Getty Image / Joseph Prezioso
Almost all of us have been to Orlando at some point, likely to go to Walt Disney World. And, we’ve all thought the same thing: this city needs more professional sports teams. Yes, they have the Orlando Magic and Orlando City FC., but an NFL team would fit really well there.
After all, Florida is a football-crazed state that puts out as many top players as any state in America. Yes, they have three teams in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, and Jacksonville Jaguars. But, Orlando is definitely big enough to support an NFL team of their own.
While they won’t be getting and NFL expansion franchise anytime soon, they could be hosting an NFL team very shortly, as the Jacksonville Jaguars could be looking for a temporary home due to stadium renovations. Here is Pro Football Talk with more details.
“The Jaguars could be homeless for two seasons, if a major renovation of their Jacksonville stadium occurs. Orlando, some 140 miles away, is ready to roll our the green carpet for the teal team.
Via the Orlando Sentinel, the the CEO of Florida Citrus Sports wants Orlando to be a candidate for the duties.
“We’d love to have the Jags come down here and play,” Steve Hogan said. “If they call, we’re going to be all over it. . . . NFL regular-season football needs to be in Orlando. If we can’t have our own team, then I think Orlando is the perfect market to help build your brand in.”
Hogan added that he and local politicians “will move heaven and earth to make this happen.”
Some have suggested Florida State as a potential alternative, but the Tallahassee Democrat report that there “hasn’t been any contact between FSU” and the Jaguars.”
This makes a lot of sense on all sides. Orlando has two options to host NFL games. The first is Camping World Stadium, which used to host the University of Central Florida football team. And, the second is UCF’s current stadium, FBC Mortgage Stadium. That venue underwent a vast renovation in 2017, and while the capacity would be at the small side at around 45,300, it could do a good job hosting games.
And, if Orlando wanted a team of their own in the future, this is a great way to prove they can handle it. It worked out for Oklahoma City when they hosted the New Orleans Hornets in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.