Jaguars amphitheater, flex field construction to begin next month

[thelakelander]

^The perils of value engineering...

[Keith-N-Jax]

Still looks nice but less classy than before. Why was it watered downed I wonder?

[tufsu1]

^ It looks like a giant shed!

[thelakelander]

Still looks nice but less classy than before. Why was it watered downed I wonder?

To save money. The guy is a billionare for a reason. EverBank ain't in London or NYC. Why spend Taj Mahal type money?

[jaxjags]

It is a football practice field.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Too bad though, they could have done better, it will look ok at night during football games, Still disappointing they watered it down. 

[Tacachale]

There are a lot more opportunities for infill in the sports district than it usually gets credit for. This project and the smaller-but-important Intuition and Doro projects are signs of that. In addition to the Shipyards and former Kids Kampus, the parking lots are organized to be carved up for development, and there are several undeveloped or underused parcels. Moving First Coast News and WJCT (which is incredibly on riverfront property) would free up a lot of underused space too. It could easily become another node of activity without a huge amount of effort (far less than, say, Brooklyn or LaVilla). However, the city is unlikely to prioritize that (except entertainment uses, or things driven by the Jags) for the time being given other needs elsewhere in Downtown. I have to agree, even with more activity and a(nother) big hotel, it would be a pretty bad place for a convention center. But if Khan's paying a big chunk of it, it would be a lot easier to swallow.

[jaxjags]

Too bad though, they could have done better, it will look ok at night during football games, Still disappointing they watered it down.

I think if you look closely at the "Amphitheatre" part of the project it looks better. Seating area appear more raised like a true theatre. Upper seating is nicely done. Technical features will probably top end. This part of the project will probably come out better than people think. This is truly an outdoor, totally covered theatre.

The real impact will be the number and type of events and how many people it can attract.

[Keith-N-Jax]

But the outside though, like Tusfu said, looks like a giant shed, once built this is apart of our city, viewable during major sporting events. Go back and look at the previous renderings. I am just a little disappointed but I am sure when finished it may grow on all of us. I hope

[KenFSU]

I don't know, I'm not really seeing the huge differences between what was shown in January and what was shown today. The original renders were a little more artsy and conceptual and included a few aspects which have always been stated as Phase 2 additions (namely the pedestrian bridge), and the new renders look a little more realistic as far as build-ability, but the actual structures don't look hugely different. Definitely don't see the massive step back in design that others do. The interior shots actually look nicer, in my opinion. And I think that one isometric view you're seeing posted a lot is kind of an unflattering angle. Roof still looks "flowy" from the interior shots.

January:


August:


January:


August:


January:


August:


January:


August:

[spuwho]

Iguana would love to build/manage a hotel next to the field, but the city has to pay to clean up the property first. Its a hazmat zone.

[Keith-N-Jax]

What? you don't see a difference, look at night rendering for Jan, totally different now and way scaled down

[thelakelander]

Iguana would love to build/manage a hotel next to the field, but the city has to pay to clean up the property first. Its a hazmat zone.

Or they can buy the Hyatt. COJ saves on shipyards cleanup, Hyatt's owner gets to parachute from a bad investment and Iguana gets their hotel without flooding the DT market with a few extra hundred hotel rooms.

[thelakelander]

Or take and finish Berkman II as a hotel. That would be like Christmas in July for COJ, Jax's skyline and Berkman's owner.

[vicupstate]

SMH

Honestly.