The Jacksonville Jaguars are going to Walt Disney World!!! Technically, the Jags are going ~20 miles from WDW property to Tenting World Stadium in Orlando, the place they’ll play residence video games quickly, however that’s nonetheless shut sufficient for NFL followers who wish to get their repair, in addition to for Central Florida locals and WDW diehards to get excited!
NFL homeowners unanimously accepted phrases of a brief, one-year stadium lease between the Jaguars and Florida Citrus Sports activities for the Jaguars to play residence video games in Tenting World Stadium throughout the 2027 season. The league’s 32 homeowners accepted Orlando because the Jags’ non permanent residence throughout the NFL’s 2026 Annual Assembly in Phoenix, Arizona.
Tenting World Stadium might be designated because the Jaguars’ residence stadium in 2027, with the crew unable to play at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville due to ongoing renovations. The Jaguars will play residence video games at EverBank Stadium in 2026 at a restricted capability of 42,507. The Jaguars already introduced plans to play consecutive residence video games in London this fall in consequence.
The renovated ‘Stadium of the Future’ is anticipated to be full and able to be the Jaguars’ everlasting residence subject in time for the 2028 common season following a $1.4 billion reimagining that’ll showcase state-of-the-art innovation and open the door for future Tremendous Bowls and different marquee occasions.
For the ultimate phases of the renovation undertaking in 2027, the crew wanted a wholly new venue. The Jags thought-about enjoying at Daytona Worldwide Speedway, at Florida Subject in Gainesville and at Tenting World Stadium in Orlando. Tenting World was all the time the front-runner, and have become a no brainer when Orlando provided a $10 million incentive bundle to assist land the Jaguars in 2026.
In celebration of the information and a nod to their new neighbors at WDW, the Jags posted this ‘Steamboat Jaxson’ video:
All aboard! ⛴@Kissimmee | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/3fCBnHs9uM
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) April 1, 2026
It little doubt helped Orlando’s odds that the growing old Tenting World 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 entail growing capability to a minimal of 65,000, upgrading luxurious suites, enhancing concourses, modernizing concession areas and restrooms, and making a multipurpose occasion middle. Development, which started final December, is scheduled to be accomplished in Summer season 2027, simply in time for subsequent yr’s NFL season (fingers crossed given building delays!).
Right here’s what key figures mentioned concerning the Jaguars’ Orlando announcement:
Jaguars Proprietor Shad Khan: “The Jaguars couldn’t ask for a greater state of affairs than Orlando and Tenting World Stadium as our non permanent residence in 2027. This couldn’t have occurred with out the endorsement of the league and crew homeowners who accepted our plan two years in the past for a renovated Stadium of the Future in Downtown Jacksonville, and we’re particularly appreciative of the help of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the course of. We’re additionally grateful to the crew at Florida Citrus Sports activities that made this answer a actuality that may profit all, together with Jaguars followers just some hours away in Jacksonville. This can be a win that everybody can have a good time.”
Jaguars President Mark Lamping: “Following the great analysis of our 2027 season enjoying choices, we’re happy that the NFL and NFL homeowners unanimously agree that Orlando is the situation that greatest meets the wants of the Jaguars, our 2027 opponents, and the Nationwide Soccer League. This non permanent relocation is a vital and essential step to facilitate the 2028 completion of Jacksonville’s Stadium of the Future. We’re deeply grateful to our fanbase for his or her continued help, persistence, and enthusiasm throughout this interim interval. We’re additionally extremely grateful for the help of Florida Citrus Sports activities, the Metropolis of Orlando, Orange County and different stakeholders for making this 2027 residence for the Jaguars doable.”
Florida Citrus Sports activities CEO Steve Hogan: “We couldn’t be extra excited for the chance to welcome the Jacksonville Jaguars and their followers to Orlando for the 2027 season. Internet hosting NFL regular-season soccer is a significant milestone for our metropolis, and we’re grateful to the Jaguars and NFL possession for his or her perception in our group. Orange County and the Metropolis of Orlando have invested vital sources in our stadium campus, and the 2027 season will present an amazing alternative to ship a first-class fan expertise and additional elevate Orlando’s standing as a bunch for main sporting occasions.”
Longtime Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer: “That is electrical. One of many largest days in Orlando’s sports activities historical past. We’re difficult our group to promote out the stadium in 2027. We’ve been working for a minimum of 10 years to get only one Jags or Bucs regular-season recreation. To finish up with an entire season is great.”
The Jaguars are scheduled to play 10 residence video games throughout the 2027 NFL season, together with a preseason exhibition. Not all of these might be performed in Orlando, although. Jacksonville might play as much as three residence video games in London that season. (I didn’t comply with this tremendous carefully, however I’m considerably shocked the Jags didn’t attempt to play the whole 2027 season with London as its residence.)
In all probability, Orlando will host 7-8 Jags video games, together with in-state matchups that includes Tampa Bay and Miami. Per the NFL’s scheduling system, the Jaguars’ different residence opponents in 2027 are Houston, Indianapolis, Tennessee, Buffalo, New Orleans, an AFC West crew, and an NFC West crew. (Sadly 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 yr of a brand new regime, and have been one of many extra thrilling groups to look at (and I say that as somebody who isn’t a Jags fan), with Trevor Lawrence silencing the critics. Travis Hunter might nonetheless show to be a generational expertise.
It’ll be attention-grabbing to see whether or not that momentum will be sustained for the subsequent two years with out a lot of a home-field benefit. The Jags did go 6-2 on the highway final yr, so there’s that.
“I feel it will likely be a cool factor as a result of your common soccer fan is in Disney rather a lot,” head coach Liam Coen mentioned. “It may very well be a technique to join with a brand new fan base. Are there going to be challenges and stressors and issues that now we have to work by means of? Completely. However I do assume typically for our model and for Jacksonville Jaguars soccer, I don’t assume it’s going to kill us.”
I really feel like there’s a phrase or two lacking from that first quote, but when not, Coen is true. Throughout the NFL season, there are a ton of soccer followers at Walt Disney World. Diehard Disney Adults are additionally, very often, diehard NFL followers. You may inform by the clothes and hats friends are sporting.
Nevertheless, I might not say that the Jaguars are chief amongst them. The Chiefs are, as are the Payments, Bears, Lions, Packers, Patriots, Dolphins, Bucs, Steelers, Colts, Eagles, Texans, and Cowboys. I’m guessing we’ll see a number of Giants followers within the parks in 2026, since they’ll be good once more.
Internet hosting the Jaguars quickly for a yr presents Orlando a chance to showcase its means to help an NFL crew (or related large-scale occasions). It’s price noting that Orlando is the most important U.S. media market with out an NFL crew and has the infrastructure (main airport, motels, eating places, nightlife) to deal with main occasions.
Tenting World Stadium has performed host to 6 Professional Bowls since 2017 (most lately in 2025), so it’s no stranger to huge NFL occasions. As for the Jaguars, they’ll stay at their crew facility in Jacksonville throughout the week and journey ~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 unsure it’s the optimum market to help new professional groups given the variety of transplants within the space, however perhaps that doesn’t matter. I’m additionally unsure the situation of Tenting World Stadium is perfect, however once more, perhaps that’s a non-factor.
I notice this subject has a tenuous (at greatest) “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 contemplate this some extent of private privilege. It’s additionally actually thrilling information for Centra Florida, and much from the primary time that we’ve lined sports activities on DTB.
Past Orlando as an entire, what I’d actually love is to see extra skilled sporting occasions on the ESPN Huge World of Sports activities. A part of that is clearly selfishness, as I’d like to catch a sporting occasion with stakes whereas visiting Walt Disney World. I used to like watching Spring Coaching on the ESPN WWoS, and am actually hoping Banana Ball is a large hit subsequent month.
In Will Walt Disney World Develop into Dwelling to a Main League Baseball Group?, I made the case for the Tampa Rays transferring to the Stadium at Walt Disney World after Hurricane Milton hit and brought about irreparable injury to the roof of Tropicana Subject in St. Petersburg. Clearly, it didn’t occur. However judging by their attendance woes, perhaps it ought to’ve!
Since we’re (kind of) on the subject, I’ll take this chance to advocate watching the superb “As soon as Upon a Time in Anaheim” documentary about how the Disney film The Mighty Geese impressed the creation of an NHL franchise.
That’s paperwork the interval throughout which Michael Eisner pulled the corporate again from the brink, then massively grew it throughout the “Disney Decade.” It’s mainly the highs and lows of that period instructed by means 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” is likely to be that Disney overextended itself by buying stakes in MLB and NHL groups for the sake of Eisner’s self-importance. That Disney was out of its depth, and by no means ought to’ve accomplished owned professional groups within the first place. That’s definitely one logical conclusion.
The takeaway of this Disney fan, nevertheless, is that Disney by no means ought to’ve offered their pursuits in these franchises. That they have been forward of their time, and the choice would’ve labored out properly if simply given extra time. It lately got here out that Michael Eisner had the chance to purchase the Geese from Disney when he exited as CEO; that was the choice he screwed up, not bringing the NHL to Anaheim.
Maybe it’s bias or rose-colored glasses, however this attitude is vindicated by the success of the groups subsequent to the gross sales and the skyrocketing worth of professional groups. And I say this as somebody who thinks Disney has overexpanded, and may dump or spin off some belongings (ABC!). Not solely that, however Disney definitely was removed from the worst proprietor of an Anaheim sports activities franchise.
I additionally actually loved the NBA bubble at Walt Disney World, which was one of many few highlights of 2020. (Nonetheless ready on that documentary that Disney+ and ESPN supposedly have/had within the works.) Mainly, I simply wish to see extra on the intersection of sports activities and Disney, as they’re two of my largest pursuits. And never issues that aren’t superb, just like the NBA Expertise at Disney Springs.
Extra groups coming to Walt Disney World or Orlando may very well be a savvy technique, considerably much like the Jaguars’ London gambit. Within the final a number of years, professional groups and stadiums in “vacation spot” areas has gained a number of momentum. That’s exactly how many of the new groups in Las Vegas and Los Angeles are promoting out–if you happen to watch video games, the seats are largely stuffed with visiting followers.
Orlando or Walt Disney World might’ve had the very same dynamic with a professional crew. It’d be advantageous for the very same causes as runDisney, conventions, or the opposite occasions they do to strategically fill lodge rooms throughout off-peak instances.
As a lodge enterprise that additionally operates theme parks, Orlando or Walt Disney World being residence to a crew may very well be an enormous draw…and even assist additional gas growth plans. So actually, this information concerning the Jaguars enjoying their residence video games in Orlando throughout the 2027 season isn’t solely tenuously associated to Walt Disney World. It might find yourself having huge lon-term implications for the parks & resorts if this quickly relocation goes properly!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study motels on our Walt Disney World Resorts Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the pieces you should know!
Your Ideas
What do you consider the Jacksonville Jaguars enjoying their residence video games at Tenting World Stadium in Orlando for the 2027 NFL season? Would you’re taking a detour from a WDW journey to see the Jags play? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
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