Orange County is setting the stage for what could be a defining moment in its sports hosting saga, attempting to play temporary home to the Jacksonville Jaguars. At the same time, their usual abode, EverBank Stadium, gets a facelift. A juicy $10 million incentive, sourced from tourist tax funds, has been approved by the Tourist Development Tax Sports Incentive Committee to coax the NFL team down to Orlando's Camping World Stadium for the 2027 season, with an extra $1 million dangling for any playoff games.

The bid, which includes some sprucing up of Camping World Stadium itself, is seen as a serious play for the hearts of NFL owners, who are destined to make the final call come May, according to FOX 35 Orlando. Yet, what Gainesville's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium's proposal lacks in bells and whistles may more than make up for its unique offerings. Nonetheless, the figures pitched by Florida Citrus Sports CEO Steve Hogan sing to an estimated economic rhythm of $25-30 million per game, an alluring melody for local businesses in Orlando.

While the proposal writes out a narrative of promise and prosperity, there are still unknowns swirling around the potential success of such an undertaking. The real economic impact of hosting an NFL season is more of a guess than a guarantee. As Hogan conveyed to WESH, upgrading the stadium, which will see its capacity increase to 65,000 and improved amenities, is part of the hefty investment that aims to open its doors at the end of July 2027.

However, to suggest that Jacksonville would yank up its roots completely and practice in Orlando might be a bit of a stretch. Hogan clarified that although games could be played in the beautiful city, the team would likely stick to their regular training facilities. "They would view it as being on the road for the weekend," Hogan explained in an interview with ClickOrlando.