JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The “Stadium of the Future” may be a work in progress, but that isn’t stopping game day fun from taking place.
Jags fans are gearing up for the first home game of the season against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
Over 20 golf carts will be running to help transport fans from the parking lot to the stadium. Gates 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be for the general public with Gate 4 opening at 10 a.m. for the fan entertainment zone.
Fans are now allowed to bring two bottles of water inside the stadium, and a new list of food items was unveiled Thursday morning on the concessions menu.
Jaguars COO Chad Johnson explained the main construction right now is to prep for the upcoming changes.
“There’s a period of time where we’re going to be away for a month from EverBank Stadium when we look at our London game and our bye week and all that. So, there’s going to be major construction happening through that window,” Johnson said.
The stadium renovation project extends beyond game day preparations. The Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) was designed to support Jacksonville’s Eastside neighborhood, which borders the stadium complex.
Local business owners like Miss Cookie, who grew up in the Eastside and owns a restaurant there, hoped the CBA would benefit the established community.
“I would like for the CBA money to be used for the businesses, for the housing, and just for the community period. Because we’ve been here forever,” she said.
City Councilman Jimmy Peluso, whose district includes the Eastside, said the special committee overseeing the CBA will meet again in early October to discuss the formation of a board that will manage the community funds.