Phil Ammann
After overnighting the application packet to Tallahassee, the City of Jacksonville and the NFL Jaguars learned their request for state funds for stadium upgrades is ready to consideration.
Out of four petitioners in the running for part of a $7 million state fund, the Jaguars are the last to have its proposal judged complete. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) will rank the requests and present its decision to state lawmakers on Feb. 1, who will decide on how to allocate the money.
Chances are the state will either reduce of deny at least one request, as the request for the four projects totals $9 million this year. The Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Daytona International Speedway, and the City of Orlando each submitted proposals for state funding, spread out over 30 years.
Jacksonville Assistant General Counsel John Sawyer received the DEO letter on Friday notifying the Jaguars’ application was complete, reports Tia Mitchell of the Florida Times-Union.
On behalf of the Jaguars, Jacksonville asked for $1 million annually to upgrade concessions at EverBank Field, with the possibility of rebuilding its club sections. The city submitted documents – with overnight delivery – ahead of the Nov. 1 deadline.
Nevertheless, agency officials requested the Jaguars provide additional details and information before it could fully evaluate the 900-page document, Mitchell writes.
In contrast, Daytona’s request for $90 million to help with its $400 million renovation clocked in at only 110 pages.
Miami – the first application deemed complete for review – is asking for $90 million to renovate Sun Life Stadium, the Dolphins’ home field.
Orlando seeks $60 million to help with its planned $110 downtown stadium for a professional soccer expansion team, which would also host other sporting events.
