With Preseason starting in a couple weeks, City Council narrowly approved two-year pilot program as EverBank Stadium renovations displace fans
Jacksonville Beach bars and restaurants will be able to temporarily expand onto their parking lots and other outdoor space during Jacksonville Jaguars home games for the next two NFL seasons, under an ordinance the City Council approved on a 4-3 vote at its June 1 meeting.
Ordinance No. 2026-8236 amends Chapter 4 of the city code, Alcoholic Beverages, to create a two-year pilot program increasing how often qualifying businesses can seek a temporary extension-of-premises permit. Businesses were already allowed two such expansions a year; the pilot adds up to six more, tied specifically to Jaguars home games.
Why now
The change is a response to the Jaguars' "Stadium of the Future" renovation, a project expected to cut into the number of fans who can attend games at EverBank Stadium for the 2026 season. The team is scheduled to play all its 2027 home games at Camping World Stadium in Orlando during construction.
Mayor Chris Hoffman has said the goal is to give beach-area businesses a way to capture fans who would otherwise be attending games in person, or who can't get to Orlando in 2027.
Two Jacksonville Beach residents gave public comments about the pilot program. Jim Sorrell opposed the ordinance outright, calling the city's existing two-permit allowance already "a very liberal stance."
Kathy Hall had mixed feelings and questioned how a business would transition from an outdoor alcohol event back to normal operations mid-afternoon, calling it "a logistical nightmare."
When asked for his professional opinion, Police Chief Gene Paul Smith said, "This is not a deal-breaker for us... but it's one more thing we have to do," adding, "This has the potential to be both good and no big deal, or it could be really big and a big deal. I can't predict the future."
How the permits work
The pilot applies only to outdoor space and only on Jaguars home game days, running from one hour before kickoff to one hour after the final whistle. Only six temporary permits are available for qualifying alcohol-licensed businesses per home game, issued first-come, first-served.
At the first reading, Council Member Sutton moved to limit eligibility to designated home games, since that was the intent of the pilot. The amendment passed 4-1, with Golding opposing.
Other conditions written into the ordinance include no added amplified sound beyond the game broadcast, a required parking plan, and no relief from the city's existing open-container law. Having an expanded premises does not mean drinking is allowed outside the permitted footprint.
The pilot runs Aug. 1, 2026, through the end of the Jaguars' 2026 season, then again Aug. 1, 2027, through the end of the 2027 season. Businesses can apply now for permits ahead of the coming season. As of this writing, no businesses have applied.
Council split
The final vote broke 4-3. Council Member Sandy Golding voted no, citing resident feedback that the city already has enough alcohol-related activity. Council Members Horn and Wouters also voted no.
Wouters noted his concern that the evening game would create more noise and disruption late into the evening. He made a motion to amend the ordinance to exclude evening games, but it died due to a lack of a second.
City officials said they intend to monitor the pilot closely, including whether the larger crowds create safety or parking concerns in the surrounding area.
