Jaguars' Club Level funding application remains incomplete

With less than a month to go before the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity makes its recommendations on what teams deserve money for stadium funding, the Jacksonville Jaguars are not quite under consideration.

We first told you in December that the Jaguars are seeking state money to fund Club Level renovations at EverBank Field. The project includes removing seats, opening new field views, adding bar seating and more.  The team would front the $20 million needed for the project and be reimbursed by the state over a period of 30 years. This is the first year teams have been required to put together formal bids for funding rather than just lobbying lawmakers.

The Jags are competing with three other teams for a portion of the available funds, but right now, their application is not considered complete.

“DEO’s Division of Strategic Business Development continues to work through the remaining two applications, City of Jacksonville/Jaguars and Orlando MLS, to obtain information to determine completion and compliance,” reads a statement from DEO Spokeswoman Jennifer Diaz.

Once an application is considered complete, the DEO begins a 60 day review period to determine whether the bid warrants funding. By February 1, the DEO is committed to having a ranking of the bids to turn over to lawmakers. Until the Jags bid is considered complete, the review cannot formally begin.

“Time is being taken to ensure that the program and processes are developed properly on this first round of applicants,” the statement says.

I’m told the DEO will perform a review, even if they have fewer than 60 days remaining, and that they’re working with the team to reach completion. With two of the four submitted applications complete, however, it’s unclear whether a shorter review period would jeopardize the funding for the Jags.

“DEO could determine and communicate to applicant completeness at any time and that would trigger the 60-day review,” says Diaz.

The funding is significant because Jaguars President Mark Lamping tells WOKV without it, they will not move forward with the Club Level renovations at this time.

This project comes on the heels of the new video boards and party decks which have been installed- to the tune of $63 million, $20 million of which was covered by the Jags. Jaguars ownership also recently funded a locker room revamp, and the City covered upgraded Wi-Fi installation.

The bids are ranked on a number of factors, including whether they will go toward creating jobs in Florida and will give the state exposure. The Jaguars believe they are uniquely qualified for that because of the team’s partnership with the NFL in London and because the team’s Owner Shad Khan also owns Fulham FC- giving them an international stage. Further, the bid estimates that 227 permanent jobs and 1,000 temporary jobs have been created by renovations to this point, and this additional work would mean 540 more temporary jobs.

WOKV will continue to track the progress of the bid and changes that could be coming to EverBank Field.