Originally named Fairfield Stadium, Jacksonville's enduring landmark is now dubbed Everbank Field. Fairfield Stadium was built in 1928 and was the first stadium erected on the site that now bears the Everbank name. In 1948 the stadium was expanded and renamed The Gator Bowl, in honor of the annual Florida-Georgia game, which was first played in 1946, two years earlier. The annual Gator Bowl game is played January 1 each year - and the Bowl is now called the Taxslayer Bowl.
The Florida-Georgia game is hosted in Jacksonville each Fall and also involves what is still called "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" which begins early the week of the game and rocks around the clock through the weekend of the Saturday afternoon rivalry football game between the University of Florida and University of Georgia.
At some point, it was named Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, but nowhere documents when this took place.
In 1993, the National Football League expanded into Jacksonville and The Jacksonville Jaguars began playing there in 1995. A deal was struck with Alltel in 1997 and the name was Alltel Stadium until the contract expired in 2007.
The current stadium opened in 1995, in concert with the Jaguars' opening season.
In 2010, the stadium struck a deal with Everbank for naming rights as Everbank Field.
The XXXIX Super Bowl was played in the stadium in 2005, and the New England Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles.
Recently, the U S Men's Soccer team has taken to the turf in Everbank Field, and there is the promise that it will be used for future MLS Soccer and US Men's Soccer matches.
In 2013, a joint venture between the Jacksonville City Council and owner Shad Khan paved the way for the largest video scoreboards in the world, and on the north end zone, added two wading pools and an area for unique beverages and food.
For tickets and further information about Everbank Field, please call 904-633-2000.
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