MNF, A Chance to Showcase Downtown

[reednavy]

As Monday Night Football approaches, this is a chance for the city to show its downtown and the river. The Goodyear blimp will be flying around and provide excellent views of the city. What are your takes on this? Does JAX ever stand the chance of garnering another Super Bowl?

[hanjin1]

Anther Superbowl, maybe, but the city showcasing downtown? I doubt it. They still continue to drive everyone out of downtown after games, I doubt that this will change much, unless downtown starts to get more business'. Oh wait downtown can't because the city won't let anyone go to downtown, unless your first baptist church.

[jbm32206]

Isn't that the sad truth! The way they turn State street into a continuation of the highway in order to get those fans out of the downtown area...is not only bad for downtown business (if we actually had any, other than Starbucks) but it's dangerous for any pedestrian that needs to cross the street!

As for the chances of having another superbowl, yeah, I'd say we did a nice job with the first and could be in the running again to host another in the future.

[I-10east]

The way they turn State street into a continuation of the highway in order to get those fans out of the downtown area...is not only bad for downtown business (if we actually had any, other than Starbucks) but it's dangerous for any pedestrian that needs to cross the street!

How would you prefer State and Union streets to be JBM? IMO State & Union are fine, and it's only dangerous to cross for jaywalkers and those who don't know how to cross a street. I disagree with State Street being bad for DT business; It's on the fringes of DT, and there are plenty of streets with slower moving traffic nearby restaurants etc.to the south of State and Union.

[Lunican]

How would you prefer State and Union streets to be JBM? IMO State & Union are fine, and it's only dangerous to cross for jaywalkers and those who don't know how to cross a street. I disagree with State Street being bad for DT business; It's on the fringes of DT, and there are plenty of streets with slower moving traffic nearby restaurants etc.to the south of State and Union.

I don't think you understand the problem. After an event at the stadium, State and Union are impossible to cross when the traffic lights are all flashing yellow. Whether you are in a car or on foot, the only way to get through is to go all the way to Washington street to the overpass.

As for the streets to the south of State and Union that give access to restaurants, they are usually blocked by JSO with barricades.



Here is an article that was written on the issues back in February:
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/357/115/

[Seraphs]

In my opinion, JSO should just let the regular traffic lights and patterns handle traffic after entertainment events or just a minimal amount of officers to assist.  Recently I attended an event at  the Veteran's Memorial Coliseum.  My friends mom is somewhat impaired, she needed me to pick her up directly in front of the building.  It was unreal, I had to wade through JSO barricades and explain over and over what I needed.  This is just plain riduculous.  She still had to walk to the end of the block to get to the car.

[Ocklawaha]

What a novel idea, bring downtown alive after the games...

We touched on this need with the sign article. While being gone for some time and returning REALLY has made a difference in me spotting signs and beauty downtown, for you homebody's it looks like it's just not enough. Maybe you have a point. Has ANYONE talked to the City, teams and sponsors about placement of nice signs at each door and gate with an "After the Venue Message..." Perhaps directional signs color coded for business coalition sponsors in various "districts". For example, a rich brown and gold series that leads to Springfield and the Main Street area? How about Landing Blue? 5-Points Green? or San Marco Red? A simple directional arrow and a message, "After the Game, go South to Bay Street, and follow the signs to great night time entertainment. This could carry through to the illuminated street signs at intersections. At night the addition of illuminated arrows to various districts would be very easy to see and follow. Police officers directing traffic could all be issued little folders that could be handed to motorists when they need directions. Something simple, small map, directory's and paid by sponsors with advertising on the back.

In Portland Oregon, they give out visitors traffic tickets! No fine, just a VERY warm welcome... For example,
"Welcome to Portland, The City Of Roses, We hope you enjoy your stay with us, please be aware that downtown Portland uses metered parking, in the future when parking downtown, please select your space, and deposit the required coins in the adjacent parking meter... As you explore our exciting City you will note that it is divided into several historic and distinct districts...etc... Then items such as don't miss your free beverage with any order, when you present this card to the following restaurants! NO KIDDING!

Creation of Avenues of escape, into the happening areas of town would help, all along Phillip Randolph, signs should point towards Bay for "After the Game venues" and toward State Street for "Quick Exit"... Searchlights in various districts would also help place the out of towner. Better hotels and restaurants from the Beaches to Baldwin, and every section of town should be invited to join in the publication of folders and signs. A famous religious sect leader once had it right, "Go out there and SELL, SELL, SELL THE KINGDOM..." We could take a lesson from him on this one... I'll sign y'all up at the gate, call it the church or the religion of promotion, Jacksonville Witnesses." Ohhh My.

Ocklawaha

[copperfiend]

My wife and I ran into a problem last year trying to get to Berkman Plaza after a game. We were snaking through downtown and asked a cop how we were supposed to get somewhere downtown if the streets are closed. The look he gave me was priceless. This is just another example of the city not caring about downtown. Look at Hemming Plaza.

[I-10east]

I don't think you understand the problem. After an event at the stadium, State and Union are impossible to cross when the traffic lights are all flashing yellow. Whether you are in a car or on foot, the only way to get through is to go all the way to Washington street to the overpass.

As for the streets to the south of State and Union that give access to restaurants, they are usually blocked by JSO with barricades.

My bad JBM, and Lunican; I was offbase on my take like I'm often are. LOL! I misunderstood JBM's take; I was unaware about the "ever-caution" lights on State after games; I was wondering why the lights never turned red when I left the HOU game. I tell you what though, the JSO barricades and ever-caution lights don't effect me one bit, because I park at the Regions Bank parking lot(which is free) then I get the bike outta the trunk, then ride to the stadium. I can see how those problems could effect businesses, peeps etc.

BTW Bay Street could use a bike lane.

[raheem942]

Dont get me wrong i love football  and im a huge jags fan ,but i think we should try to get the summer olympics we can pull that of this would be an ideal location for the olympics .......escuse my spelling im only 14......................I think we should stop trying to impress the nation and aim high and shoot for the world the olympics will give this city what it needs and i think over thext 10 years we could be a olympic city.

[raheem942]

As Monday Night Football approaches, this is a chance for the city to show its downtown and the river. The Goodyear blimp will be flying around and provide excellent views of the city. What are your takes on this? Does JAX ever stand the chance of garnering another Super Bowl?

Im wachting sportcenter and have you seen are city on tv ..its beautiful its just not enough we need to seprate are selfs from the others ...and get an international id

[I-10east]

i think we should try to get the summer olympics we can pull that of this would be an ideal location for the olympics

Believe me I'm very pro-Jax, and I love this city, but IMO even in a decade the summer olympics is way outta our league. Jax doesn't have the infrastructure (airport, venues, hotels, etc.) to host the summer olympics in ten years.

[fsujax]

I wonder if the BofA Tower will be lit up tonight?  I was looking at the skyline the other night as I was driving over the Mathews Bridge and the BofA tower was completely dark, even one of their beacon lights was out, whoever manages this tower doesn't really care about thier presence of that building on the skyline.  I have to give it to the owners of the MODIS building. At least they care abotu civic pride, at least it seems. Shame on the owners of the BofA tower. They can do better.

[copperfiend]

Is the fountain fixed?

[Steve]

but i think we should try to get the summer olympics

I'd love to see that here, but I think we're a little off.  Typically every city that hosts the Olympics in America has a major university that is used not only for event venues, but for housing for the athletes, since building hotels for that would be a nightmare.  The only US olympic bid that I know of that didn't use univeristy housing was New York's for 2012 (which they've lost) - they were going to build housing a redevelopment of a large section of Brooklyn, and Chicago for 2016, which is being used to redevelop part of the South Side.

As far as other things, a good site to lear about what's needed for the olympics is the bid site for Chicago 2016.

http://www.chicago2016.org/venue_gallery.aspx

This is just a selection of the venues that they will use for the games.  As big as Chicago is, they will still have some prelimiaries in Minneapolis.