Owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars Shad Khan has made a subtly humorous dig at some who questioned his resolve to keep the team in the team’s hometown.
Not only is the franchise’s future in Jacksonville certain, but Khan can now respond to the ‘Debbie Downers’ who doubted his intentions when he bought the team in 2012. The $1.4 billion stadium reconstruction project was just approved. The Jaguars were the subject of relocation rumors for many years; these claims said that the team may relocate to London, Los Angeles, or possibly St. Louis.
But Khan’s steadfast commitment to Jacksonville and Duval County has at last quieted the doubters. The owner of the Jaguars held off on a clear victory lap, but he couldn’t help but make a subtle jab at those who didn’t believe in him (AP via theScore):
I don’t get any joy out of proving people wrong. They can reflect and move on. But actions always speak louder than words. And from Day 1, it’s been like judging us by our actions. Definitely for the ‘Debbie Downers,’ (Tuesday) night was not a good night.
Dubbed the “stadium of the future,” the recently approved stadium restoration project marks a critical turning point in the Jaguars’ history.
Jaguars’ Transformation: From Laughing Stock to Landmark
When Khan purchased the Jaguars in 2012, the team was widely considered the laughing stock of the league. Empty seats covered by tarps, and discussions about playing home games in nearby Orlando painted a bleak picture for the franchise’s future in Jacksonville.
However, Khan’s vision and determination have transformed both the team and its home stadium.
With a 55-45% financial split between the city and the team, the $1.25 billion build demonstrates a strong commitment from both parties to secure the franchise’s long-term presence in Jacksonville.
Donna Deegan, the mayor of Jacksonville and a native of Duval who has been in office for just over a year, was instrumental in advancing the project and expressed her excitement at proving her skeptics wrong.
Unlike Shad, I do enjoy proving people wrong. I have been very petty in this process, saving every article, every negative tweet, every ‘no way you’re ever going to get this done.’ I’ve saved them all, and I’m relishing that today.
The planned 63,000-seat outdoor stadium is expected to become a Jacksonville and NFL monument. With a translucent roof akin to Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, the new venue will provide rain protection and cut outdoor temperatures by fifteen degrees. In addition, the design for an additional 71,500 seats to be added for big events like the Florida-Georgia rivalry game and possible College Football Playoff games. The stadium project is simply the most recent of Khan’s several contributions to Jacksonville, which come to about $1.3 billion. These expenditures include of different charitable contributions, a new practice facility, and improvements to the existing stadium.
GIVEMESPORT Key Stat: Shad Khan’s ownership tenure is finally starting to turn the corner with Trevor Lawrence, Doug Pederson, and the new stadium. However, since Khan took ownership in 2012, the Jacksonville Jaguars have won just 60 games, which is the worst mark in the entire league over that span.
The Jaguars owner, taking shots at Debbie Downers, emphasized the significance of this commitment
Everyone wants to doubt Jacksonville, and as of (Tuesday) night, that should no longer be the case. People can move on with other stuff. Not a good day for the Doubting Thomases. We did something very significant, but we got to remember our journey to last night’s historic night was long.
As the Jaguars prepare for a new era in their revamped home, the message from Khan is clear: Jacksonville is and will remain the team’s home. The approval of this ambitious stadium project not only secures the Jaguars’ future in the city but also serves as a testament to Khan’s dedication to the franchise and its fans.
For those who doubted his intentions, the Jaguars owner taking shots at ‘Debbie Downers’ serves as a reminder that actions indeed speak louder than words.
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