• Florida has played Georgia in Jacksonville since 1933
• There were only three exceptions: 1943 during World War II when the game was not played; and in 1993 and 1994 when the stadium was under renovation
• The economic impact of the game on the First Coast has been estimated at more than $33 million, and another $6 million for Georgia’s Golden Isles

Donna Deegan is the first Florida State graduate to be elected Jacksonville mayor — an office that has been held by a fair amount of University of Florida graduates such as Lenny Curry, John Delaney, Hans Tanzler and Lou Ritter. 

As a result, she’s finding it easy to be neutral in her first Florida-Georgia week as the mayor and showed up for a news conference at City Hall on Monday in a navy blue and white outfit. 

“I almost wore my garnet and gold today … I was figuring that would be truly neutral, right?” Deegan said during the news conference to share logistical details about game week, along with representatives of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue, JTA and ASM Global. “Then I thought, ‘no,’ go with the boring navy and white and see if I can keep that up all week long. I’m going to try to not say anything in either direction that would cause anyone to be concerned that I was pulling for one team or the other.” 

Two more years for Florida-Georgia:Schools exercise option to keep game in Jacksonville

Deegan did point out that neutrality only went so far in her office. 

“I can’t say the same for my staff,” she said, pointing out those who had shown up sporting their blue and orange for the Gators and red and black for the Bulldogs.

New Florida-Georgia contract process ongoing

Florida and Georgia exercised their two-year option under the current contract in May, which means the game will be in Jacksonville for at least the next three years. Deegan said negotiations for the next contract are “always a work in progress” and will hinge on when the city and the Jaguars can come to an agreement over a…