By Jim Carchidi
March 31, 2026
The City Beautiful is officially an NFL city; at least for one season. A bid to host Jacksonville Jaguars 2027 home games at Camping World Stadium was unanimously approved during a March 31 vote at the annual NFL owners meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. The 2027 schedule is in progress but Camping World will host seven or eight games while Jacksonville's EverBank Stadium undergoes renovations.
"The Jaguars couldn’t ask for a better scenario than Orlando and Camping World Stadium as our temporary home in 2027," said Jaguars team owner Shad Khan in a press statement. "We’re also grateful to the team at Florida Citrus Sports that made this solution a reality that will benefit all, including Jaguars fans just a few hours away in Jacksonville. This is a win that everyone can celebrate."
"We couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to welcome the Jacksonville Jaguars and their fans to Orlando for the 2027 season," said Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan. "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."
Home field advantage
Camping World Stadium was one of two Florida venues in the running to host games as the Jaguars move ahead with a $1.4 billion upgrade to their home turf. Gainesville's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium was also in contention due to its proximity to Jacksonville, but its own $398.5 million renovation is scheduled to overlap the 2027 NFL season. A Jaguars representative told The Orlando Real in December that the relocation plan was in the works and would be presented to the NFL for a vote upon completion.
In April of last year, Orange County commissioners approved more than $29 million in tourist development tax funding for high-profile sports event incentives. The measure included a $10 million bid to host Jaguars 2027 regular season games with an additional $1 million for post-season play. The bid was made in partnership with the City of Orlando and Florida Citrus Sports.
The $400 million effort to upgrade Camping World Stadium offered an additional incentive, which will reap broader benefits for the local economy.
Investing in the future
The Camping World renovations, also funded by the tourist development tax, are meant to raise the city’s profile for hosting events across the sports and entertainment spectrum. Project specs include the following:
- Expanded seating bowls: Reconstructed east and west upper decks, plus a brand-new north upper bowl, boosting capacity to at least 65,000.
- Modernized exterior: A sleek metallic façade featuring integrated hurricane bracing, blending structural resilience with a striking aesthetic
- Premium fan experience: New luxury suites, upgraded concourses, restrooms, and better life-safety systems—all tailored to modern expectations
- Retractable stage pocket: Installed in the south bowl, enabling large-scale concerts and live entertainment with flexibility
- Structural & life safety upgrades: Full overhaul of building systems to meet current codes and long-term performance goals
Additionally, the Central Florida Expressway Authority approved $218.7 million in improvements to State Road 408 that include access to roads leading to and from the stadium. CFX will also work with the city to implement traffic and pedestrian upgrades to surrounding streets. Stadium and road construction are currently on track for completion before the start of the 2027 NFL season.
Big-league impact
Orlando hosted the NFL's Pro Bowl week events from 2017-2020 and again from 2024-2025. An estimated economic impact of $45 million per game was driven by the number of visiting fans and thousands of hotel nights. The projected economic impact of the Jacksonville residency is about $20 million per game. The impact of potentially filling the 65,000-seat stadium is compounded by the number of fans traveling in from Jacksonville and boosting local tourism revenue.
What’s next
Additional details will be discussed during an event at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts tomorrow, April 1, at 11 a.m. with Jaguars ownership and local leaders in attendance. The briefing will be streamed live on Jaguars.com and the Jaguars’ YouTube channels.
Sponsor: The Orlando Real is sponsored by the Pozek Group — the #1 real estate team in Orlando and the Official Real Estate Team of the Orlando Magic.
About the Author
Jim Carchidi is an Orlando journalist and photographer with previous work at the Orlando Sentinel and Orlando Business Journal. He covers development, arts, culture, and local stories for The Orlando Real.
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