Jaguars Game Day: What fans need to know as the Jags open their home schedule vs. the Chiefs

The Jacksonville Jaguars play their 29th home opener on Sunday against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs at EverBank Stadium (1 p.m., CBS-47).

Football will be the most important activity of the day as the Jags (1-0) face the Chiefs (0-1) for the third time in 10 months and for the second time in four years as the home opener.

But it’s a daylong celebration from tailgating to postgame, with patriotism, music, charity and football blending together as the Jags kick off another home schedule that will eventually include games on Sunday, Sunday night and Monday.

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Quarterback Trevor Lawrence issued a challenge to Jaguars fans.

“Come out and be loud,” he said. “Let’s use our home-field advantage.”

Tickets

Good luck with the secondary market because as if Friday afternoon all that was left were standing-room-only tickets.

Fans are encouraged to wear their best teal apparel to match the Jaguars’ uniform of the day, teal jerseys and teal pants.

Parking

This will be the first regular-season test of the team’s new mobile parking pass system. Fans are strongly encouraged by the team to plan ahead and arrive early, especially if they are parking in one of the stadium lots.

Fans with stadium parking passes are encouraged to have the passes up on their smartphones before approaching the lot entrances.

There also is construction around the stadium that can impact traffic flow. Stadium lots will be open four hours before kickoff, at 9 a.m.

Honoring New Town victims

The Jaguars will honor the victims and heroes of the Aug. 26 racially-motivated shooting in the New Town neighborhood during the game.

The Jaguars Foundation and NFL Foundation will join with local community organizations to present a combined donation of $300,000 in support of the residents of New Town in the first quarter. The contribution, which also included assistance from from the First Coast Relief Fund, will go to food security, victims, community support and long-term community advocacy.

The Jaguars Foundation strives to uplift the community by providing economic and equal opportunity through programs that strengthen neighborhoods and develop youth.

“The Jaguars are more than a football team. We are a community partner with an opportunity to help a city that needs healing,” said Mark Lamping, president of the Jacksonville Jaguars in a statement. “The local entities receiving these funds are best positioned to identify the areas of the greatest impact and need to support the recovery efforts of New Town.”

The Bank, by any other name

Sunday is also the first home game under the new name of EverBank Stadium.

The stadium had been named EverBank Field in 2010, then changed to TIAA Bank Field. Following the completion of the sale of TIAA Bank to private investors in August, the name was modified back to EverBank Stadium.

Jaguars fans began calling their home “The Bank” soon after the initial name change and EverBank is still embracing that shorthand.

“With EverBank returning to the stadium’s title, ‘The Bank’ will solidify its place in Jaguars’ tradition,” EverBank said in a release.

Game Day Patriotism

• The National Anthem will be performed by Madison Hughes, a singer-songwriter from Ponte Vedra Beach who came into prominence for a three-chair turn on Season 22 of NBC’s “The Voice,” where she competed on Blake Shelton’s team.

• Signing of the National Anthem will be done by Brooke, a member of the Roar of the Jaguars.

• The colors will be presented by members of the Jacksonville Recruiting Battalion Color Guard, led by Staff Sgt. Bradford Ford.

• The flyover will be by the Boxing Gators of the 159th Fighter Squadron, 125th Air Wing. The squadron provides air defense for the Southeastern U.S. as directed by NORAD and the U.S. Northern Command.

• The bell ringer before the game will be Sgt. 1st Class Jimmy Riley Jr., who is part of the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion. He will be the next station commander with the Kansas City Battalion.

• Sgt. Laquan Borden is the veteran of the game. He joined the Army as a combat medic in 2005 and has three Purple Hearts and multiple awards for bravery in combat during three tours in Afghanistan.

First Duuuval

A familiar face will deliver the first “Duuuval:” Former Jaguars center/guard Brandon Linder, who played 88 games in eight years before retiring in March of 2022. Linder was a third-round draft pick from Miami.

Halftime entertainment

The Bethune-Cookman Marching Wildcats will perform at halftime. “The Pride,” has more than 200 members, including musicians, the 14 Carat Gold Dancers and the Sophisticat Flag Corp. The band will return to Jacksonville on Oct. 21 when the Wildcats play Southern University.

Get transfused

Tended Bar, the automated beverage dispensing system located at various sites within EverBank Stadium, will be debuting its "Teal Transfusion" in honor of the Jaguars AFC South championship. The beverage mixed vodka, lemonade and Blue Curacao.

In addition, fans have the option of adding a gratuity that will benefit The Donna Foundation, which provides financial assistance and support to those living with breast cancer and funds breast cancer research. The DONNA Foundation and the Jaguars announced a partnership last fall making the Jags the presenting sponsor for the 16th annual DONNA Marathon Weekend Health & Wellness Expo.

Game Day schedule

• 9 a.m. — Stadium parking lots, game day ticket office (North end zone between Gates 2 and 3) and Miller Electric Center team store opens.

• 10 a.m. — Gates 1 and 4 and fan entertainment center in the South end zone (between Gates 1 and 4) open.

• 11 a.m. — All other stadium gates open.

• 1 p.m. — Kickoff vs. Chiefs.

Fan reminders

• Clear bag policy — The NFL’s clear bag policy is in effect at EverBank Stadium.  Fans are encouraged to leave all bags at home but if one is necessary, it should be either a clear bag no larger than 12” x 6” x 12” or a non-clear bag no larger than 4.5” x 6.5.” Non-clear belt bags and fanny packs are prohibited.

• Hydrate — Fans are permitted to bring one, commercially branded, factory-sealed, plastic bottle that is 16.9 oz. or less. A Cooling Bus will be available at Ramp 4 and Ramp 2 with water coolers nearby.

• Cashless Transactions — Cash is no longer accepted anywhere in the stadium. In addition to traditional scan and chip options, all fixed points of sale will offer tap or scan payment options including JagsPay, Apple, Google and Samsung Pay.

• EverBank Stadium is a smoke-free facility. All tobacco products (including e-cigarettes) are prohibited. No guest re-entry will be permitted.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars vs. Chiefs: What fans need to know for 2023 home opener