Stadium History

On August 18, 1995, when the Jacksonville Jaguars played their first game in their new stadium, it marked the first time in sports history that an expansion team had played its first home game in its first season in a new stadium or arena. Not only that, but it was built faster than any major-league stadium had ever been built in North America. In the short period of 19 1/2 months, the old Gator Bowl was demolished and a new stadium arose on the shores of the St. Johns River. And, very quickly, it was called the best stadium in the country. Just seconds before the Jaguars kicked off their first regular-season game on September 3, 1995, NBC broadcaster Don Criqui said, “There isn’t a better football facility in America.” For its 10th year of operation, Jacksonville Municipal Stadium -- then named Alltel Stadium -- was the host site of Super Bowl XXXIX, the biggest single-day sporting event in the world.