US-Nigeria Soccer Friendly in Jax Announcement

[InnerCityPressure]

hopefully we've done enough to get a qualifier now.

A good qualifier. Although the friendlies often out sell many of the qualifiers.

Thank you!  I'd much rather watch a quality friendly (like Saturday's) than a trouncing that "means something."

[Steve]

So, one of the things that I'd like to see is if the potential revote on Qatar 2022 would have on Jacksonville. I know we weren't selected as a host city the first time around, but could US Soccer re-select host cities?

[JBTripper]

Given the transportation hurdles, it's a wonder anybody showed up for this thing at all. I left my house in San Marco, 3 miles from Lot J, at 5 p.m. and managed to miss kickoff. Normally we would take the Water Taxi as we do for Jags games, but that doesn't exist anymore. Our Plan B was to hop on the King Street Garage Stadium Shuttle, but I discovered it would not be operating. (I found that out after calling JTA customer service on the PHONE - which made me feel like I was living in 1996.)

You just have to wonder how many people were ultimately scared away by the traffic nightmare. It's almost like the City woke up Saturday morning and realized they have an international soccer match scheduled to take place. Jacksonville is the most inept I have ever seen at getting people from one place to another, and I grew up in Atlanta.

Overall, though, excellent event. It's a tremendous credit to the people of Jacksonville that we can pull off something like this in spite of our leadership.

[Tacachale]

Given the transportation hurdles, it's a wonder anybody showed up for this thing at all. I left my house in San Marco, 3 miles from Lot J, at 5 p.m. and managed to miss kickoff. Normally we would take the Water Taxi as we do for Jags games, but that doesn't exist anymore. Our Plan B was to hop on the King Street Garage Stadium Shuttle, but I discovered it would not be operating. (I found that out after calling JTA customer service on the PHONE - which made me feel like I was living in 1996.)

You just have to wonder how many people were ultimately scared away by the traffic nightmare. It's almost like the City woke up Saturday morning and realized they have an international soccer match scheduled to take place. Jacksonville is the most inept I have ever seen at getting people from one place to another, and I grew up in Atlanta.

Overall, though, excellent event. It's a tremendous credit to the people of Jacksonville that we can pull off something like this in spite of our leadership.

We also got there after kickoff after spending almost an hour biking less than 3 miles. When I got there there were quite a few people desperately trying to get tickets from scalpers (evidently they were hoping for walk up tickets but the box office stopped selling when the game started). It's possible that attendance would have been even higher if the city hadn't totally mismanaged the traffic situation.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I'm going to pretend and act surprised that the wonderful leadership managed to make a last minute deal to spend $300k in 'emergency' money for two boats that weren't even present for one of the more heavily programmed weekends that would be spotlighted on a 4 letter network that already carries a gripe against us?

Well played, f@#ktards.

[Tacachale]

^Oh, the boats were present. I had a nice view of them tied up at River City Brewing Company as I walked my bike over the one pedestrian lane on the Main Street Bridge that was the only access to downtown for hundreds of pedestrians and bikers on the Southbank.

[CityLife]

So, one of the things that I'd like to see is if the potential revote on Qatar 2022 would have on Jacksonville. I know we weren't selected as a host city the first time around, but could US Soccer re-select host cities?

A revote is looking very likely imo. The major sponsors like Adidas are starting to put pressure on FIFA to make it happen. I don't think they have publically threatened to pull sponsorship, but I could see that happening if FIFA doesn't do the right thing. Germany is one of the countries that was most upset about Qatar getting it in the first place, so having a German company like Adidas as a major sponsor, could definitely work in our favor.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/adidas-joins-sony-pressing-probe-040100441.html;_ylt=A0LEVy.5KJZTsE8Ath5XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTBsa3ZzMnBvBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkAw--

I don't know how the host city situation would work out if they re-vote, but perhaps we could get in the mix. Having the new screens and pools can't hurt now. Hopefully our city leaders are at least keeping tabs on it.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

^Oh, the boats were present. I had a nice view of them tied up at River City Brewing Company as I walked my bike over the one pedestrian lane on the Main Street Bridge that was the only access to downtown for hundreds of pedestrians and bikers on the Southbank.

Did they forget to figure in a few dollars for fuel and a crew?

I've read about the biking thing, too.  Why were you on the sidewalk?  Wouldn't have been easier / faster to mix with traffic in the travel lanes?

[Crabernacle]

If I understand this correctly, the new boats were required to undergo a safety inspection by the Coast Guard before they could be put into use. Unfortunately, they were unable to do so before Saturday's game. Of course now it looks like members of the City Council are using the acquisition of the new boats to hammer the Mayor's office.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/city-council-may-sink-water-taxi-deal/26405304

[Tacachale]

^Oh, the boats were present. I had a nice view of them tied up at River City Brewing Company as I walked my bike over the one pedestrian lane on the Main Street Bridge that was the only access to downtown for hundreds of pedestrians and bikers on the Southbank.

Did they forget to figure in a few dollars for fuel and a crew?

I've read about the biking thing, too.  Why were you on the sidewalk?  Wouldn't have been easier / faster to mix with traffic in the travel lanes?

On the bridge we usually take them, especially when car traffic's so gridlocked (as it was on Saturday). I did see a bike or two trying it. Once we were there, we realized it may have been mistake since literally everyone trying to get between the Southbank and the Northbank had to go that one way, and we had to walk the bikes. By then it was too late to change.

[Steve]

The issue with the boats was Coast Guard certification. Apparently no one in the administration was aware that you can't provide revenue transportation service on water without their green light.

The entire thing was handled so poorly by the administration. I've been a Brown supporter as many know on here, but this was pure incompetence by the staff. If you didn't like the vendor than fine; no one says you must renew with them, but start an RFP process in enough time, or begin conversations with someone like JTA to run it (heard that rumor, and I think there are worse things in the world than having them do it).

[Gamblor]

hopefully we've done enough to get a qualifier now.

A good qualifier. Although the friendlies often out sell many of the qualifiers.

true and they like to play those suckers is colder climates too.

Ya they like the chilly, though a lot of that has to do with wanting to make crowds as pro-US as possible by playing qualifiers as far from the CONCACAF oppenent as we can can, within our mainland borders. Can't argue with that strategy though. 2-0 to the US against Mexico anytime we play them in Columbus for qualifiers seems to be tradition now...

[Gamblor]

So, one of the things that I'd like to see is if the potential revote on Qatar 2022 would have on Jacksonville. I know we weren't selected as a host city the first time around, but could US Soccer re-select host cities?

I'm wondering this myself. How Qatar plays out over the next few months is going to be very very interesting with a lot of devil in the details.

[tufsu1]

If I understand this correctly, the new boats were required to undergo a safety inspection by the Coast Guard before they could be put into use. Unfortunately, they were unable to do so before Saturday's game. Of course now it looks like members of the City Council are using the acquisition of the new boats to hammer the Mayor's office.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/city-council-may-sink-water-taxi-deal/26405304

correct...City Council will be discussing this tomorrow night...while there isn't an official bill, public comment is allowed near  the beginning of the meeting

[JaxByDefault]

So, one of the things that I'd like to see is if the potential revote on Qatar 2022 would have on Jacksonville. I know we weren't selected as a host city the first time around, but could US Soccer re-select host cities?

A revote is looking very likely imo. The major sponsors like Adidas are starting to put pressure on FIFA to make it happen. I don't think they have publically threatened to pull sponsorship, but I could see that happening if FIFA doesn't do the right thing. Germany is one of the countries that was most upset about Qatar getting it in the first place, so having a German company like Adidas as a major sponsor, could definitely work in our favor.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/adidas-joins-sony-pressing-probe-040100441.html;_ylt=A0LEVy.5KJZTsE8Ath5XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTBsa3ZzMnBvBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkAw--

I don't know how the host city situation would work out if they re-vote, but perhaps we could get in the mix. Having the new screens and pools can't hurt now. Hopefully our city leaders are at least keeping tabs on it.

JAX dropped off the list last time around largely because the city did as close to  NOTHING as possible in response to being listed. Other mid-sized cities on the shortlist like Nashville hosted the bid committee and put together a good sell. I think if JAX made a shortlist next time, the opportunity would not be ignored.

Most FIFA observers seem to think if Qatar's WC is pulled that FIFA will issue a new bid process with higher than usual venue, infrastructure, and investment standards. Such new bid standard would likely favor the US (or US-Canada joint bid with Toronto and Vancouver added to the host city list), UK, Germany, or a combo European bid.