Proposed improvements to EverBank Stadium continue to make strides toward the project estimated at more than $1 billion.
Thims & Miller Inc., a civil engineering firm based in Jacksonville, England, submitted a pre-application to the St. Johns River Water Management District on March 8 for an environmental resources permit.
Project description is:
“Proposed improvements to the stadium, including landscaping, redesign of pedestrian walkways, stadium structure, and parking.”
The project name is Master Permit for the Downtown Development District.
According to the Water Management District, “pre-application discussions are encouraged to facilitate design collaboration, thus simplifying the permitting process.”
The area shows that the pre-order is pending.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and the city are in negotiations for the “stadium of the future,” a renovated Everbank Stadium.
Competitive selection
The Jaguars posted a notice of competitive selection to at least five companies that responded with sealed bids to work on the project:
Pre-construction services for AECOM Hunt + Barton Malow; Geotechnical services to Langan; HOK Recording Services Engineer; Survey to ETM for surveying and mapping; Terracon Consultants' Phase 1 Environmental Services; and Project Management Services for ImpactDM.
The Jaguars created 1stdowntownjacksonville.com “as a platform to inform the community about our development plans, specifically the Jacksonville Shipyards, the stadium of the future and our ongoing community investments.”
The Jaguars' current stadium lease with the city runs through the 2029 NFL season, the website states.
“Critical to extending the long-term lease is first determining the future of the city-owned stadium,” she says.
“The good news is that we have begun this process with the city and other local stakeholders to identify a future stadium solution that will support American soccer in Northeast Florida for generations to come.”
A view of the end zone inside Jacksonville Jaguars Stadium of the future.
“In fact, this process has already allowed us to conclude that renovating TIAA Bank Stadium, rather than building a new stadium, is feasible and is the preferred path for the stadium of the future.”
For the stadium of the future, Jaguar engaged eight sports architecture firms starting in December 2021 to provide conceptual visions and chose HOK as its design partner, the website says.
Mayor Donna Deegan said Feb. 8 that her administration is on track to deliver the framework for the EverBank Stadium renovation deal to the Jacksonville City Council by April or May.
Speaking to reporters, Deegan said current discussion includes repairing the city-owned stadium and building an adjacent dining and entertainment center.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have asked the city to provide 50% of the costs for the “Stadium of the Future” and the surrounding area, which combined will cost an estimated $2.068 billion.
“I want to do whatever is the best deal for the taxpayers, and that might be doing something bigger (than just the stadium), but I don't know yet. We're in those conversations,” she said.
The renovated EverBank Stadium will be downsized from 67,814 to seat 62,000, with the potential to expand to 71,500 for college football games and concerts. Capacity can be expanded to more than 80,000.
The Jacksonville Jaguars Stadium is designed for the future of the Florida-Georgia College Football Playoff.
New features will include a mirrored facade, a translucent roof shade film that will protect all seating areas from direct sunlight and rain, a wraparound atrium and observation decks offering views of the downtown skyline and the St. Johns River.
Once the framework is finalized, Deegan said, she plans to schedule public meetings for citizen input.
“I think it will be important to try to come up with a framework by April or May and try to have that in mind before the fall,” she said.
“The longer these things go on, the more expensive and derailed they get. And so I would really like us to come to an agreement that everyone feels good about and that we can move forward with sooner rather than later. And I think the council feels the same way.”
More invitations to bid
The Jaguars have issued more invitations to bid for work on the future stadium. All aspects of the project are subject to agreement on a lease amendment between the City and Jaguar.
Bids are scheduled for noon on April 8 to the Jacksonville Jaguars LLC at One Everbank Stadium Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32202.
Contact is Evan Yates at [email protected].
The scope of work is to procure services for regeneration project development activities.
Companies submitting bids must be actively licensed by the State of Florida to perform the specified services.
Jacksonville Jaguars LLC is seeking bids for:
• Security design consulting services. A virtual pre-bid conference will be held at 1:30pm on March 14.
• Third-party structural peer review services. A virtual pre-bid conference will be held at 2pm on March 14.
• Enclosure construction consulting services. A virtual pre-bid conference will be held at 10 a.m. on March 15.
