Jacksonville mayoral candidates react to possibility of Jags playing away from stadium for 2 years

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville mayoral candidates who will likely pick up the baton from Mayor Lenny Curry’s administration on negotiating a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars for TIAA Bank Field renovations are speaking out about the possibility Curry floated Wednesday about the team playing in an alternate spot.

Curry said told our radio partner News 104.5 WOKV it would likely be a “two-year deal where they (the Jaguars) would be out of the facility for two years, most likely 2025 and 2026.”

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Democratic mayoral candidate Donna Deegan released the following statement, saying she expects the team to play in Jacksonville:

“The Jaguars are an important source of pride for our city. I look forward to bringing in the best negotiators to assist me in crafting the terms for stadium improvements, ensuring they remain in Jacksonville for years to come. During construction, I expect our team to play in Jacksonville as they have for nearly thirty years. Terms of a deal will be decided thoughtfully and responsibly with input from all stakeholders, not at the height of a campaign.”

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Republican mayoral candidate Daniel Davis said on Twitter that the team playing out of town was a “non-starter” for him:

“These are going to be tough negotiations, but the Jaguars playing out of town for two years is a non-starter for me.”

Though the Jags would be out of the stadium during renovations, Curry said, “the goal is to find a way to play in Jacksonville for those two years.”

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The University of North Florida, which has been suggested as a possible alternate site for games, released the following statement:

“The University of North Florida has had initial contact from the Jaguars, and we understand the team is exploring many options. No decisions from any side have been made, and we look forward to future discussions.”

The Jaguars have not made any comment on Curry’s comments at this point.

Read: Jaguars to play consecutive weeks in London

Curry said since the lease on the stadium between the city and the Jacksonville Jaguars expires in 2030, the city and the Jags have been in discussions about renovations “for quite some time.”

You can hear the full interview below.

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