Jacksonville selects law firm to represent the city for Jaguars stadium renovation negotiations

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (FLV) – Jacksonville’s Office of General Counsel selected a law firm to represent the city for negotiations with the Jacksonville Jaguars stadium renovation.

In consultation with Interim Chief Financial Officer Mike Weinstein, the city selected the law firm Sidley Austin LLP to represent the city to assist with the Jaguars stadium renovation, lease negotiations and development, according to a press release.

“We look forward to the partnership with Sidley Austin and to kicking off negotiations with the Jaguars by the end of August,” Weinstein said.

The administration will introduce the law firm to the city council and the community during the Aug. 22 city council meeting, according to Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan’s office.

In June, the Jaguars released a renovation pitch of a potential $2 billion public-private investment plan to renovate TIAA Bank Field for their new stadium and began stadium negotiations as Deegan took office.

In July, city council agreed to hire former Jaguars executive and NFL Consultant Michael Huyghue to assist with the stadium renovation negotiations. Huyghue is also a professor of law at Cornell University.

During the July city council meeting when they agreed to hire Huyghue, Council President Ron Salem said he believes the law firm will do the “heavy lifting” in terms of the negotiation process for the stadium and Huyghue would work with the firm and bring back information to the council.

“I think because of all the new members on the council, it is extremely important to me to make sure that you have all the information you need from someone that is representing us,” Salem said during the council meeting.

During the meeting, Huyghue said he is “excited” to be a part of the process.

“I think this is really an important responsibility because having had an inside seat in the inner workings of the NFL, I think there’s a lot of things in the negotiations with the city and from a revenue standpoint that I can assist you with,” Huyghue said.

Councilman Kevin Carrico personally endorsed the bill, which would appropriate $150,000 to hire Huyghue as a consultant.

In June, the Jaguars said the potential new stadium will position Downtown Jacksonville as an “essential stop” for the “biggest entertainment and sporting events in the world.”

Sidley law firm is a multinational law firm with approximately 2,000 lawyers and regularly handles complex transactions regarding stadium and arena financing and development and sports-anchored ancillary development, according to the mayor’s office.

Sidley’s client base includes regional and local governments, professional sports teams, leagues, and investors.

The law firm recently represented the State of New York in stadium development negotiations with the Buffalo Bills and represented the Washington Commanders football team in stadium negotiations in Washington, D.C. in addition many other stadium deals.