out.
“You’re out here for the game,” Tastan said. “You’re out here for the environment and all the other fans that are here, so you enjoy what you have while you have it.”
Christine Stephens, another fan, says she feels the same way.
“For us diehard fans, we’ll go through whatever we have to see our team,” Stephens said.
Which is why Stephens says she still decided to bring her son, a die-hard Jaguars fan, to the game on his 15th birthday to support the players.
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