EverBank Field Development Renderings

[DrQue]

How realistic is the aquarium project? I see sporadic press releases from AquaJax but rarely see any energy from the outside community.

[RattlerGator]

Rattler, 

I can't think of one thing I have seen you advocate in favor of on this website, that involved government spending on any level.

Vic, if you honestly believe that then you've worked quite hard to only view my posts from an incredibly biased and somewhat blind perspective. Presuming you've taken the time to even check. I haven't tracked it, of course, and I'm not invested enough to worry about individuals posting here like that. But, for instance, I do know that I recently commented positively on the Emerald Necklace Urban Park idea that surely would involve the expenditure of public funds. I have strongly said that UNF should build a large dorm downtown -- did you miss that, Vic?

If so, I invite you to go back and check it out. I have no doubt there are other examples that cast your aspersion in a seriously suspect light.

This deep need some have to caricature those of us who come at politics from a right-of-center perspective is disappointing, to say the least.

[thelakelander]

$90M upgrade to Everbank Field wins preliminary approval from first of four Jacksonville council committees

An ambitious $90 million makeover to EverBank Field, which includes a new outdoor amphitheater and indoor practice facility, cleared on Monday the first of several preliminary reviews it will face this week from the Jacksonville City Council.

The council Finance Committee approved the project, which will cost the city $45 million, in a 6-1 vote. While it easily passed, council members and their auditors spent hours discussing and questioning it.

Full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-11-30/story/90m-upgrade-everbank-field-wins-preliminary-approval-first-four#cxrecs_s

[vicupstate]

So my point about this money ALREADY being used for SOMETHING was on point. The money that was being used for maintenance will now pay for the new facilities.  Maintenance expenses can now be paid for with GENERAL budget dollars.  That includes revenues from property taxes. It is pretty plain that the HOPE is that growing revenues will cover the maintenance and no doubt, some of the maintenance will likely be deferred.  General revenues will most likely be tapped though.

And did you see the previously never mentioned cost of restoring the seating for the FL/GA game??  I guess that $900k will be general tax revenues as well?

To say this whole thing is a scam is a huge understatement. Socialize the risk/expense and privatize the profit sums it up pretty well.

Congrats JAX, you do have at least ONE council member watching your interests.

Apparently the 'bar' for 50% funding of a project in JAX is the private party must 1) have deep pockets and 2) be willing to pay half of the initial costs and yet receive all revenues thereafter.  If I were Tony Sleiman, I would present my most grandiose plans for the Landing and tell the city they should pay for 50% of it.

[tufsu1]

^ My biggest concerns are with the amphitheater (the pat the city is paying for).  They are:

1. Why are they aiming for only 25 events per year (7-9 will be concerts before home games)
2. The City only has access to 5 events per year at the amphitheater (the contract could "allow" for more)
3.  Still need to have site plans showing actual seating for 5,000 plus room for another 5,000 on lawn.  Anything less further minimizes market potential and recoup on investment through ticket surcharges.

[Tacachale]

^The amphitheater should be 5-7k seats at most to provide a venue we're lacking in the metro area. Or at least it should have 5k "good" seats and space for others outside covered area, so that it can comfortably accommodate mid-sized events. Your other points are good; it could easily have several times that number of events.

[tufsu1]

^ the proposal from the Jags said 5,000 seats plus room for 5,000 more on the lawn.  That is hard to imagine given the renderings shown so far.

[Tacachale]

^ the proposal from the Jags said 5,000 seats plus room for 5,000 more on the lawn.  That is hard to imagine given the renderings shown so far.

Something the size of the St. Augustine Amphitheater (5000 seats) looks like it would fit there without a problem. As for the 5k on the lawn, you can fit a lot more people in back-end standing than is seats, though honestly I'm not sure this is even needed, except maybe for events where the amphitheater concert is only part of it. But I'd like to see clearer renderings too.

[thelakelander]

^ My biggest concerns are with the amphitheater (the pat the city is paying for).  They are:

3.  Still need to have site plans showing actual seating for 5,000 plus room for another 5,000 on lawn.  Anything less further minimizes market potential and recoup on investment through ticket surcharges.

A rendering in the Jax Daily Record:



http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=546586

[tufsu1]

^ well that looks much different than earlier renderings....and with the re-orientation, could better accommodate the mentioned 10,000 people...especially if they include the SeaBest Col Zone currently underneath the Bud Zone space.

[blizz01]

So, will they dig a pit/ build a berm?  Looks like you'll be able to stand in the walkways of the Bud Zone and look down into the Amphitheater(?).

[BoldCityRealist]

^ My biggest concerns are with the amphitheater (the pat the city is paying for).  They are:

3.  Still need to have site plans showing actual seating for 5,000 plus room for another 5,000 on lawn.  Anything less further minimizes market potential and recoup on investment through ticket surcharges.

A rendering in the Jax Daily Record:



http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=546586

I dig this. It looks like they may be opening up space underneath the scoreboard, kinda like in Gillette Stadium?

[copperfiend]

I am not sure because that would mean getting rid of more seats and those ones usually sell well.

[InnerCityPressure]

I would also be surprised if they did that.  The Bud Zone and South End Zone are pretty popular within the stadium...

[Captain Zissou]

If "vertical circulation" means escalators, they have been moved farther out and placed at a different angle, so I'm guessing they may be expanding or just re-configuring the bud zone area, not removing it.