Jags in the Suburbs?

[KenFSU]

Some of the recent talk about companies choosing to leave downtown for the south side has got me thinking about our beloved Jags.

Allow me to play devil's advocate for a moment, if only to stimulate some interesting conversation.

It seems like we're seeing more and more NFL teams building their stadiums in the suburbs these days, rather than downtown. Dallas, Washington, New England, New York, and potentially Los Angeles all come immediately to mind.

Throwing all current reality out the window, let's pretend that, for whatever reason, the NFL decides tomorrow that Everbank isn't up to snuff and that the Jags will need a new stadium if they want to stay in Jacksonville. Let's also pretend that the Jags secure the necessary funding to build said stadium, rather from private investment or from the city itself.

Where do you build it if you are the Jags?

Do you build it in the same spot, or further south in the suburbs?

I'm interested in hearing what everyone thinks a suburban stadium would mean for both downtown vitality (factoring in both the loss of the stadium and potential other uses for the prime real estate Everbank currently occupies) and also for Jags ticket sales and overall financial viability in the city.

Obviously it's all wild speculation, but I'd be curious to hear some reasoned opinions on the matter.

[copperfiend]

What about off of the new 9B when completed. I always kind of imagined when the new stadium was needed that it could be built more or less next to where it is now. But we're talking at least 15-20 years down the road.

[CityLife]

Those teams built their stadiums in the suburbs for the same reason some companies have left downtown...Land is cheaper and/or easier to assemble.

[CityLife]

If the stadium was moved to the burbs, the Florida-Georgia game would be renamed the "The World's Most Boring Cocktail Party"

[Jimmy]

Cecil Commerce Center.  Done.

[copperfiend]

If the stadium was moved to the burbs, the Florida-Georgia game would be renamed the "The World's Most Boring Cocktail Party"

Why do you say that? It's a party in a parking lot. I don't think location has much of an impact.

[danem]

I think when choosing to move to the suburbs you'd have to do BETTER than the current location in terms of "what else" is there to do nearby.

Also -- that issue with the police chasing everyone out of the area after a game. Would THAT still happen in the suburbs?

[Jdog]

What about off of the new 9B when completed. I always kind of imagined when the new stadium was needed that it could be built more or less next to where it is now. But we're talking at least 15-20 years down the road.

I'd pretty much copy this comment.  Your're looking at 15 years down the road or so, and I think, without changes in the dynamics of the metro area, the push would be for the very southern Duval County / northern half of St. Johns County area.  Not good for downtown, this location would probably be more beneficial for attendance demand.  The downtown stadium would lose its sponsorship, but I think the college games would remain there.  If not for psychological reasons, I do think downtown would be taking another step backwards.  

If the team is still here 15 years from now then, IMHO, this might not be an unlikely scenario.  

         

[Ocklawaha]

BROOKLYN-LA VILLA and connected by Skyway, BRT, commuter rail and Streetcar to the rest of the city. Like Seattle's Quest Field and King Street Station.

OCKLAWAHA

[mtraininjax]

Cecil Commerce Center.

Sure thing, if you are pulling your fans from Lawtey, Maxville, and Waldo.

US1 and 210. There might even be room for a rail stop.

[Ocklawaha]

Cecil Commerce Center.

Sure thing, if you are pulling your fans from Lawtey, Maxville, and Waldo.

US1 and 210. There might even be room for a rail stop.

Aw Hell mtrain, I had that all scoped out for a theme park!

OCKLAWAHA

[Debbie Thompson]

Considering the tax payers already paid a significant part for the old stadium to be almost completely torn down and esentially a brand new stadium rebuilt, and then millions more to upgrade the stadium to make it "suitable for a Super Bowl", I'd be pretty upset if any more of MY tax money were spent any time soon to build another new stadium in the boonies.

[mtraininjax]

Aw Hell mtrain, I had that all scoped out for a theme park!

Ock, I think a slip and slide park would work great there! I'd take the train from downtown to the water park in south jax, for sure! 

[mtraininjax]

I'd be pretty upset if any more of MY tax money were spent any time soon to build another new stadium in the boonies.

I'd really like to know how the St. Augustine Amphitheater is doing since its renovations and if the loans that were taken to repair and enhance the facility are close to being paid off. Jacksonville could have done the same thing with Metro Park.

[copperfiend]

Considering the tax payers already paid a significant part for the old stadium to be almost completely torn down and esentially a brand new stadium rebuilt, and then millions more to upgrade the stadium to make it "suitable for a Super Bowl", I'd be pretty upset if any more of MY tax money were spent any time soon to build another new stadium in the boonies.

That's why I don't think it will be an issue for another 20 years. We have done an excellent job in keeping the stadium updated.

And the amount spent on rebuilding the stadium looks like an absolute bargain right now compared to what it would have cost just a couple of years later.