Fans heading to EverBank Stadium for Jaguars games this season are going to find that it's not the same place they left in January.
The upper decks are completely closed for this season and will be removed entirely next year, when the team plays its home games in Orlando
. Construction equipment blocks some of the best parking spots, and crews will continue to transform the stadium as the season progresses.Capacity has been reduced by more than 27,000 for this season. That means that if the Jaguars sell every ticket to every home game in Jacksonville this season, they still will play before 239,098 fewer fans than last year.
The Jaguars play six regular season games in Jacksonville this season, plus two preseason contests. They'll also play two "home"
games in London. The final regular-season game scheduled to be played is Week 17 against the Washington Commanders.
It's all leading to the "Stadium of the Future," which will open in 2028 with expanded concourses, new upper decks and a canopy covering the whole thing.
Before we get to the Stadium of the Future, though, let's see what fans can expect from the Stadium of the Present.
What is capacity for the stadium? How does that differ from last year?
EverBank Stadium will hold 42,465 fans this season. That's 27,308 fewer seats than last year. Of the seats no longer available, 22,005 were in the upper bowl, which is closed entirely. Others are in corners of the lower bowl, the end zones, the lower levels of the club seats and the Terrace Suites.
Can I still buy a ticket for a game?
Season tickets and single game tickets are still available for every game and can be found at jaguars.com/tickets.
Why do the Jaguars only play six regular-season games in Jacksonville this season?
The NFL plays 17 regular-season games, with the conferences rotating which gets eight home games and which gets nine each year; this season, AFC teams each get eight home games. The Jaguars actually have three “home” stadiums this season. They’ll play two preseason contests and six games during the regular season at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, plus one each at Tottenham Hotspur and Wembley stadiums in London.
Has the parking situation changed?
Construction equipment now sits in some of the stadium's prime parking spots. There are fewer parking spots available, but fewer fans to fill them, so you should still find a place to park, but not necessarily the same one you used last year. Season ticket holders have already been informed of where they'll park. Offsite private lots will continue to operate, and the team will still run gameday shuttles.
Have the entrances changed?
The gates to the stadium remain the same, but fans will notice a difference immediately after entering. A "grand staircase" opened last year near Gate 1, connecting the plaza level with the main concourse. New grand staircases are now in place inside Gates 2 and 3. Work continues on the grand staircase for Gate 4, which is expected to open sometime during the season.
What happened to the jaguar statue outside the stadium?
The large brass cat named Touchdown, which has stood outside Gate 1 for 31 seasons, was removed over the summer to make way for construction. It's being stored at the old Jacksonville Fairgrounds site for the time being but may make a reappearance for this season in a temporary location. The 3,100-pound statue will return for the 2028 season.
Are the upper decks closed completely?
Yes. Seats are being removed, and the decks themselves will be demolished after the season.
Are the video boards still operating?
Yes, the world’s largest collection of outdoor in-stadium video boards will be in operation for Jaguars games this season at EverBank Stadium. They will also be incorporated into the Stadium of the Future.
Are the pools still open?
No, the north end zone Spa Deck and Sky Patio are closed this season. They will return with the Stadium of the Future.
Are the escalators operating?
The only escalators operating this season are the ones in the south end zone that connect the Daily's Place plaza to the main concourse behind the Bud Light Party Zone. Elevators, located in the East and West Clubs and near Gate 4 in the south end zone, are reserved for people with mobility issues.
Will Daily's Place be utilized on game days?
Daily’s Place will not be open to fans during this season. The Flex Field behind the stage, however, will be used for the pregame Fan Entertainment Zone and as a break room for stadium staff.
Can fans walk all the way around the main concourse?
Yes, the main concourse level goes all the way around the stadium. That's not the case this year with the ground level, where fans can't necessarily get from one gate to another inside the stadium. The Jaguars recommend that fans enter the stadium through the gate noted on their ticket to make navigation easier.
Are there still lights?
Of course there are. The Jaguars play two preseason night games in Jacksonville this season, as well as a Monday Night Football game against the Steelers in December.
Can Jaxson still do his bungee stunt?
Yes, but with some adjustments. "In 2026, there will be alternative options for Jaxson to continue his antics, including the bungee jump," according to the team.
How many restrooms are available? How does that compare to last year?
There are 54 restrooms that are available; last year the stadium had 92. Of the restrooms that are offline this season, the majority of those are in spaces that are not accessible to fans, such as the upper concourse, sky patio and spa deck.
How many concession stands are available? How does that compare to last year?
There are 86 concession stands that are available in the stadium this season, compared to 160 last season. Almost all of the closed concession stands are in areas that are no longer accessible.
What vendors are not available this season?
All food and beverage vendors that were in the upper bowl will still be available elsewhere in the stadium this year.
Will construction continue through the season? How will the stadium change during the season?
Work has already started on expanding the concourses and building the structure that will hold a canopy over the stadium, and that will continue throughout the season. More than 100 steel trusses have already been added. A fourth grand staircase is also scheduled to come online sometime this season.
Are the Jaguars planning any special ceremonies or merchandise for the stadium's 'last' year?
Plans are still being determined.
Have the Jaguars reduced gameday staff because of the smaller crowds?
Staffing levels have been adjusted accordingly to repurpose stadium staff in other areas to ensure the best possible guest experience, according to the team.
Will the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office staff gamedays differently because of smaller crowds?
Apparently not. "Staffing will remain approximately the same due to the drop in parking capacity and challenges that the stadium construction can bring," according to Brock Hardesty, a digital content specialist with the department.
How do the coaches and players feel about the stadium situation?
It doesn't seem to be a big deal to coaches and players. "There’s no secret that we’re not going to be playing in Jacksonville a ton over the next two years, so our entire mindset is, ‘Anytime, anyplace, anybody, it doesn’t matter. We’re going to go play and compete.’ Drop us off a helicopter and we’ll go play wherever it is. That’s not going to be an excuse," said Coach Liam Coen.
Defender Travon Walker said it's all the same as far as he's concerned.
“What it's going to feel like, to me, it's going to feel like football," Walker said during Jaguars training camp. "You step on the football field, it’s time to play football. But obviously playing in front of a home crowd, it gives you a little extra spark, but other than that, it's football at the end of the day. I don’t care how fancy it is. I don't care how old it is. We’re going to play football.”
What will the new stadium be called?
That's not clear at this point. EverBank signed a naming-rights deal in 2025 that runs through February 2028. The renovated stadium is scheduled to open in August 2028. The Jaguars refer to it as the Stadium of the Future. Renderings of the new stadium released by the team say "Sponsor Stadium" across the front.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Parking, pools, restrooms: What changes at EverBank Stadium in 2026
