Ground Broken on Everbank Field Scoreboard

[TheCat]

http://www.news4jax.com/news/ground-broken-on-everbank-field-upgrades/-/475880/24899038/-/13evp8z/-/index.html

[urbanmythx]

All done using tourist money in the form of the "Bed Tax".

[Rynjny]

All done using tourist money in the form of the "Bed Tax".

Which is NOT taxpayers money.....it meant its a tax money for the city to use to improve entertainment facilities...Which again is NOT taxpayers money. I'll leave it at that.

[Rynjny]

All done using tourist money in the form of the "Bed Tax".

Which is NOT taxpayers money.....it meant its a tax money for the city to use to improve entertainment facilities...Which again is NOT taxpayers money. I'll leave it at that.

so the tax money isnt the taxpayers money?

NOPE.....

[Rynjny]

Stephen, we have this convo on twitter and I'm not going to repeat it. Taxpayer money in my book is different from tourist tax. I don't know what's taxpayers money mean in your book. guess it's difference of an opinion.

[TheCat]

First off, the money for the renovation is a loan. It is expected to be paid off somewhere around 30 years from now...but that's all in the air because the real cost of these renovations is not set in stone.

So, what we did, we took money set aside for the maintenance of our facilities and redirected that towards the "remodel".

The city is planning on paying back the loan with the "bed taxes" but it leaves the city in a potentially precarious situation. If there is not enough money to maintain the facilities who is going to pay for that...not the taxpayer?

You can do a bill search for 2013-0694 to read the details of the bill and the appropriations for that bill. Link to bill search: http://cityclts.coj.net/coj/cojBillSearchNew.asp?type=PL

It's a bit surreal to say that the bed tax does not belong to the "taxpayer." If what you are trying to say is that the funds will not come out of the general fund then that will make more sense but please be aware the city is taking out the loan not tourists.

This isn't even an argument for or against the remodel.

This is my understanding of the funding.

Some links to external reports:

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=540685

[I-10east]

Right on Rynjny. I don't know why it is such a 'controversial hot button' issue with so many. Let me see, people who could give a damn if we had the Jaguars in town? Like constant haters on TU saying incessant negative comments like 'Jax spending all of that money on a loser'. Oh, now it suddenly make sense...

The one thing that put us on the map, just abandon any upkeep and renovations to the Bank, because it's all good when college stadiums with metal bleachers (the Gators Florida Field, and Bulldogs Sanford Stadium etc) have surpassed a NFL football stadium in technology....

I bet that those same people complain about Everbank Field renovations would be completely fine with big incentives for an IKEA, Cabela's, Bass Pro Shops etc etc. Anyone trying to insinuate some worst case scenario that Jax taxpayers are gonna get fleeced, thank God that you aren't living in Cincinnati. Thanks for the 'new' story...

www.businessinsider.com/worst-stadium-deal-cincinnati-2011-7

[TheCat]

I-10, it's getting a little old playing the "if this was the reverse, ya'll would be saying something different" card. I think just about every one of your posts say something to that effect.

Why not just look at this situation as it is? No one is talking about ikea. They're not related.

The only thing really being contested is some sort of illusion that bed taxes are not taxpayer money.

Justifying spending money under the pretense that bed taxes are somehow free money is not a good justification. Bed taxes can be used in many ways...and I think, though I'm not certain, they can be used to revitalize, yes, god forbid, libraries.

But the issue is not how this money is spent or what it's set aside to accomplish. The issue is pretending that it is not taxpayer money. The bed tax is essentially a sales tax for a specific niche of commerce. It is taxpayer money.

My understanding is that the city of Jacksonville took out a loan to pay for the renovations and we will be paying back that loan with money that was set aside for the general maintenance of the our facilities. Is that what it sounds like to you after you read the bill or the article from the daily record? Let's discuss the merits of that decision, good or bad.

[Keith-N-Jax]

++++ 10000 it has gotten very old!!!

[Keith-N-Jax]

Is there any event or function that brings more people downtown than the stadium?

[I-10east]

You sound relatively reasonable and straight forward Cat, so I will try to be also. Funny that you mentioned that I brought up the IKEA comparison (I was being redundant because we're talking about this old redundant debate) but you kinda did the same with the 'library' argument.

I'm not gonna pretend like I know the intricacies of what's gonna happen 30 years from now or whatever, concerning is bed tax bill; I don't think that no one knows what's exactly gonna happen in the future. Sometimes politics are dirty, ie the POTUS passing the Healthcare Act. You my very well be right Cat, and taxpayers will have to dish out a lil'. It seems like the people who love the Jags and big act events in town don't care to complain, while others are weary of a worst case scenario. 

[I-10east]

Is there any event or function that brings more people downtown than the stadium?

You're preaching to the choir Keith. I simply cannot wait. 2014, the most exciting preseason outside of the inaugural year (1995). Not to mention the other unforeseen events will come here. I ain't letting no one kill my vibe.

[Keith-N-Jax]

It will be a while before I get to see the end product with my own eyes. I imagine a good turnout for the opening game just because of the new look the stadium will have.

[PeeJayEss]

Is there any event or function that brings more people downtown than the stadium?

One Spark? Jazz Fest? A typical weekday?

The stadium brings people to the stadium. So as far as having a lot of bodies literally on North Bank real estate, this is true. If you are insinuating that the CBD that we actually call "downtown" is bustling with activity and commerce every other Sunday or so during the season, that would be incorrect. We certainly have more people walking on Bay Street past Maxwell House, the prison, and the shipyards, but the retailers aren't doing more business than any Friday at lunch. Most are closed for games.

[I-10east]

^^^All he simply said was bringing people downtown and far as I know the stadium is DT. Now that has to be twisted & screwed like he said a main pipeline down Laura Street...'After the game events' are so highly overblown in most cities. Most (especially locals) go home after the game. There are ones that really stand out, that's mostly in baseball.