Tarps were introduced at EverBank Field in '05 as a way to limit the frequency of local television blackoutsGETTY IMAGES
The Jaguars will remove the "last remaining tarps at EverBank Field" for the entire '18 season, according to a front-page piece by Ryan O'Halloran of the FLORIDA TIMES-UNION. The addition of 3,501 seats will "bring the Jaguars’ new capacity to 69,132." Introduced in '05 as a way to "limit the frequency of local television blackouts, the tarps quickly developed into a national punchline during the infrequent times the Jaguars were discussed." For their Wild Card against the Bills, the first home playoff game since '99, the Jaguars "received permission from the league and sponsors to remove the tarps to create an additional 3,501 seats, which sold out in six minutes." A key point in removing the tarps for the Jaguars was the "late-season interest." They have 5,000 deposits for new season tickets "compared to 700 at this time last year." The Jaguars had 45,000 season tickets in '16 but 43,000 last year. The Jaguars also announced yesterday that they will have "new uniforms and helmets" in '18, their first redesign since the '13 offseason. They will be "revealed later this spring." Teams are "allowed to change their uniforms once every five years, so the Jaguars’ first available window" was '18. Jaguars President Mark Lamping said that Exec VP/Football Operations Tom Coughlin was "involved with the uniform design." The team also announced that prices of several concession items will be "slashed to $5." Finally, season-ticket prices will increase by an average of nearly 11%, the "first time in 10 years that a majority of the stadium’s ticket prices will increase" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 2/13). ESPN.com's Michael DiRocco noted the Jaguars' plans for new uniforms means the team is "moving on from its black and gold two-tone helmets." It was "not a secret that the team was going to be ditching its current uniforms" (ESPN.com, 2/12).
