Poll: 61% oppose public funds for TIAA Bank Field renovation

Although a “majority of Jacksonville residents” rate keeping the Jaguars in Jacksonville as “very important, few support funding stadium renovations with taxpayer funds,” according to a new Univ. of North Florida poll cited by James Cannon of the JACKSONVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL. The poll of 531 likely voters in Duval County found “84% of residents said it [is] somewhat or very important for the city to keep an NFL franchise.” However, 61% said that they oppose, either strongly or somewhat, the city using up to $750M “of public funds to split the cost of stadium renovations with the Jaguars.” Cannon adds the “Jaguars' success on the field hasn't had an impact.” When asked about “job approval ratings,” QB Trevor Lawrence “topped the list of local leaders, with 86% of respondents saying they approved somewhat or strongly of his performance.” Coach Dough Pederson received an “84% approval rating, while team owner Shad Khan came in with 71% support.” UNF conducted the poll from Feb. 20-24 (JACKSONVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/28).