How Jacksonville Jaguars new stadium agreement could affect Florida-Georgia rivalry game

The Jacksonville Jaguars and the city have reached a new stadium agreement that will both cost $1.4 billion and keep the team at the location for three decades. It will be the Jaguars' "stadium of the future" in its current place as the team makes improvements to its home venue.

But the Jags may not be the only team across sports to be affected by the deal. It could also mean something for Georgia and Florida's annual rivalry game, also known as the "World's Largest Cocktail Party."

It has previously been played in Jacksonville's stadium, but there's a chance that a home-and-home series could occur for the first time since 1933, in a way that both programs profit off of it.

With the deal expected to be formally agreed upon by the parties involved, the Jaguars will start construction on the new stadium after the 2025 season. Following that, the team will be expected to play in front of a reduced capacity crowd for 2026 and could move home contests to Gainesville or Orlando in 2027.

In 2023, both parties had agreed to keeping the game in Jacksonville through 2025. Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks made clear that he was still open to looking at all options, though.

"We are pleased with the decision to exercise the option that will keep the game in Jacksonville for 2024 and 2025," Brooks said. "We look forward to discussions that I'm sure will continue over the next couple of years exploring all of the options for 2026 and beyond. We continue to be appreciative of the working relationship we have with the University of Florida and the City of Jacksonville."

What happens for the game will be something to keep an eye on, whether there's a different host city or the possibility of it being played on campus, and it seems relatively certain that at least the 2025 season will be affected.