The Jaguars are rolling into their Friday preseason home opener against Carolina with a stadium experience that’s going to hit fans different this year. Media got a sneak peek Thursday inside EverBank Stadium, and man, it’s undergoing a $1.4 billion rebuild that’s already forcing some wild changes.
The Concourse Got Huge, But Where’d the Upper Deck Go?
Alright, let’s talk about what’s actually *there* for fans attending Friday’s game. The main concourse? It’s been stretched from 25 feet to over 100 feet. That’s massive, giving folks way more room to move around the stadium. But here’s the kicker: the upper decks are completely closed for this entire season. They’re getting removed next year when the team plays all their home games in Orlando. The old stadium lighting that used to sit up top is now chilling in that closed-off upper deck area. So, expect temporary black seating down in the lower bowl. Plus, Gate 2 is now a giant entry point, combining West Club seating and general Gate 2 entry just for this season while construction barrels on. This whole “Stadium of the Future” isn’t even set to wrap until the 2028 season. The capacity has shrunk too, down to just over 42,000 seats. That’s a huge shift for game day.
Bottomless Drinks and Cheap Eats, But Good Luck Parking
Not everything is about construction headaches, though. There are some “fan first” moves happening. You can snag a $12.99 bottomless souvenir cup that you buy once and then bring back for free refills at every home game. And check this out, select concessions are rocking a “Fan First” menu where *all* items are under $4.99. That’s pretty sweet for the wallet. But seriously, a heads up: you gotta get to games early. Construction activity is eating up parking spots, and the routes to the stadium have totally changed. Don’t be that person stuck in traffic, missing kickoff!
So, for the Jaguars’ Friday preseason home opener against Carolina, it’s going to be an experience. The stadium is a work in progress, no doubt. Fans showing up tonight need to be ready for some big changes inside and out. It’s a preview of a long road to 2028, and every game this season is going to be a part of that journey.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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