Jaguars amphitheater, flex field construction to begin next month

[Tacachale]

This expansion by the city and the Jaguars will make Jacksonville competitive in the both music festival and stadium concert markets.  it will provide two covered venues and a  stadium.

We currently have venues of multiple sizes in the metro area (T-U Center with 600, 1800, 3200); Florida Theater at 1900, Metro Park at 10k, Arena at 10-12k, Stadium at 40-70k seating design dependent, St Aug at 4000. So wondering how a 5k venue helps us that much. Just asking.

We have a lack of venues seating between about 1k-5k people, which is the size the industry has trended toward. We are definitely missing touring acts for the reason that we don't have enough adequate venues.

The venues around this size that we do have, all have their drawbacks. The Florida Theater is an amazing space, but as an older theater it's not great for amplified music, and the seats aren't removable (nor should they be). Similarly, the TU Center is terrific for its purpose, but isn't great for modern concerts and the seats are also fixed (I believe). Metro Park's bandshell is a goner and it can only be used a limited number of times a year. St. Augustine Amphitheater and Ponte Vedra Concert Hall are, well, in St. Augustine and (somewhat close to) Ponte Vedra. Even though they do well, a similar, modern venue Downtown should do a lot better.

[RattlerGator]

Beyond the fact that these will be two absolutely unique, elite-level spaces integrated into EverBank Field in an equally unique way, we aren't discussing enough (it seems to me) the potential for this area to morph into an outstanding entertainment district.

The Jacksonville Public Market may have a pie-in-the-sky approach, but it's an interesting effort that I'll be hoping succeeds:
http://www.groundworkjacksonville.org/projects/public-market/

The Intuition Ale/Manifest Distilling/Doro complex of building should have some initial life this September and grow from there:
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=547232

And, of course, hope springs eternal for The Shipyards. Good things are happening.

[Jax-Nole]

They are ready to start construction of the amphitheater/flex field. Just waiting for schedules to align to do the actual groundbreaking ceremony.

Lamping said design work is complete and work has started on the 5,500-seat Amphitheatre/flex field project that will be built adjacent to EverBank's South End Zone.

"We haven't done the ceremonial groundbreaking yet, and the only reason we haven't done that is sometimes it's difficult to get schedules coordinated between very busy people such as [Jaguars Owner] Shad Khan and the mayor of Jacksonville [Lenny Curry],'' Lamping said. "Work has started. It's not a lot that people will be able to see, but the renovation at field level in the south end zone is really part of the Amphitheatre project and that's almost complete."

http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/-Jaguarscom-LIVE-%E2%80%9CPeople-are-excited%E2%80%9D-Lamping-says/5282c949-aa8f-4442-a01e-7233ad78c92e

[RattlerGator]

Channel 4 had an interesting program on yesterday providing an in-depth look at the new renovations at the stadium:

http://www.news4jax.com/everbank-evolution

And Shad Khan dropped a very interesting nugget about development plans *east* of The Shipyards property coming down the road, including a luxury hotel.

Spring, 2017 is the target date for completion of the south end zone project.  It will be open for plenty of events before it's ever used as an indoor football field.

Once that's done, Khan has plans for the Shipyards project, probably starting a little east of the actual shipyard property with a luxury hotel, a walk-bridge to the stadium, public spaces, some retail, a spot for the USS Adams and, maybe, even docking space for Shad's mega yacht "Kismet."

Hmmmmmm.

[FlaBoy]

That sounds like the waterfront next to the stadium maybe towards Arlington?

That would make no sense...

[Tacachale]

^It sounds like the area directly east of the Shipyards proper, currently used for gameday parking.

[KenFSU]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Met Park eventually become part of that discussion as well.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-04-30/story/relocating-metropoltian-park-could-be-part-talks-khan-about-shipyard

[JaxAvondale]

Completion of this project in the spring will be very important. The Jags will have a good chance at the 2018 or 2019 NFL Draft. Philadelphia will host the draft next year.

[jaxlongtimer]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Met Park eventually become part of that discussion as well.

My recollection is that Melody Bishop, when on the DIA, proposed that Khan swap, take Metro Park for development and leave the Shipyards as green space.  I believe Khan's team was open to this at the time.  With the current construction, this makes more sense than ever.

I hear that cleaning up the Shipyards for development is prohibitive so it is likely not feasible anytime soon.  But as a park, cover it with a few feet of clean fill, and it's likely usable as green space.  I have read this has been done with brownfields many times.

Metro Park's proximity to the sports complex makes that a better location for development.  The Shipyards proximity to downtown and residential possibilities, along with the Hyatt, make that a better spot for green space.  Let's see if common sense prevails for once .

[copperfiend]

Completion of this project in the spring will be very important. The Jags will have a good chance at the 2018 or 2019 NFL Draft. Philadelphia will host the draft next year.

Funny thing about Philly hosting next year is the Eagles don't have a first pick. It was dealt to Cleveland in the move up to get Wentz.

[FlaBoy]

^It sounds like the area directly east of the Shipyards proper, currently used for gameday parking.

That would make sense. Doesn't that property have the Fire Museum on it? I didn't think Khan owned that but did own the property next to Hogan's Creek next door to the property you mentioned. I thought the property you are speaking of was basically part of the park? If so, the land swap would make sense.

[JaxAvondale]

Completion of this project in the spring will be very important. The Jags will have a good chance at the 2018 or 2019 NFL Draft. Philadelphia will host the draft next year.

Funny thing about Philly hosting next year is the Eagles don't have a first pick. It was dealt to Cleveland in the move up to get Wentz.

They will be booing every pick all night.

When this project is completed, the Jags and city will be able to make a good case for hosting the draft. Jacksonville has 6 teams located within an 8 hour drive of the city. This will be huge for getting a lot of fans from other teams to come to the draft.

[Tacachale]

^It sounds like the area directly east of the Shipyards proper, currently used for gameday parking.

That would make sense. Doesn't that property have the Fire Museum on it? I didn't think Khan owned that but did own the property next to Hogan's Creek next door to the property you mentioned. I thought the property you are speaking of was basically part of the park? If so, the land swap would make sense.

Khan doesn't own any of it. All that area (including the stadium and parking) is the City. Yes, the parcel with the fire station and docks is generally lumped in and administered as part of Metro Park, it's where Kids Kampus was until Mayor Peyton turned it into a grass "flex space". That may be what they're talking about. Unlike eastern Metro Park, which is actually over National Parks Service land, it's owned by the city so it would be easier to swap. They could also just be referring to the easternmost parts of the "Shipyards", which weren't really part of the original shipyards property but are packaged together in most deals that have been discussed.

[KenFSU]

From the T-U today, Jags President Mark Lamping on the end zone renovations.

Sounds like the Jags are serious about making Everbank a destination for music festivals, which would likely make Met Park even more obsolete. 

The new entrance in the South End Zone also presents opportunities for EverBank Field, besides being the final stop on the team's Prowl when it takes the field.

"It's part of the amphitheater project," Lamping said. "The primary reason was to make the facility work better for other events. If we hosted a music festival here with multiple stages, the amphitheater, the flex field and the main stage on the field. The problem with having concerts on the field in most stadiums is it's hard to get the customers on and off. That gives us the ability to very efficiently get fans on and off the field. It makes it a better site for other events, especially music festivals."

[RattlerGator]

Still sippin' from that jug of haterade, I see.

That entertainment district is going to become something special thanks to Shad.