Prepping for the first home game of the season: What Jags fans need to know

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars’ home opener is Sunday and as the team prepares to face the Indianapolis Colts, there are some things fans should keep in mind for Game Day.

One of the biggest things is to get to TIAA Bank Field early.

The gates open at 11 a.m.

Parking lots open two hours earlier at 9 a.m.

Big crowds are expected and the ongoing construction of the Jaguars Performance Center next door to the stadium is going to affect traffic.

News4JAX spoke with Jaguars Chief Operating Officer Chad Johnson who said fans can expect new additions to their experience.

“We have a new activation: ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ in the south end zone, where fans can go and get an experience like our players did when we did our media hype set,” Johnson said. “They can go in and see what it is like to create the videos we do on the scoreboards.”

He also encouraged fans to be in their seats in time for the national anthem to see a special flyover and a change to player introductions.

Mobile ticketing is being used for the game. Fans should download their tickets and have them ready to be scanned when they get to their respective gates to get into the stadium.

If you need to buy tickets on Game Day, the ticket office opens at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Remember, once inside, you cannot use cash for anything.

Big bags or purses are not allowed into the stadium.

The NFL clear bags are acceptable as the clear bag policy is in effect.

Each fan can bring a small bag, as long as it is no bigger than 4.5 inches x 6.5 inches in size.

The Jags are hosting the Colts, an AFC South division opponent.

The last regular season game played in Jacksonville was back in January, and the same two teams squared off. The Jaguars won that game, and it kept Indianapolis from making the playoffs.

The Colts have not won a game in Jacksonville since 2014 and the Jaguars are hoping to extend that streak.

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence said a team playing in front of its fans at home for the first time in the season gives them some juice.

“I’m pumped to be back home,” Lawrence said. “Obviously, those are the ones to really look forward to; to be back in our stadium, have our crowd here. It’s going to be awesome. First one of the season, especially a division game, too. It’s a big one, anytime we play the Colts or any team in our division, it’s a big game. So, it’s going to be really exciting.”

For fans to have a fun and safe Game Day experience, they are encouraged to stay hydrated.

Each person can bring a commercially branded plastic bottle of water that is no bigger than 16.9 ounces inside the stadium to drink.

They can also get refills at any of the water fountains inside the stadium.

Beyond drinking water, fans can go to the Daily’s Place amphitheater for shade and will not miss any of the action because of the large video screen that will show the game.

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority will have two cooling buses just outside the stadium that fans can board for a few minutes at a time.

Water stations will be nearby.

New head coach Doug Pederson is hoping to grab his first win in his tenure with the Jaguars after dropping the season opener against the Washington Commanders.

“We practice here every day with no fans in the stands, so it will be nice to get them out there,” Pederson said. “We saw what it was like in the preseason, but I think with a full stadium and a division opponent coming in here, it’s going to be exciting.”

The excitement for the home opener is here before Sunday’s GameDay.

Jacksonville mayor Lenny Curry tweeted on Thursday, encouraging Jags fans to wear teal Friday ahead of the game and post a picture using #DUUUVAL.