Veterans Memorial Arena - Money left on the table

[vicupstate]

It will not only in turn bring in potential bigger acts and sporting events

I don't see how the NAME of the venue would have any impact at all on where a concert tour, etc. decides to stop.   

[KenFSU]

Hey Metro Jax, Ive frequented this site over the years and just now registered so I can join in some of these threads.

In regards to the JVMA naming rights I am all for getting a corporate sponsor. It will not only in turn bring in potential bigger acts and sporting events but it can help the cost of the upkeep in the arena. We have three fortune 500 companies here and several other fortune 1000 as well as large corporations with a big footprint in N Fl. If you want to stay local you can go with JEA Arena, CSX Center, or go the sports route with Fanatics Center since they are the official retailer for MLB, NHL, Nascar, NFL, and NBA. We have many more companies and banks that could fit the title as well but Fanatics could be a win win, they are locally based, internationally known, and recognized in all major sports markets.

A big name sponsor could in return bring another major sport to Jacksonville, its no longer a laughing stock city and its time the rest of the country realizes it has some serious things going on.

No disrespect to our Veterans, We need to honor them! But we can do that and still have a corporate sponsor.

Welcome friend!

I like the Fanatics idea.

CSX and JEA get mentioned a lot, but I'm not sure if it necessarily makes a lot of sense for either. Typically naming rights are purchased to build brand awareness, visibility and loyalty. Fanatics would be a great fit for this purpose. Like Daily's or Everbank. Likewise, the purchasing of naming rights by a passenger rail service would make sense, but I don't see what the more industrial CSX would really get out of the deal. Same with JEA, which already has a monopoly on the market and gains nothing from any national exposure that would come from purchasing naming rights.

Not sure they could afford it, but to me, Winn Dixie and Maxwell House make the most sense. Depending on the asking price, both would have a lot to gain in terms of building genuine civic loyalty toward two companies that have never really been able to gain traction here in their home market.

If I'm the city, I'd give either one of those companies a good deal on the naming rights too, as the positive externalities associated with propping up a local Fortune 500 or Fortune 1000 and strengthening their ties to the local community will more than make up for it on the back end.

[remc86007]

It will not only in turn bring in potential bigger acts and sporting events

I don't see how the NAME of the venue would have any impact at all on where a concert tour, etc. decides to stop.

I know it sounds crazy, but I'd bet that it would, at least marginally.

There is something intensely forgettable about "Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena." I don't know anybody that calls it anything other than "the arena." "Fanatics Center" or "CSX Arena" might actually be referred to by name. Similarly, Everbank Field is a whole lot more recognizable than Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Name recognition can have strong effects on people.

[JaxVision]

It will not only in turn bring in potential bigger acts and sporting events

I don't see how the NAME of the venue would have any impact at all on where a concert tour, etc. decides to stop.
[/quote

Im not saying a city should be overlooked because it doesn't have a corporate name but booking managers of artists and sporting event hosts/ owners of teams would be more likely to look at a city with a recognizable name than a city with its own name on it.

When you go with a corporate sponsor it makes the appeal for the arena seem more professional and "big time" especially if that name is something people recognize, like Fanatics Center. Also the corporation would be responsible for certain upkeep and more money would be available for upgrades like new longer ribbon boards, newer concessions, social media sections inside etc. All of this brings attention to Jax and in return that attention opens up the door for bigger events.

[JaxVision]

 The last thing I would add to this is that one of the many speed bumps in a corporation signing their name to the arena is that it really only houses concerts and minor league sports teams. Would a business want to pay for rights to something that isn't on national TV or for major sport/event.

Jax is constantly growing and more business is coming in each day, we see the trends and notice that the arena is now top 100 in ticket sales. The city is projected to be in the top 40 in size by 2020, a top 12 city for growth and DTJax is on the verge of being great. People will laugh at this but Jax is ready to support a second major sport, the NBA is in mind with the expansion of two teams coming in near future. We have so many minor league teams and the only one not on the verge of collapse ever is the Jumbo Shrimp.

Get rid of the minor league teams that every year are on the verge of collapse and money gets thrown away with them or the leagues get dissolved and put focus on the major sports that bring in money and tourism.

We as a city are bigger than ever and growing, all you need is a 17,000+ arena (JVMA was built for expansion) for the NBA to look at you, get a corporate sponsor to puts its name on the JVMA and you may be able to lure the NBA. That is a pipe dream I know, but the point is a corporate name on the building brings attention, which brings events, which brings money and tourism. It also helps with cost to the arena and that helps the city. (this probably could've gone in another thread, just wasn't sure which one) Thank you.

[nemo594]

The last thing I would add to this is that one of the many speed bumps in a corporation signing their name to the arena is that it really only houses concerts and minor league sports teams. Would a business want to pay for rights to something that isn't on national TV or for major sport/event.

Jax is constantly growing and more business is coming in each day, we see the trends and notice that the arena is now top 100 in ticket sales. The city is projected to be in the top 40 in size by 2020, a top 12 city for growth and DTJax is on the verge of being great. People will laugh at this but Jax is ready to support a second major sport, the NBA is in mind with the expansion of two teams coming in near future. We have so many minor league teams and the only one not on the verge of collapse ever is the Jumbo Shrimp.

Get rid of the minor league teams that every year are on the verge of collapse and money gets thrown away with them or the leagues get dissolved and put focus on the major sports that bring in money and tourism.

We as a city are bigger than ever and growing, all you need is a 17,000+ arena (JVMA was built for expansion) for the NBA to look at you, get a corporate sponsor to puts its name on the JVMA and you may be able to lure the NBA. That is a pipe dream I know, but the point is a corporate name on the building brings attention, which brings events, which brings money and tourism. It also helps with cost to the arena and that helps the city. (this probably could've gone in another thread, just wasn't sure which one) Thank you.

I think you have it reversed.  If arena is successful in growing market, then sponsors will be interested.  Concert/event promoters could care less on who sponsors an arena if it will sell out.   EverBank (now owned by TIAA) and Taxslayer have very little recognition outside of Jacksonville for their actual product offerings.