Georgia-Florida rivalry set to maneuver on campuses, however with a catch
The Jacksonville Jaguars will play a giant half within the huge school soccer rivalry between Georgia and Florida going ahead.
Whereas it stays to be seen if Georgia will proceed to play Florida down in Duval County, there’ll in all probability be not less than a home-and-home sprinkled in as a result of Jacksonville Jaguars‘ stadium renovations.
Jacksonville mayor Lenny Curry spoke with The Florida Times-Union concerning the upcoming renovations to TIAA Financial institution Subject, the house of the AFC South franchise. Though the Jaguars play not less than one sport abroad in London yearly, Curry revealed that the stadium renovations might maintain them from enjoying at TIAA Financial institution Subject for 2 years, probably throughout the 2025-26 seasons.
“The purpose can be to play someplace in Jacksonville,” stated Curry. “These discussions are occurring, however two years is the purpose. … I do know that they’re contemplating sure websites which might be native that would accommodate them for not less than two years.”
Curry believes the Jaguars can do what the Los Angeles Chargers did by enjoying in a soccer stadium earlier than SoFi was constructed. The most important stadium in Jacksonville outdoors of TIAA Financial institution Subject is Hodges Stadium on the College of North Florida. Whereas UNF doesn’t have soccer, the 9,400-seat venue hosts soccer matches and monitor and area meets. It may be expanded to 12,000.
An alternative choice can be for the Jaguars to play in someplace like Orlando throughout these ongoing renovations, though Curry and whoever succeeds him as mayor would nearly actually favor to maintain the crew enjoying in Jacksonville.
Given the large income maker the SEC East rivalry is for the town, this must be factored in as nicely.
Jacksonville Jaguars stadium renovations will affect the Georgia-Soccer rivalry
Look. That is all concerning the Jaguars, and the bitter SEC East rivals will simply should make do. So long as Trevor Lawrence progresses as a passer, the Jaguars will probably be in North Florida to remain. Having that huge worldwide contingent is large for one of many smaller skilled media markets in North America. Nonetheless, the NFL does a unbelievable job of constructing small market groups really feel greater.
You need proof of that? Simply take a look at the AFC. The three greatest groups in that convention at the moment are the Buffalo Payments, the Cincinnati Bengals and the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. The opposite crew enjoying within the divisional spherical a postseason in the past out of that convention was… You guessed it? The Jaguars! General, the AFC is in a terrific spot due to its quarterbacks.
So far as what this implies for Georgia and Florida, that is a bit more difficult. Though the occasion previously generally known as The World’s Largest Outside Cocktail Celebration stays probably the greatest and final remaining neutral-site common season video games, all good issues should come to an finish. As a result of Kirby Good and Billy Napier can’t host recruits at this sport, that might be a decisive difficulty right here.
Needless to say when Good was at school, the Dawgs performed a home-and-home with the Gators whereas the Gator Bowl was preparing for the expansion-era Jaguars in 1995. Although the occasion may return to North Florida in all its glory, I feel it serves each universities to see what it might be like if their arch-rival got here to city each different yr. Consider the cash they’ll make…
Though The Cocktail Celebration is in contrast to anything on the market, school soccer is a enterprise and I feel the SEC/ESPN may make extra by having this one be home-and-home. Needless to say this sport will probably be leaving CBS right here quickly as soon as that tv accomplice will get into mattress with the Large Ten long-term. Merely put, the celebrities are aligning to make Georgia-Florida be performed on campuses now.
Whereas the nickname is gone and the Jaguars right here to remain, Georgia-Florida might be on its method out.
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