MARK LAMPING

The was a buzz in the city after the Jacksonville Jaguars released plans for a futuristic stadium remodel.

It wasn’t that long ago that the Jacksonville Jaguars made national headlines with a unique addition to its stadium — a pair of swimming pools perched high above the north endzone.

Could the Jaguars play two games in London, their home away from home, this season? There’s a very good possibility that could happen this year, team president Mark Lamping told the Florida Times-Union on Friday.

In March, Jacksonville voters will submit a ballot for the city’s next mayor. Republican Lenny Curry is term-limited and someone new will be taking the seat.

Major renovations at TIAA Bank Field appear to be moving forward.

Khan could pay over $370 million for the hotel and the city would offer millions in major tax breaks and incentives for the property. This would be just a start for development in the area.

The Jaguars are the only team in the league since their inception in 1995 not to build a new stadium or undergo a major renovation.

The Jaguars are about much more than just football to this city. They are also about turning around Downtown Jacksonville’s fortunes.

The Jacksonville City Council voted Tuesday night 17-0 in favor of an agreement to bring a $400 million riverfront development to the downtown area.

Jacksonville is one step closer to getting a $400 million riverfront development called the Shipyards. The bill to allow it, and subsidize it with more than $100 million in tax dollars, passed another city council committee Monday.

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry’s budget includes plans for the city to invest in redeveloping the Shipyards.

Mayor Lenny Curry posted on Twitter Monday night that he will present the Shipyards plan to the city council on Tuesday.

Jacksonville City Council members on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a partnership with the Jaguars to build the team’s $120 million football performance center.

The Downtown Investment Authority on Wednesday voted unanimously to approve $114 million in incentives to help bring Jacksonville Jaguars Shad Khan’s vision of a Four Seasons and other amenities along the St. Johns River to life.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan says his plans to redevelop The Shipyards in Downtown Jacksonville are gaining support from the city.

The Jaguars made their public pitch in a news conference. Now they’re taking their dreams on the road throughout the Jacksonville area.

This one felt better.At least, that was my feeling after hearing the Jaguars most recent development pitch, a plan that includes a Four Seasons Hotel and Residence, upgraded marina, an office building, and an improved sports performance center.

Urban Meyer wants to make Jacksonville a destination. He’s spoken about that vaguely ever since being hired earlier this year. On Thursday, the Jaguars laid out a plan to match Meyer’s vision.

The Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday laid out plans to redevelop The Shipyards and bring a Four Seasons Hotel to the downtown banks of the St. Johns River.

Happening today, the Jaguars will unveil updated development plans for Downtown Jacksonville.

The Jaguars will provide an updated development plan for Downtown Jacksonville on Thursday morning.

Council members Danny Becton, Matt Carlucci, Al Ferraro and Council President Tommy Hazouri also voted against the deal, which fell 12-7. He and other council members have also drawn comparisons between Lot J and the scuttled attempted sale of JEA. “The executive branch negotiates deals and they bring deals to the City Council to debate. One field, one particular development is their deciding factor to leave the city?” Dennis said. Lamping started talking about the Shipyards when, you know, the big elephant in the room is the stadium,” Dennis said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After months of debate, City Council voted 12-7 against a deal to bring a major entertainment complex to Downtown Jacksonville. “We pulled the plug on Lot J. It’s dead,” Lamping said. When asked if the Jaguars might consider another proposal for Lot J, Lamping said he thinks “it’s time to turn the page.”“We’ll leave that behind,” Lamping said. The legislative body spoke and unfortunately Lot J will not move forward. Under the deal, the entertainment district, which was planned for Lot J outside TIAA Bank Field, would have been one of the biggest investments in the city’s history.

City Council president Tommy Hazouri deferred the vote on the Lot J bill last week and said he’d like to see a final vote Jan. 12. At Friday’s meeting, City Council members got answers to questions and concerns that the council auditor has regarding the deal. The majority of them have been addressed and those in attendance said they feel confident that the Lot J project will move forward. Those in favor of the Lot J project say it’ll bring jobs, boost Jacksonville’s economy, and lead to a thriving downtown. Councilman Garrett Dennis said this week he supports the Lot J project, but also said no decision should be rushed without making sure all questions have been answered.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The proposal to build a $445 million entertainment complex on Lot J of TIAA Bank Field -- the sole topic of another tense Jacksonville City Council meeting Thursday -- will not be voted on until Tuesday at the earliest. The deal calls for the city to invest $233 million in direct spending or loans by the city of Jacksonville to the developer for Jaguars owner Shad Khan, the Cordish Companies. That drew a sharp response from Council President Tommy Hazouri and questioning of the rules before the review of the plan resumed. The DIA, which was asked to review the plan last week, voted Wednesday to recommend City Council approval, but with some modifications. DOCUMENTS: DIA report on Lot J proposal | Council Auditor’s Office’s things to consider/concernsMark Lamping, the Jaguars president, has asked for a vote by the council by its last scheduled meeting of the year, which is next Tuesday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville’s Downtown Investment Authority on Wednesday voted to pass a report on to the City Council, which recommends the Lot J project with changes. It would develop Lot J outside TIAA Bank Field in a deal between the city and the Jaguars owner, using a developer named The Cordish Companies. But if the ask is, we want you to reduce the public investment by $65 million, than the project doesn’t go forward,” he said. I think for a lot of us guys like myself who take these kind of things very very seriously that they would understand that.”The DIA’s approval with changes is just a recommendation for City Council about Lot J. All 19 City Council members are scheduled to take part in Thursday’s meeting where they could decide to put the measure on their agenda Tuesday night.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – While the focus recently has been on Lot J, the proposed entertainment complex outside TIAA Bank Field, the stadium itself is now in the spotlight. Mayor Lenny Curry on Tuesday issued a statement, saying: “More than 20 years ago we made a decision as a community to be an NFL city. That split was apparent Thursday when City Council President Tommy Hazouri and the mayor’s staff went at it. At Tuesday afternoon’s meeting, City Council members all asked questions about the Lot J project, what was involved and what the city’s role would be. The head of the DIA told News4Jax the group is already reviewing the deal but will follow the wishes of the City Council.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Many questions remain about the status of the proposed Lot J project that would build a $445 million entertainment complex outside TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. A meeting Thursday night that was created to answer some of those questions was derailed as the Jacksonville City Council president, council members and the mayor’s staff traded barbs. RELATED: Special meeting on Lot J project filled with finger-pointing, name-callingThe cost of the project would be split between the city and the Jaguars. When the plan for the Lot J project was announced in October, Jaguars President Mark Lamping said it could be built in three years. One of the main concerns is contamination at Lot J.

Instead, nothing happened at a special meeting Thursday night except finger-pointing, name-calling and what some members say was a big embarrassment for government. Those on hand say they were at the meeting to get answers from the City Council auditor about Lot J. No vote was taken by the City Council about that, but apparently, the DIA has already started that process. Instead, he heard the bickering and he also heard that some council members wanted to start the whole process of Lot J negotiators over again. Other council members spoke up, saying they were surprised about what happened and how nothing came out of what was to be an important meeting.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A day after Jaguars President Mark Lamping pitched city officials on team owner Shad Khan’s plan to build a Four Seasons hotel along Jacksonville’s riverfront, public reaction began to pour in. RELATED: City officials learn cost-benefit details of Lot J development“Jacksonville moves best when it moves together,” Carlucci said. This despite an auditor saying the city stood to make 44 cents for every dollar invested in the Lot J development. RELATED: City would make 44 cents for every $1 spent on Lot J developmentJackson took issue with the mayor’s statement. As for Lot J, the Council is planning to hold a special meeting on that topic on Thursday at 5 p.m.

Khan, who bought the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto in 2016, wants to build the hotel where Metropolitan Park sits along the Northbank. During Thursday’s DIA meeting, Lamping said the Lot J development would be a catalyst for additional efforts to revitalize the area. RELATED: Curry & Khan unveil plans for Lot J developmentOriginally, Khan mentioned moving the city’s convention center to the Shipyards site. Meanwhile, the City Council is still debating the merits of the city’s involvement in the Lot J project. The DIA board is set to discuss incentives for Lot J next week.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – During a special Jacksonville City Council meeting Thursday, more details become public about Jacksonville’s proposed $218 million investment into a new entertainment complex at Lot J near TIAA Bank Field. Lot J is a proposed 50-50 partnership between the city and the Jacksonville Jaguars that has been in the works for two years and Thursday was the first time the full city council was taking up Lot J during a special meeting. In fact, the auditor said that for every dollar spent, the city would make just 44 cents. News4Jax asked Lamping to clarify how that plays into the team’s commitment to Jacksonville and the Lot J project. News4Jax asked if that means the team needs to be better for Lot J to work, Lamping said no.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Representatives from the Jaguars and Jacksonville City Council members held a virtual public meeting to discuss the multimillion dollar Lot J development with the public. It was a chance for the public to ask questions about where the money is going and a chance for the Jaguars to hear feedback. That requires City Council approval. The city council is waiting for more detailed economic specifics about the Lot J financial plan from Mayor Lenny Curry’s office. “There’s a lot needed in this town, and that’s a lot of money to give to the Jaguars,” said resident Ray Roberts.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The next steps for development at Lot J are set to be released on Monday. Mayor Lenny Curry, Jaguars owner Shad Khan, and Jaguars President Mark Lamping are set to make the announcement at 12:05 p.m. at Daily’s Place. The city of Jacksonville shared details about the announcement Sunday night. “We have a lot of other priorities in the city and they are going to cost some money so I don’t want to pit Lot J against those other needs. “I believe it is because in this case it is specific to Lot J as I understand it,” he said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The Jaguars are moving forward with their social responsibility message, putting Jacksonville native T-Neisha Tate in a role that will expand on the teams mission of social causes in the area. Tate, who has been with the franchise more than eight years, will serve as the vice president of Social Responsibility & Impact with the team. Mark Lamping, Jaguars team president, said that creating the position at this time is a message that social causes that were brought up in the spring and summer arent going to be fleeting. I am humbled by the commitment the Jaguars organization has made to essential issues such as social justice and equity. The team said that she will focus on police and community relations, education and economic advancement and creating programming on the teams social responsibility front.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Renderings of the first two phases of development of Lot J near TIAA Bank Stadium, the Shipyards and a previously unannounced residential expansion north of Lot J was laid out in a presentation this week to the Meninak Club of Jacksonville, according to a report from News4Jax news partner the Jacksonville Daily Record. The $450 million to $500 million Phase I of Lot J is made up of the Live! Arena entertainment venue, a 200-unit boutique hotel and 700 residential units, the Daily Record reported. Phase II is west of Lot J at what is a retention pond at North Georgia Street and Gator Bowl Boulevard. Smith told the Daily Record that crews could begin environmental remediation at Lot J by summer, but he doesn’t expect vertical construction until June 2021.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars’ president and Mayor Lenny Curry’s office haven’t yet announced a development deal for Lot J in Downtown Jacksonville, but plans are already underway for a second phase. According to a report by the Jacksonville Daily Record, Jaguars President Mark Lamping outlined the Phase II concept during an interview. One tower would be residential and the other would be corporate office space, Lamping told the Daily Record. The mayor told News4Jax earlier this month that his team are nearing a deal on the first phase of the Lot J development, which sits next to TIAA Bank Field. Curry has said Phase I will be a mixed-use development with a live entertainment complex, a hotel and restaurant, plus residential space and an office building.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan is making waves with an interview he gave over the weekend in London. The interview, which was published on Jaguars.com, included details from both Khan and Jaguars President Mark Lamping. Khan discussed the importance of revenue that the London game generates for the team and one quote specifically raised eyebrows. That caused some to question if the Jaguars are looking to have more than one home game in London per season. "No, theyve put so much money into it since hes been here, I dont think we need a new stadium," Jaguars fan Duane Knowles said.

Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation and former Jaguars player Rashean Mathis present the Englewood High School football team with a refurbished locker room, Tuesday, September 24, 2019 in Jacksonville, Fla. (Rick Wilson/Jacksonville Jaguars)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Could Tuesday have gone any better for Englewood High School's football program? Not only did the Jacksonville Jaguars surprise the varsity and junior varsity teams with a $100,000 locker room makeover, they also invited them to the Saints game next month. Oh, and former Jaguars cornerback and Englewood alumnus Rashean Mathis paid a visit, too. SLIDESHOW: Jaguars & Rashean Mathis surprise Englewood High football teams"This celebration of our 25th season and the NFL's 100th anniversary is a historic milestone for the entire community," said Jaguars President Mark Lamping. "I walked these halls, sat in this locker room and grew up in this diverse neighborhood where families sacrifice every day to give their kids the opportunity to succeed," Mathis said.

The mayor said it will result in more than $450 million of investment near the sports complex. Because it calls for incentives and tax breaks, the project must be approved by the Downtown Investment Authority and Jacksonville City Council. The cost of those will be $128 million, $76.5 million and $67 million, respectively. Jaguars President Mark Lamping released a statement calling this "the most significant step in our mission to reinvent how we work, live and gather in Downtown Jacksonville." Most like the idea of an entertainment complex, while others questioned why it can't be built elsewhere.