Jacksonville Jaguars Secure Temporary Home in Orlando for 2027 NFL Season
In a significant move for the franchise, the Jacksonville Jaguars will be playing their home games far from their usual base during the 2027 NFL campaign. The team has agreed to a temporary, one-year stadium lease with Florida Citrus Sports, relocating to Camping World Stadium in Orlando while their home venue undergoes extensive renovations.
Unanimous Approval from NFL Owners
NFL owners gave their unanimous rubber-stamp approval to the proposal during the league's annual meetings in Arizona. This decision allows the Jaguars to temporarily relocate their entire home slate for the 2027 season as the final stages of a massive $1.4 billion renovation project take place at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville.
The search for a temporary home began when Jacksonville unveiled ambitious plans for a 'stadium of the future' back in 2023. While the Jaguars will still play their 2026 home games at EverBank Stadium, capacity will be severely limited due to ongoing construction work. The fully renovated, state-of-the-art stadium is expected to be complete and ready to serve as the Jaguars' permanent home field in time for the 2028 regular season.
Camping World Stadium Emerges as Front-Runner
The Jaguars considered several alternative venues including Daytona International Speedway and Florida Field in Gainesville, but Camping World Stadium in Orlando quickly emerged as the front-runner. The decision became even more compelling when Orlando leaders cleared a $10 million sports-incentive package earlier this year to help secure the Jaguars' temporary relocation.
Camping World Stadium itself is undergoing a substantial $400 million facelift that will modernize the venue's infrastructure to better accommodate NFL games. This dual investment in both Jacksonville's and Orlando's stadium facilities represents a significant commitment to professional football in Florida.
Schedule and Fan Impact
The Jaguars are scheduled to play 10 home games in 2027, including a preseason exhibition. However, not all of these will be played in Orlando as Jacksonville can play up to three home games in London that season. This means Orlando is likely to host seven or eight NFL games, including in-state matchups featuring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Miami Dolphins visiting the Jaguars.
The timing presents challenges for the team, which is coming off a successful 13-4 season where they won the AFC South division. Head coach Liam Coen acknowledged the difficulties ahead, noting that the team will essentially go two years without much of a traditional home-field advantage.
'Hard for me to comment that far into the future,' Coen said. 'I can't go there. The only thing I can say is that I've been there. I coached there when I was at Kentucky; we coached at Camping World.'
Coen added, 'I think it will be a cool thing because your average football fan is in Disney a lot. And so I do think it could be a way to connect with a new fan base. Are there going to be challenges and stressors and things that we have to work through? Absolutely. But I do think generally for our brand and for Jacksonville Jaguars football, I don't think it's going to kill us.'
Strategic Benefits for Both Cities
For Orlando, hosting the Jaguars - even as a one-year arrangement - provides the city with a valuable opportunity to showcase its capabilities as a major sports destination. Orlando represents the largest U.S. media market without its own NFL team and possesses the necessary infrastructure including a major international airport, extensive hotel accommodations, restaurants, and nightlife to handle significant sporting events.
Jaguars owner Shad Khan expressed enthusiasm about the temporary relocation, stating, 'The Jaguars couldn't ask for a better scenario than Orlando and Camping World Stadium as our temporary home in 2027. This couldn't have happened without the endorsement of the league and team owners who approved our plan two years ago for a renovated Stadium of the Future in Downtown Jacksonville.'
Khan specifically acknowledged the support of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the approval process and expressed gratitude to the team at Florida Citrus Sports for making the temporary solution a reality that will benefit all parties, including Jaguars fans located just a few hours away in Jacksonville.
Orlando's Major Milestone
Steve Hogan, CEO of Florida Citrus Sports, emphasized the significance of this development for Orlando, saying, 'We couldn't be more excited for the opportunity to welcome the Jacksonville Jaguars and their fans to Orlando for the 2027 season. Hosting NFL regular-season football is a major milestone for our city, and we're grateful to the Jaguars and NFL ownership for their belief in our community.'
Hogan added, 'Orange County and the City of Orlando have invested significant resources in our stadium campus, and the 2027 season will provide a tremendous opportunity to deliver a first-class fan experience and further elevate Orlando's standing as a host for major sporting events.'
The Jaguars have already announced plans to play consecutive home games in London this fall, with ongoing construction reducing capacity at EverBank Stadium to 42,507 for the 2026 season. This international scheduling combined with the temporary relocation to Orlando represents a period of significant transition for the franchise as they work toward their long-term vision of a revitalized home stadium in Jacksonville.
