Jaguars owner Shad Khan opened a very large, $120 million birthday present Tuesday when he and other team leadership joined Jacksonville city and community representatives in cutting the ribbon on the Jaguars’ new training facility next to the stadium.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Miller Electric Center happened to fall on Khan’s 73rd birthday. The ceremony also included Jaguars coach Doug Pederson, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, Miller Electric CEO and President Henry Brown and others.
“I couldn’t ask for a better present,” Khan quipped at the beginning of his remarks. “Today is another example of a vision becoming a reality in Jacksonville. But what makes this particularly gratifying is the vision certainly wasn’t mine alone.”
The Miller Electric Center, a significant upgrade for the team, is just one piece of the Jaguars’ plan for the area surrounding the stadium.
The Jaguars split the multi-million dollar price tag for the facility 50-50 with the city of Jacksonville, and the team hopes to work out a similar deal for planned stadium renovations, but that is still in the planning stages.
The training facility is a 125,000-square-foot, two-story facility equipped with locker rooms, training and medical facilities, office space and a draft room. It also features two full-size grass practice fields and one indoor field, along with shaded public viewing stands, concession areas and a team store.
The Jaguars have been practicing at the stadium during construction, but now they can move into their new practice area just in time for training camp. Rookie players report Friday, and veterans show up next week.
Head Coach Doug Pederson said it’s a place the players can call home.
“Once the season ends, they don’t have to go other places (to train),” he said in a news release. “We’re still in Jacksonville, Florida. The weather’s good in February, March and April. Guys want to stay here and use the building. That part I think is going to be the exciting part.”
Out of the 12 upcoming practices open to the public for free, half are already filled up, so you will want to act fast if you want one of the free seats. Click here to claim a spot or learn more about Jaguars training camp.