Construction at EverBank Stadium has intensified as the Jacksonville Jaguars push through the early stages of a $1.4 billion renovation that will reshape nearly every structural and fan facing element of the facility. The project, which began with limited work during the 2025 season, has reached a point where major structural changes are visible both inside and outside the building.
Jaguars president Mark Lamping said the renovation remains on schedule with roughly 15 percent completed, though he emphasized the long road ahead as crews work through a broad, phased plan. He said the "entire bones" of the stadium have already begun to change as steel installation, concourse expansion and bowl demolition continue across multiple work zones.
To maintain the project timeline, the team structured the renovation around spending only one season outside Jacksonville. Community feedback led the Jaguars to revise an earlier plan that would have put the team on the road for both 2026 and 2027. Under the updated approach, the Jaguars will play the 2026 season in a reduced capacity stadium before relocating for the full 2027 season while the most disruptive phases of construction take place.
That reduced capacity requires significant structural modifications. Lamping said more than 27,000 seats will come offline in 2026, including more than 22,000 from the upper deck alone. The entire 400 level will be closed as crews remove rows of seating to reinforce structural components and open new breezeways designed to improve airflow throughout the building. The changes help make room for heavy equipment and widened circulation paths that are necessary for future phases.
Additional work is under way in the 200 level corners and along the north end zone, where rows of seating are being removed to comply with updated NFL broadcast camera standards. In the lower bowl, seats in the south end zone and lower club are being taken out to allow access to foundations and underlying structures that must be strengthened before reconstruction can continue. Lamping said many of those lower level seats will be restored later but removing them now is unavoidable for crews to remain on schedule.
Construction on the stadium's exterior is also accelerating. Large steel trusses have been installed around the outside of the building to form the support system for a new canopy that will span the seating bowl. The renovation's signature element is a shade canopy designed to cool the building and improve airflow by working with elevated forms on the north and south ends of the stadium to draw breezes through the bowl. Combined with landscaped green space surrounding the stadium, the canopy is expected to reduce heat retention by more than 70 percent while significantly improving comfort during Jacksonville's warm months.
Inside the stadium, demolition has begun in several bowl areas to make room for scenic corner lookout decks, future field level seating and rebuilt upper bowl sections. These changes are part of a broad interior modernization plan that will eventually include upgraded club spaces, destination bars and new concessions. The design aims to reflect both Jacksonville's natural character and its coastal landscape, integrating greenery and open space into many public areas.
Work on the main concourse continues as crews expand pedestrian pathways, replace older structural materials and prepare for a fully connected 360 degree concourse elevated 30 feet above ground level. When finished, fans will enter through a subtropical Floridian park that leads to the elevated walkway, which will provide broad views of the city and river while improving circulation throughout the venue.
On the stadium's northwest side, construction of Grand Staircase Two is progressing with steel placement and concrete work under way. The staircase is expected to be completed early in the upcoming season and will serve as one of the primary access points once the full renovation opens.
The stadium overhaul is guided by a strategic, phased plan developed by the design and construction team in partnership with the Jaguars. The approach allows the team to continue playing in the building during the 2026 season while major structural work progresses around them. To create an extra construction window, the NFL agreed to move one of the Jaguars' international games to 2026, allowing the team to play back to back games in London.
The overarching design, created by HOK, preserves the stadium's existing core to reduce embodied carbon while adding new technologies, improved amenities and expanded green space. The architects focused on addressing the region's climate by shaping the building to capture airflow, shading large surfaces and creating cooler gathering areas both inside and outside the structure, according to HOK.
When the project is complete, the renovated stadium will seat 63,000 people, with the ability to expand to 70,000 for major events. Premium spaces, enhanced concourses and new bowl configurations will create a modernized fan experience aligned with the largest recent stadium renovations across the league.
Construction will continue through 2027 while the Jaguars play off site, and the fully modernized EverBank Stadium is set to reopen in 2028 as an updated, year round destination for sports, entertainment and community events.
