No, the Jaguars usually are not going to maneuver to London

sigh I can’t imagine now we have to maintain doing this. It’s been, what, nearly a decade of those rumors and it nonetheless hasn’t occurred? So yeah, let me get out forward on this and simply say it:

THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS ARE NOT MOVING TO LONDON.

The rumors have began again up with the 2023 Worldwide Sequence being introduced on Wednesday, and the Jaguars taking part in two video games in London, in Week 4 in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons in Wembley Stadium and Week 5 in opposition to the Buffalo Payments in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Jacksonville retains eight house video games, however switches out two highway video games for 2 worldwide ones.

In fact, this led to hypothesis that if the NFL ever decides to develop to London, the Jaguars would be the one to make the transfer. Similar to each different yr when the worldwide video games get launched and the Jaguars play in London.

Shouldn’t we be losing interest of this? The Jaguars gained’t be shifting to London anytime quickly, and right here’s why.

The Jaguars on spending on services in Jacksonville

Picture through Development Gear Information (through Jacksonville Jaguars)

The Jaguars have really begun to make severe investments within the Jacksonville space. For starters, renovations are set to return to TIAA Financial institution Stadium after international design agency HOK was tabbed to be the marketing consultant. Mayor Lenny Curry spoke to native radio station 1010XL on Wednesday to speak about potential renovations to the stadium and a doable completion date, noting that the Jaguars must discover one other place to play for a minimum of two years.

This doesn’t imply the group will go on a two yr boarding journey throughout the pond, nonetheless. The almost certainly candidates can be Tenting World Stadium in Orlando or presumably Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville. An alternative choice may very well be 121 Monetary Park, the place the minor league Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp play, however their stadium must undergo main renovations to accommodate the Jaguars. With the brand new stadium probably totaling over $600 million in upgrades, there’s no motive to imagine that the Jaguars will probably be shifting anytime quickly.

As well as, the Jaguars’ new coaching facility is about to open over the summer time, a $120 million funding in not solely the Jaguars, however the metropolis of Jacksonville. There’s no method the Jaguars can financially make investments this a lot cash into the town after which go away for London.

Moreover, the Khans themselves have invested some huge cash into the downtown Jacksonville space. In Nov. 2022, Jaguars proprietor Shad Khan’s improvement firm started work on a 4 Seasons Lodge and workplace constructing on the downtown Northbank riverfront, one other funding price tens of millions of {dollars}. In keeping with WOKV, the challenge must be executed in July 2026, much more motive to imagine that the Jaguars gained’t be going wherever anytime quickly.

The Jaguars stadium lease runs by means of 2030

A hurdle that the Jaguars must bounce by means of is getting their lease on the stadium prolonged. Presently, the lease is thru 2030, per News4Jax, and for the lease to get prolonged renovations should be made, which is why the Jaguars have begun that course of early. 24 of the 32 homeowners (75%) should approve stated renovations as nicely, which isn’t anticipated to be an excessive amount of of a problem. There’s motive to imagine that each the Jaguars and the town of Jacksonville wish to get this accomplished, however the associated fee would possibly push some taxpayers away.

In a Feb. 28 ballot executed by the Jacksonville Enterprise Journal, 61% of residents stated that they might oppose the town utilizing as much as $750 million of public funds to accomplice with the Jaguars on the stadium renovations. Mayor Curry has already stated that the town of Jacksonville and the Jaguars will accomplice on the renovations, nonetheless. Don’t take the 61% opposition to paying for the renovations too severely when making assumptions about Jaguars followers, nonetheless. Jacksonville was 18th within the NFL in attendance, and a majority agree that holding the group in Jacksonville is essential.

If the NFL really desires to develop abroad…

If the NFL desires to develop into London, they’ll most likely find yourself creating 4 new franchises with a view to get it executed. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell floated the concept of a complete NFL division of groups in Europe, with London presumably supporting two franchises. This yr for the Worldwide Sequence, London will get 3 video games and Germany will get the opposite two. As a consequence of renovations on the Azteca, Mexico gained’t get any video games this yr.

An nameless proprietor advised Entrance Workplace Sports activities’ AJ Perez that enlargement may result in extra profitable TV offers, and whereas the proprietor wouldn’t give a timeframe for when it can occur, he did say that a world division can be occurring. The logistics of worldwide journey are a large challenge in relation to this enlargement, however the cash on the desk is likely to be an excessive amount of to disregard. There are greater odds that the NFL expands into worldwide waters with 4 fully new groups fairly than shifting different groups away from the place they’re now.

So no, the Jaguars gained’t be shifting to London. Not now, not in two years, not in 5 years. It’s simply not occurring.