More than 700 employees at TIAA Bank Field, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, have gotten another round of bad news.
After first putting "a number of" full-time and part-time employees on temporary leaves and layoffs in March, stadium operator Delaware North has informed the state that it doesn’t expect to be able to reemploy 727 workers anytime soon.
“It is reasonably foreseeable that many associates will not return to work within six months, the company wrote to Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity.
Delaware North said the “pandemic has proved longer in duration and more devastating than anyone could have predicted.”
Last week the Jaguars announced capacity at TIAA Bank Field would be reduced to 25% this season because of the pandemic.
The news comes even as the Jacksonville 2020 Republican National Host Committee announced Thursday that it is moving some of its events to outdoor facilities, including TIAA Bank Field.
Delaware North has announced layoffs across its entertainment and hospitality venues in Florida. Among the largest of the Florida layoffs and leaves outside of Jacksonville are:
- Tampa: 721
- Ft. Lauderdale: 622
- Kennedy Space Center: 525
Delaware North told the state it continues to hope the layoffs will remain temporary but added, “the estimated duration cannot be determined with any certainty at this time.”
Delaware North, based in Buffalo, N.Y., was founded in 1915. It has operations on four continents, serving half a billion guests, according to its website.
It operates food and beverage concessions, dining, entertainment, lodging, and retail at many large venues. They include sports stadiums, entertainment complexes, national and state parks, airports and casinos.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.