Tales and Topics from the Panhandle to the Keys – Jacksonville Jaguars join long list of Football teams at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium
Jacksonville Jaguars join long list of Football teams at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium
Volume 1, Edition 12
By Nick Gandy
When the Jacksonville Jaguars took the field for the first time in 1995, Orlando had already seen a myriad of football teams come and go from the field at what is now Camping World Stadium.
While the annual Citrus Bowl game celebrated its 80th Anniversary recently, the stadium itself is now in its 90th year. It was built in 1936 as a Works Project Administration (WPA) project during the Great Depression. It’s safe to say, President Franklin Roosevelt’s initiative has served Orlando well.
The World League of American Football’s Orlando Thunder played at the downtown stadium for three seasons (1990-92). The USFL’s Orlando Renegades were the talk of the town in 1985, under head coach Lee Corso. The Florida Blazers of the World Football League spent the 1974 season at the Tangerine Bowl.
There have been historical moments. Pat Palinkas became the first woman to play professional American football on August 15, 1970, when she served as a holder for her husband, and kicker for the Orlando Panthers, who played in the Atlantic Coast Football League.
The old gal at 1600 West Church Street now welcomes what is a dream come true for many in Orlando.
It became official this week. In August, 2027 the Jaguars will don their teal, black and gold uniforms and roar into the 2027 season in Orlando, rather than Duuuval. The shift to the southwest is due to a year-long renovation to Jacksonville’s Everbank Field.
“This is such a cool day,” said Florida Citrus Sports Executive Director, Steve Hogan, at the announcement press conference. “I feel like we have to pinch ourselves. This is a day we’ve been hoping for and dreaming for, for decades.”
This development has a personal tie with me as I was the Media Relations Director for Florida Citrus Sports from 1991-1995. During that time, FCS not only presented the annual New Year’s Day Bowl game but constantly sought out other football opportunities for the City of Orlando.
The Executive Director and consummate promoter of Orlando, Chuck Rohe, worked to bring a couple of NFL Exhibition Games to the Citrus Bowl. The Miami Dolphins hosted the previous season’s Super Bowl Champions, the Washington Redskins in 1993 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hosted the Buffalo Bills in 1994.
There were a couple of Florida A&M games, against Howard and South Carolina State, that served as a precursor to the Florida Classic. Then there was the biggest game I worked in my life, and a hit for the city, the 1994 Florida State/Notre Dame game.
During my four years in Orlando, the Citrus Bowl also hosted the Florida-Georgia High School All Star Game, UCF Knights games, World Cup Soccer matches, and a memorable, raucous Gun’s N Roses/Metallica concert.
The history of football in the what will now be a state of the art facility after a $400 million renovation is a long and storied one.
Ginger Kane moved to Orlando in 1977 when her father, Bert Lacey, was named the first “paid,” executive director of the Tangerine Bowl. She later worked in media relations for the Orlando Renegades and has assisted with the Camping World Citrus Bowl Halftime Show since the late 80s. Her memories at the stadium are numerous.
“One that stands out was the first game when my dad was the director, Florida State and Texas Tech in 1977,” she recalled. “It was the largest crowd ever at the stadium at that time and the upper deck had just been added. When everyone stood for the national anthem, the upper deck swayed.”
Orlando resident since 1977 and now the executive director of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, she and Justin, attended the official Jaguars to Orlando announcement ceremony of the worst kept secret in Florida, at City Hall.
“They weren’t 100 percent sure since the vote had to be unanimous,” she said. “It was very celebratory though with a banner, cheerleaders and the Jaguars mascot. When the announcement was made everyone cheered.”
Again, this being personal, the first paid executive director of the Tangerine Bowl, Bert Lacey served on the Bowl’s Media Relations committee during the Citrus Bowl and transcribed post-game press conference coaches quotes.
Jaguars fans in Orlando will see the usual AFC South opponents in the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. Also taking the field at the freshly renovated Camping World Stadium are the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Bucs and a NFC West opponent to be determined.
“It’s pro football coming to Orlando!” said Dylan Thomas, who worked for Florida Citrus Sports from 1983-2002 and was part of a team overseeing several renovations of the stadium. “The movement has never really died and Steve Hogan and Mayor Buddy Dyer have kept it alive.”
Even if it’s for one season, Orlando lays the claim of hosting an NFL team. During the 2027 season, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will celebrate his 28th birthday and his seventh season in the NFL.
Lawrence and his teammate Josh Hinds-Allen, a linebacker who recorded three sacks for the 2019 Kentucky Wildcats Citrus Bowl winning team, provided recorded comments at the announcement ceremony.
Sounds like a couple of Jaguars players in their prime years ready to embark on a successful season and long playoff run in a packed Camping World Stadium.
In the chronology of Camping World Stadium memorable dates, add the Jaguars 2027 season among the top events to run onto the 90+ year old surface full of cleat marks.
Which leads to another question. What are the oldest sports facilities in the State of Florida still located in their original location? Here’s a few that came off the top of my head. Feel free to add to the list.
1914 – City Island Ballpark, Daytona Beach
1922 – Henley Field, Lakeland
1923 – LECOM Park/McKechnie Field, Bradenton
1925 – Terry Park, Fort Myers
1926 – Historic Sanford Field/Sanford Stadium, Sanford
1927 – Gator Bowl, originally known as Fairfield Stadium, Jacksonville
1930 – Florida Field/Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville
1936 – Orlando Stadium/Citrus Bowl/Camping World Stadium, Orlando
Nick Gandy is a 40-year sports communications professional who has worked with the Florida Sports Foundation, the state of Florida’s lead sports promotion and development organization, since 1998.