Jaguars’ coach Liam Coen excited for London, renovations challenge
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen is embracing the challenge during the team’s renovations of EverBank Stadium and continued work in London for international play.
The Jaguars are the only team to have played in London every year since 2013 (except 2020 due to COVID-19) and are slated to return in 2025. Unlike the past two years, though, the team won’t play two games overseas after the NFL announced the teams slated to play games in London later this year.
Jaguars team president Mark Lamping and owner Shad Khan have emphasized the team’s desire to continue the league’s deal to play one game in London each year, allowing the team to reap the benefits of revenue sharing that is spread overseas.
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The Jaguars are also set to undergo a stadium renovation project that will be completed ahead of the 2028 season. The renovations will disrupt the team’s attendance in addition to their home schedule for at least one season.
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At his introductory press conference, Coen expressed optimism and excitement for the prospects of playing overseas and overcoming any obstacles the team is trying to overcome.
“I actually looked at that as an exciting part of this,” Coen said, explaining that he and his wife Ashley have moved around plenty throughout either childhood or Coen’s career. They’re used to it, he said.
“We embrace that. To try to bring home wins to Jacksonville, that is important, to protect our home turf. It’s going to be a little bit different. It’s going to be a little complicated over the next few years. But if we don’t embrace that, then we have no shot, right?” said Coen.
“If we can go start to build something that people are really proud of over these next two years, in year three, wherever we’re playing, we want people to come. And then to go into this next one that we’re coming into, I mean, the sky’s the limit. That’s something that we’re excited about.”
Where will the Jaguars play in 2027 during renovations?
Where the Jaguars will play for the 2027 season remains to be seen. They will not be playing in Jacksonville, though.
The franchise has narrowed its scope to two potential destinations — Camping World Stadium in Orlando and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, home of the Florida Gators.
Lamping has said in the past that the team has conducted surveys of fans, team sponsors, employees and the football side of the team’s operation about their preferences.
The team will also have the option of playing home games in London. One option could include three home games in London, as outlined by the team and the City of Jacksonville’s agreement. The agreement includes a provision that would allow the team to play up to six home games in London from 2025 to 2027 during construction of the new stadium.
Whatever the ultimate destination, Coen is embracing it because he understands what comes at the end including a state-of-the-art stadium that will bring a modernization of Jaguars football.
“You want to be a part of change. You want to be a part of something unique. And that’s what this opportunity does present. It isn’t the norm. Nothing about this has been the norm. But that’s really cool. That’s really cool to be a part of that, and we’re excited about it,” Coen said.
Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Demetrius82 or on Bluesky @ Demetrius.
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