Jacksonville Jaguars could play home games at Daytona International Speedway during stadium renovations

The Jacksonville Jaguars are on the hunt for a temporary home should they strike a deal with the city to renovate their home stadium of TIAA Bank Field.

While Camping World Stadium in Orlando and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville have been floated as possibilities, another venue not known for football has emerged as a contender. Jaguars president Mark Lamping said Thursday he plans to meet with officials at Daytona International Speedway in the next few weeks to discuss the possibility of turning the 101,500-capacity race track into a football stadium.

“It would be an interesting solution, but would also require significant investment in terms of infrastructure. It can accommodate a big crowd,” Lamping said, via Don Muret of Venues Now. “… Would be a little wonky, but it’s worth considering. After the [Daytona Rising] renovations, it’s nice.”

Lamping mentioned a couple of temporary sites in the Jacksonville area that could become options, though they come with a caveat.

“There could also be a temporary solution in Jacksonville, adding seats to the [city’s minor league] baseball stadium or the track stadium at the University of North Florida,” Lamping said. “Both options come with a big [retrofit] of $125 million.”

Jacksonville’s best-case scenario is to begin construction after the 2025 season for a completion date of 2028. A full makeover of TIAA Bank Field with a roof canopy will cost between $1.3 to $1.4 billion. The addition of the roof canopy would help reduce heat retention by more than 70%, lowering temperatures by 10-15 degrees, Muret wrote.

Jaguars hope stadium renovations will attract marquee events

Lamping argued the renovations are necessary to attract significant events such as the College Football Playoff. With the team’s current lease expiring after the 2029 season, the deal for financing the renovation tied to a lease extension would require 75% approval among the NFL’s 32 team owners, per Muret.

“Quite honestly, that’s what’s needed in Jacksonville,” Lamping said. “We have aspirations to attract many other significant events such as the College Football Playoff championship game, for example. To win an event like that, you must have things for people to do before, during and after the event, plus places to stay, because the experience extends to well beyond what’s inside the stadium.”