The Jaguars' home stadium has undergone significant changes and upgrades in its 22-year history. But as many new buildings and designs have come on line around the NFL, Jacksonville is still able to boast one of the most fan-friendly and technologically-advanced stadiums in the league.
On August 18, 1995, when the Jacksonville Jaguars played their first home preseason game in their new stadium, it marked the first time in sports history that an expansion team played its first home game in its inaugural season in a new stadium or arena. In the short period of 19 and a half months, the old Gator Bowl was demolished and a new stadium arose on the shores of the St. Johns River. Just 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."
In its 10th year of operation, the stadium was the host site of Super Bowl XXXIX, the world's largest one-day sporting event. Known at that time as Alltel Stadium, the building underwent a $63 million renovation in preparation for Super Bowl XXXIX. Among the additions were the Terrace Suite, a 25,000-square-foot sports bar called the Bud Light Party Zone, a 20,000-square-foot Sky Patio, 20 new escalators and four new elevators.
Originally named Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, the home of the Jaguars got a new name on the eve of the 2010 training camp, when EverBank Financial Corp. and the Jaguars introduced EverBank Field on July 27, 2010. One of the nation's largest privately-held bank holding companies, EverBank employs more than 2,200 workers and is headquartered in Jacksonville. The partnership included a five-year naming rights agreement, which was extended by another 10 years in 2014.
EverBank Field became the proud home of the world's largest in-stadium video boards in 2014. At 362 feet wide and 60 feet high, the two massive end zone displays are wider than the length of a football field and have set the standard for in-venue visual experience. Additional video boards and ribbon panels help enhance fans' in –stadium experience on game day.
In addition to the video boards, 2014 brought innovative changes to the north end zone. Christened FanDuelVille in 2015, the two-story, north end zone fan plaza is the ultimate home of fantasy football. The biggest party scene in professional sports also is home to the the Axalta Spas, an asset about which no other NFL stadium can boast. In the Florida sunshine, there's no better place for fans to cool off and cheer on the Jags.
The reimagining of EverBank Field continued in 2016 with a $90 million shared investment by the City of Jacksonville and the Jaguars. Phase 1 brought a complete overhaul of the Clubs, bringing new 50-yard-line patios to the NFL for the first time and a brand new south end zone tunnel to the start of the season. Phase 2 introduced a new 5,500 seat amphitheater and the Dream Finders Homes Flex Field to the downtown sports complex. Known as Daily's Place, the new venues are part the ambitious vision for the future of downtown Jacksonville as a world-class sports and entertainment destination.
On June 4, 2018, EverBank became TIAA Bank and the stadium was renamed to TIAA Bank Field.