TIAA BANK FIELD VOTED SECOND-WORST HOME STADIUM IN THE NFL

David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire

Is The Bank one of the worst stadiums in the game?

BY JORDAN DE LUGO

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There's very little going on in terms of real football news right now. Sure, the NFL and NFLPA are quibbling over the preseason, and the deadline for players to sign the franchise tag is next week. Oh yeah, Pat Mahomes is now the highest-paid athlete of all time. 

Okay, maybe there is plenty of football news. Still, relatively speaking, there's not a lot going on when it comes to the world of professional football right now. We're in the season of contracts and lists. 

On cue, The Athletic released a list of the very best — and worst — stadiums in the NFL. We'll be taking a look at the latter, where the Jaguars' own TIAA Bank Field resides. 

According to a panel of NFL reporters employed by The Athletic, TIAA Bank Field is the second-worst home stadium in all the NFL. Here's what they had to say:

Only one voter placed this stadium atop their list of worst stadiums; however, it was mentioned on 18 total ballots. The stadium hosted Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005, a 24-21 Patriots victory over the Eagles.
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Former Jaguars reporter/current Chargers reporter Daniel Popper: “Jaguars owner Shad Khan has attempted to spice up his team’s outdated home stadium in recent years. He added pool cabanas to the premium seating and spent more than $60 million on the world’s largest video boards, which cover nearly the entire east and west ends of the stadium. But the splashy purchases have done little to mask the deficiencies of this building. Fans brave enough to attend home games early in the season have to deal with absolutely blistering heat and sun in certain parts of the stands. The stadium hasn’t received a significant renovation (defined as in excess of $300 million) since it was erected in 1995 — something it desperately needs. During that span, the Bills are the only other NFL team to not either build a new stadium or conduct significant renovations. Until that happens in Jacksonville, The Bank will linger on the depths of lists such as these.”

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Pretty much every point Daniel makes in his analysis hits home. The Jaguars do have flashy video boards, two massive party areas in each end zone, and a shiny new amphitheater/indoor practice facility connected to the stadium. The fan experience at The Bank is far better than it was prior to Shad Khan purchasing the club. And being able to take practice inside when the unpredictable Florida weather doesn't cooperate was a necessary step.But instead of addressing the core issues that plague the stadium and fan experience, Khan has attempted to distract his customers with shiny new toys. 

To make TIAA Bank Field feel like an upper-echelon stadium, some sort of shade must be implemented, especially in the first three months of the season. Fans regularly need medical attention due to heat exhaustion and other related issues during the August, September, and October home contests. Why fry in the North East Florida heat when you can sit at home in the A/C with your favorite beverage and snack, saving thou$and$ per season?

Then there's the issue of the concourses. Instead of transporting you into a realm of football glory, when you walk through the halls and stairways at The Bank, it feels as if you're walking through the corpse of a once impressive facility. 

Team President Mark Lamping has gone on record saying the team will need a new stadium to compete from an economic standpoint. But instead of making a new stadium their priority, the Jaguars' ownership group has elected to focus their monetary attention on Lot J. They plan on turning the parking lot into an entertainment complex. 

Shad Khan has routinely shelled out plenty of his own money towards upgrades in and around the Jaguars' home. But until he addresses the practical issues with TIAA Bank Field, or builds a new stadium entirely, the Jaguars will be featured on many lists such as this. 

Follow Jordan on Twitter for all the latest Jaguars news and analysis.