English 
Jacksonville Jaguars to Play 2027 Home Games in Orlando
(L-R VP Tony Boselli, President Mark Lamping, Mayor Donna Deegan, Owner Shad Khan, Mayor Buddy Dyer, Mayor Jerry Demings, FC Sports President Steve Hogan)
The Jacksonville Jaguars will play most of their home games in Orlando for the 2027 season, marking the first time the NFL will ever play a regular season game in The City Beautiful. Jacksonville’s stadium will be rebuilt in its entirety, leaving the Jaguars homeless for the season. In steps the city of Orlando, Orange County, and Florida Citrus Sports to bid on having the team play just over 100 miles away in Camping World Stadium.
Leadership in Central Florida is touting this as a really big deal. “This is a tremendous win for our community and a testament to the kind of world-class events we can host at Camping World Stadium.” Mayor Jerry Demings told a room full of press at the Dr Phillips Center for the Performing Arts while making the official announcement. “We’re excited to welcome the Jacksonville Jaguars to Orlando and showcase our region on a national stage while delivering meaningful economic impact for our residents and businesses.”
That economic impact is potentially as much as 160 million dollars depending on how many games Orlando will host for the Jags at Camping World Stadium, but it comes at a large cost for tourists. Orange County gave the Jaguars $11 million in tourist taxes as a straight up payment to play here. Then there is the $400 million the city of Orlando and County are spending in tourist taxes to upgrade Camping World Stadium. Without those upgrades, Orlando would not likely have been in the running to host the team. “I don’t know that for certain, but the owners said that, so I’ll believe them” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer told Pulp City Magazine at the conclusion of that press conference. “We needed to finish the improvements that we started with the 2008 venues deal. The improvements that we are going to make to the upper deck, and the concessions areas will make this an NFL quality stadium.”
The fixes to Camping World Stadium are slated to be done just before the Jaguars arrive for the 2027 season. “This is a win that everyone can celebrate.” Jaguars owner Shad Khan said. He surprisingly knows a lot about Orlando. “We’ve got a strong connection. We raised our family pretty much here in Orlando because from the time they were young, they never wanted to go anyplace else. My wife and I spent three weeks pretty much every year in Orlando with our kids and so, it has a special meaning.”
Khan mentioned another team, adding some intrigue: “The Tampa Bay Buccaneers in particular for their support in really making all this happen along with all the people who are here, it obviously wouldn’t happen without you.” It seems the Bucs could have blocked this move since it lists Orlando as its “secondary” market. Props to the ownership in Tampa Bay and get ready for the NFL right here in our hometown. Mayor Dyer addressed what could make the NFL want to return once the Jaguars are back in Jacksonville in 2028. “Us selling out the stadium will be noticed by the NFL and their owners.”
How many games the team will play in Orlando is still up the air. According to the team’s website, they are supposed to have 8 home games in the 2027 season, and one has already been committed to in London as part of the NFL’s international commitment. Rumors have already started that the NFL is also trying to get the team to play the NFL’s first ever game in Ireland that year, and a second game in England is possible as well. No matter how many games are played in Camping World Stadium, it will be fascinating to see the city’s reaction to being host for an NFL team, and the way Jacksonville and the Jaguars react to being in Orlando.
