Khan's contributions to Jacksonville highlighted by stadium deal

Jaguars owner Shad Kahn said that the $1.4B renovation of EverBank Stadium “proved doubters wrong about the city and team being able to keep the franchise in Jacksonville,” according to David Bauerlein of the FLORIDA TIMES-UNION. The city will put up $775M of the $1.4B for the stadium renovation, while Khan “will pay the rest and be responsible for any cost overruns.” Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan indicated that Khan's contribution to the stadium “will be on top of his financial support for the ongoing construction of the Four Seasons Hotel & Residences Jacksonville he is building on the riverfront a short walk from the stadium.” Deegan said the entire city is “grateful for your belief in Jacksonville and the significant investments you're making in our community." She said, “A billion dollars so far, folks, no joke. Pretty impressive. I hope you all believe now.” Khan said that because Jacksonville is a “small market by the standards of NFL cities,” the stadium renovation "needed to be a public-private partnership" so the prior deals carried over the much larger $1.4B stadium makeover. At the same time, he said that the goal was to have “‘no compromises’ in the stadium design.” He said that the gigantic scoreboards “will be reused in the renovated venue.” The lower portion of the stadium “still is in good shape and will be kept while the upper deck is rebuilt” (FLORIDA TIMES-TIMES, 6/26).

ADDING TO THE LEGACY: The AP’s Mark Long noted this is the "latest addition to Khan’s NFL ownership legacy." He has now contributed roughly $1.3B to the city, including $301.2M for an ongoing shipyards project, $119M toward a community benefits agreement “that was passed along with the stadium renovation,” $108.7M in previous stadium upgrades, $80M for a practice facility and $30M donated to various charities (AP, 6/26).

TOO BIG TO LOSE: In Jacksonville, Gene Frenette wrote this “got done on a timetable palatable to both parties.” It started with Khan and Jaguars President Mark Lamping, “prudently using their power and intense desire to find a fair solution for the team and the city.” They “got ahead of the game early.” The Jaguars began pushing a stadium solution “well ahead of schedule, which ultimately led to Jacksonville taking a major step toward the NFL franchise’s long-term stay.” It really “didn’t matter” what was “sitting in the mayor’s chair.” No politician “would want to be the leader of a city administration that saw the Jaguars pack up and move.” This was “one game in which the Jaguars and Jacksonville were too driven to lose” (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 6/26).