On August 18, 1995, when the Jacksonville Jaguars played their first game in their new stadium, it marked the first time in sports history that an expansion team had played its first home game in its first season in a new stadium or arena. Not only that, but it was built faster than any major-league stadium had ever been built in North America. In the short period of 19 1/2 months, the old Gator Bowl was demolished and a new stadium arose on the shores of the St. Johns River. And, very quickly, it was called the best stadium in the country. Just seconds before the Jaguars kicked off their first regular-season game on September 3, 1995, NBC broadcaster Don Criqui said, "There isn't a better football facility in America." For its 10th year of operation, Jacksonville Municipal Stadium -- then named Alltel Stadium -- was the host site of Super Bowl XXXIX, the biggest single-day sporting event in the world.

To ensure that Jacksonville has the finest venue in the NFL, Alltel Stadium underwent a $63 million renovation. Among the additions were the MPS Group Terrace Suite, a 25,000-square-foot sports bar called the Bud Zone, a 20,000-squarefoot Patio, 20 new escalators and four new elevators, a new secure perimeter fence around the stadium, two new state of the art scoreboards, and newly renovated clubs and suites.

The practice fields that were used from 1995 through 2003 are now a 400,000-square-foot entertainment zone adjacent to the stadium, known as the Pepsi Plaza. For Jaguars game days, this area includes tailgate cabanas for pregame hospitality, a corporate hospitality area, interactive games, and a stage for pregame and postgame entertainment.

Jacksonville Municipal Stadium signature features include the two Touchdown Clubs, which are located on both sides of the stadium. The Touchdown Clubs and all 10,000 club seats are located at midfield, rather than being spread out horizontally through the stadium. Each Club provides more than 70,000 square feet of air-conditioned comfort with a variety of food and beverage selections. In all, 75 percent of the seats in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium are located on the sides, with just 25 percent behind the end zones.

Jacksonville Municipal Stadium seats 67,164, but additional temporary seats were added behind the South End Zone -- expanding the capacity to well over 82,000 -- for the annual Florida-Georgia game and Super Bowl XXXIX. In 1997, Jacksonville Municipal Stadium was re-named Alltel Stadium after the Little Rock, Ark.-based wireless telecommunications and information services company that is listed in Forbes 500 and Fortune 500. Revenue from the 10-year grant of naming rights is shared equally between the Jaguars and the city of Jacksonville.