JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville is just weeks away from learning the real cost taxpayers could pay in the billion-dollar plan to renovate the Jacksonville Jaguars stadium.
Negotiations between the city and the Jaguars are in their final stages, and while no one is saying how much of the expected $1.4 billion price tag the city could pick up, it’s likely to be much more than half.
The city’s chief negotiator said on Tuesday there is still more to work out, but a deal is imminent.
MORE: New movement on bringing ‘Stadium of the Future’ to Jacksonville | Jacksonville City Council will discuss ordinance to extend consultant contract for ‘Stadium of the Future’ | Who should pay for the Jaguars’ stadium renovations and how much?
There is no question a renovated stadium is going to carry a hefty price tag, but many that News4JAX talked to downtown on Tuesday said it could pay off.
It’s been said the city could pay up to 75% of the price tag for just the stadium renovations, not the outside surrounding areas like Lot J that the team also wants to redevelop. The cost for the city on just the stadium could be over $1 billion.
The city’s chief negotiator Mike Weinstein would not confirm that Tuesday, but he did talk about where they stand with negotiations.
“We got some items we are still negotiating over and until we’re done, we’re not going to move forward,” he said. “But I anticipate about a month away from now.”
RELATED: ‘Stadium of the Future’: Jaguars reveal renovation plans in online presentation
“The agreement is quite complicated and voluminous it relates to finances, it relates to keeping the stadium up to speed, you know, maintenance, capital improvements, what have you. It’s all the different pieces. And what happens is, if you change one piece of the agreement, it may change for other pieces that you already had agreed to complicate it.”
It was over nine months ago when the Jaguars released the renderings of the stadium it wants to build.
In the past, Jacksonville residents have seen other projects that did not look anything close to the original design, but Weinstein said in this case, for now, they are basically sticking to what has been shown, like the inclusion of shade for fans.
“Right from the beginning, temperature has been a key issue. So, I would be shocked if we do not have some sort of a roof facility. The idea is that there’ll be no seats that aren’t shaded,” he said.
MORE: Jaguars pick design firm for stadium upgrades that will include shade roof, reduced seating
GALLERY: ‘Stadium of the Future’ renderings
So, while the city council will have to give its thumbs up on the deal, the city will want to hear from residents.
Planning is underway to again hold a series of town hall meetings like the huddles held last summer after the plans for the stadium were first released.
The idea is for feedback on the deal before the mayor and city council sign off on it possibly late this summer.
The final say though will come from the NFL owners, probably in October.
The team has a website to help the community keep up with where the project stands.