JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Fans attending Sunday’s Jacksonville Jaguars game against the Tennessee Titans were met with wet, windy weather, prompting many to leave EverBank Stadium at halftime. The less-than-ideal conditions reignited calls for a stadium upgrade, with plans for a $1.4 billion renovation set to begin next year.
At halftime, while the Jaguars held a 10-3 lead, hundreds of fans were seen heading for the exits, citing the discomfort of being cold and wet.
“It’s very frustrating,” Paula Maxwell said.
Jags fan Jay Shunnarah said, “It started out raining okay, and we were tolerating it, but the rain started to pick up, and we didn’t want to get stuck in thunderstorms.”
The stadium renovations, expected to start in 2025, will include a glass roof designed to reduce heat during sunny games and provide better shelter during poor weather.
“It was a little chilly with the wind and rain, especially with a little one,” Gerald Simmons said.
Lorrie White, a season ticket holder, supports the changes.
“If we can stay inside potentially but not be inside, that would be much better,” she said. “I have no problem with the changes coming.”
The project, dubbed “The Stadium of the Future,” will address concerns voiced by fans like Michael Sullivan, who said he would be more likely to buy season tickets if the games were played under a dome or retractable roof. “I wouldn’t have to be cold,” he said. “I would come to every single game.”
Visiting fans like Mary Scholl, who traveled from New York, echoed similar sentiments. “The weather won this round,” she admitted after leaving at halftime.
Despite the weather challenges, Jaguars fans are optimistic about the upgrades, which promise to improve the overall game-day experience for both local and visiting attendees.