Jacksonville Jaguars are Going to Disney International!

The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to Walt Disney International!!! Technically, the Jags are going ~20 miles from WDW assets to Tenting International Stadium in Orlando, the place they’ll play domestic video games briefly, however that’s nonetheless shut sufficient for NFL lovers who wish to get their repair, in addition to for Central Florida locals and WDW diehards to get excited!

NFL homeowners unanimously authorized phrases of a short lived, one-year stadium hire between the Jaguars and Florida Citrus Sports activities for the Jaguars to play domestic video games in Tenting International Stadium throughout the 2027 season. The league’s 32 homeowners authorized Orlando because the Jags’ brief domestic throughout the NFL’s 2026 Annual Assembly in Phoenix, Arizona.

Tenting International Stadium might be designated because the Jaguars’ domestic stadium in 2027, with the workforce not able to play at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville as a result of ongoing renovations. The Jaguars will play domestic video games at EverBank Stadium in 2026 at a restricted capability of 42,507. The Jaguars already introduced plans to play consecutive domestic video games in London q4 in consequence.

The renovated ‘Stadium of the Long run’ is anticipated to be whole and able to be the Jaguars’ everlasting domestic discipline in time for the 2028 steady season following a $1.4 billion reimagining that’ll show off cutting-edge innovation and open the door for long term Tremendous Bowls and different marquee occasions.

For the overall levels of the renovation undertaking in 2027, the workforce wanted a wholly new venue. The Jags thought to be taking part in at Daytona Global Speedway, at Florida Box in Gainesville and at Tenting International Stadium in Orlando. Tenting International used to be at all times the front-runner, and become a no brainer when Orlando presented a $10 million incentive package deal to lend a hand land the Jaguars in 2026.

In birthday party of the scoop and a nod to their new neighbors at WDW, the Jags posted this ‘Steamboat Jaxson’ video:

All aboard! ⛴@Kissimmee | #DUUUVAL percent.twitter.com/3fCBnHs9uM

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) April 1, 2026

It certainly helped Orlando’s odds that the getting old Tenting International Stadium is present process its personal huge renovation, as a part of a $400 million undertaking that’ll give the venue a modernized, NFL-friendly facility.

This may occasionally entail expanding capability to no less than 65,000, upgrading luxurious suites, making improvements to concourses, modernizing concession spaces and restrooms, and making a multipurpose match heart. Development, which started final December, is scheduled to be finished in Summer time 2027, simply in time for subsequent 12 months’s NFL season (arms crossed given building delays!).

Right here’s what key figures stated in regards to the Jaguars’ Orlando announcement:

Jaguars Proprietor Shad Khan: “The Jaguars couldn’t ask for a greater state of affairs than Orlando and Tenting International Stadium as our brief domestic in 2027. This couldn’t have came about with out the endorsement of the league and workforce homeowners who authorized our plan two years in the past for a renovated Stadium of the Long run in Downtown Jacksonville, and we’re particularly appreciative of the beef up of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the method. We’re additionally thankful to the workforce at Florida Citrus Sports activities that made this resolution a fact that may receive advantages all, together with Jaguars lovers only a few hours away in Jacksonville. It is a win that everybody can have fun.”

Jaguars President Mark Lamping: “Following the great analysis of our 2027 season taking part in choices, we’re happy that the NFL and NFL homeowners unanimously agree that Orlando is the site that very best meets the wishes of the Jaguars, our 2027 combatants, and the Nationwide Soccer League. This brief relocation is a important and essential step to facilitate the 2028 of entirety of Jacksonville’s Stadium of the Long run. We’re deeply thankful to our fanbase for his or her persisted beef up, endurance, and exuberance throughout this period in-between length. We also are extremely grateful for the beef up of Florida Citrus Sports activities, the Town of Orlando, Orange County and different stakeholders for making this 2027 domestic for the Jaguars imaginable.”

Florida Citrus Sports activities CEO Steve Hogan: “We couldn’t be extra excited for the chance to welcome the Jacksonville Jaguars and their lovers to Orlando for the 2027 season. Web hosting NFL regular-season soccer is a significant milestone for our town, and we’re thankful to the Jaguars and NFL possession for his or her trust in our group. Orange County and the Town of Orlando have invested vital assets in our stadium campus, and the 2027 season will supply an amazing alternative to ship a first class fan enjoy and extra carry Orlando’s status as a number for primary carrying occasions.”

Longtime Orlando Mayor Good friend Dyer: “That is electrical. One of the vital greatest days in Orlando’s sports activities historical past. We’re difficult our group to promote out the stadium in 2027. We’ve been running for no less than 10 years to get only one Jags or Bucs regular-season recreation. To finally end up with an entire season is super.”

The Jaguars are scheduled to play 10 domestic video games throughout the 2027 NFL season, together with a preseason exhibition. No longer all of the ones might be performed in Orlando, although. Jacksonville may play as much as 3 domestic video games in London that season. (I didn’t practice this tremendous carefully, however I’m relatively shocked the Jags didn’t attempt to play all of the 2027 season with London as its domestic.)

In all probability, Orlando will host 7-8 Jags video games, together with in-state matchups that includes Tampa Bay and Miami. In keeping with the NFL’s scheduling method, the Jaguars’ different domestic combatants in 2027 are Houston, Indianapolis, Tennessee, Buffalo, New Orleans, an AFC West workforce, and an NFC West workforce. (Unfortunately for me, no Lions within the combine.)

The Jaguars are coming off a 13-4 season by which they gained the AFC South within the first 12 months of a brand new regime, and have been one of the crucial extra thrilling groups to look at (and I say that as anyone who isn’t a Jags fan), with Trevor Lawrence silencing the critics. Travis Hunter may nonetheless turn out to be a generational ability.

It’ll be fascinating to peer whether or not that momentum can also be sustained for the following two years with out a lot of a home-field merit. The Jags did cross 6-2 at the street final 12 months, so there’s that.

“I believe it’s going to be a groovy factor as a result of your reasonable soccer fan is in Disney so much,” head trainer Liam Coen stated. “It can be a approach to hook up with a brand new fan base. Are there going to be demanding situations and stressors and issues that we need to paintings thru? Completely. However I do assume normally for our logo and for Jacksonville Jaguars soccer, I don’t assume it’s going to kill us.”

I believe like there’s a phrase or two lacking from that first quote, but when now not, Coen is true. Right through the NFL season, there are a ton of soccer lovers at Walt Disney International. Diehard Disney Adults also are, slightly frequently, diehard NFL lovers. You’ll inform by way of the clothes and hats visitors are dressed in.

Alternatively, I might now not say that the Jaguars are leader amongst them. The Chiefs are, as are the Expenses, Bears, Lions, Packers, Patriots, Dolphins, Bucs, Steelers, Colts, Eagles, Texans, and Cowboys. I’m guessing we’ll see a large number of Giants lovers within the parks in 2026, since they’ll be excellent once more.

Web hosting the Jaguars briefly for a 12 months gives Orlando a chance to show off its skill to beef up an NFL workforce (or identical large-scale occasions). It’s value noting that Orlando is the most important U.S. media marketplace with out an NFL workforce and has the infrastructure (primary airport, lodges, eating places, nightlife) to take care of primary occasions.

Tenting International Stadium has performed host to 6 Professional Bowls since 2017 (maximum just lately in 2025), so it’s no stranger to special NFL occasions. As for the Jaguars, they’ll stay at their workforce facility in Jacksonville throughout the week and trip ~150 miles south for the video games.

Who is aware of the place this leads. Central Florida’s inhabitants continues to develop, as does its infrastructure. I’m now not certain it’s the optimum marketplace to beef up new professional groups given the selection of transplants within the house, however possibly that doesn’t subject. I’m additionally now not certain the site of Tenting International Stadium is perfect, however once more, possibly that’s a non-factor.

I understand this matter has a tenuous (at very best) “Disney connection,” however the NFL is my favourite league and I actually wish to see Orlando develop as a marketplace for professional sports activities, so imagine this some extent of private privilege. It’s additionally actually thrilling information for Centra Florida, and a long way from the primary time that we’ve coated sports activities on DTB.

Past Orlando as an entire, what I’d actually love is to peer extra skilled carrying occasions on the ESPN Vast International of Sports activities. A part of that is clearly selfishness, as I’d like to catch a carrying match with stakes whilst visiting Walt Disney International. I used to like staring at Spring Coaching on the ESPN WWoS, and am actually hoping Banana Ball is a large hit subsequent month.

In Will Walt Disney International Turn out to be House to a Primary League Baseball Staff?, I made the case for the Tampa Rays shifting to the Stadium at Walt Disney International after Typhoon Milton hit and brought about irreparable injury to the roof of Tropicana Box in St. Petersburg. Clearly, it didn’t occur. However judging by way of their attendance woes, possibly it will have to’ve!

Since we’re (kind of) at the matter, I’ll take this chance to suggest staring at the superb “As soon as Upon a Time in Anaheim” documentary about how the Disney film The Mighty Geese impressed the introduction of an NHL franchise.

That’s paperwork the length throughout which Michael Eisner pulled the corporate again from the edge, then vastly grew it throughout the “Disney Decade.” It’s principally the highs and lows of that technology instructed in the course of the lens of the Mighty Geese of Anaheim.

The takeaway of a median sports activities fan from “As soon as Upon a Time in Anaheim” may well be that Disney overextended itself by way of obtaining stakes in MLB and NHL groups for the sake of Eisner’s vainness. That Disney used to be out of its intensity, and not will have to’ve carried out owned professional groups within the first position. That’s unquestionably one logical conclusion.

The takeaway of this Disney fan, on the other hand, is that Disney by no means will have to’ve offered their pursuits in the ones franchises. That they have been forward in their time, and the verdict would’ve labored out neatly if simply given extra time. It just lately got here out that Michael Eisner had the chance to shop for the Geese from Disney when he exited as CEO; that used to be the verdict he screwed up, now not bringing the NHL to Anaheim.

Possibly it’s bias or rose-colored glasses, however this viewpoint is vindicated by way of the good fortune of the groups next to the gross sales and the skyrocketing worth of professional groups. And I say this as anyone who thinks Disney has overexpanded, and will have to dump or spin off some property (ABC!). No longer best that, however Disney unquestionably used to be a long way from the worst proprietor of an Anaheim sports activities franchise.

I additionally actually loved the NBA bubble at Walt Disney International, which used to be one of the crucial few highlights of 2020. (Nonetheless ready on that documentary that Disney+ and ESPN supposedly have/had within the works.) Principally, I simply wish to see extra on the intersection of sports activities and Disney, as they’re two of my greatest pursuits. And now not issues that aren’t superb, just like the NBA Enjoy at Disney Springs.

Extra groups coming to Walt Disney International or Orlando can be a savvy technique, relatively very similar to the Jaguars’ London gambit. Within the final a number of years, professional groups and stadiums in “vacation spot” places has received a large number of momentum. That’s exactly how many of the new groups in Las Vegas and Los Angeles are promoting out–when you watch video games, the seats are most commonly stuffed with visiting lovers.

Orlando or Walt Disney International may’ve had the very same dynamic with a professional workforce. It’d be fantastic for the very same causes as runDisney, conventions, or the opposite occasions they do to strategically fill resort rooms throughout off-peak instances.

As a resort trade that still operates theme parks, Orlando or Walt Disney International being domestic to a workforce can be a large draw…or even lend a hand additional gasoline growth plans. So actually, this information in regards to the Jaguars taking part in their domestic video games in Orlando throughout the 2027 season isn’t best tenuously associated with Walt Disney International. It might finally end up having giant lon-term implications for the parks & lodges if this briefly relocation is going neatly!

Making plans a Walt Disney International shuttle? Find out about lodges on our Walt Disney International Accommodations Critiques web page. For the place to consume, learn our Walt Disney International Eating place Critiques. To save cash on tickets or resolve which sort to shop for, learn our Pointers for Saving Cash on Walt Disney International Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a singular take a look at suave pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney International Journey Guides will lend a hand. For complete recommendation, the most efficient position to begin is our Walt Disney International Commute Making plans Information for the whole thing you want to understand!

Your Ideas

What do you call to mind the Jacksonville Jaguars taking part in their domestic video games at Tenting International Stadium in Orlando for the 2027 NFL season? Would you’re taking a detour from a WDW shuttle to peer the Jags play? Do you compromise or disagree with our review? Any questions we will be able to will let you solution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas beneath within the feedback!