1,500,000 population within range of many NBA teams...

[rjp2008]

I was surprised they were so few outdoor basketball courts here when I arrived (and the few there are not in great shape). With Donovan completely transforming UF basketball into a powerhouse, why it hasn't taken root here yet?

[blizz01]

The Richmond Braves are moving to Gwinett County. New stadium is already being built

I assume the Richmond Braves are the Atlanta Braves affiliate - why would they move within the same market so close to Atlanta?

[apvbguy]

Avg attendance of all MiLB and Independent Teams over the past 2 years

2007 avg attendance
43. Jacksonville Suns (SL) 5,739 

2006 avg attendance
35. Jacksonville Suns (SL) 5,869

                 

I am hardly an expert, but the few game that I've been to did not have 5k people there, maybe they sold 5k tickets but their rear ends were not in the seats. Ticket sales are a part of a team's income but they'd rather have bodies in the stands than people just buying seats. empty seats do not buy beer and hot dogs and whatever, and that's the profit center

[apvbguy]

The Suns are all for becoming a AAA team, and Jacksonville specifically built a stadium big enough to meet AAA specifications. 

Again, I am hardly an expert but the stadium here is like every other newer minor league A and AA park I've been to,
a AAA park is like what they have in richmond va, and our park is nothing like that

[cline]

a AAA park is like what they have in richmond va, and our park is nothing like that

You're right.  The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville is much nicer. 

[adamh0903]

Avg attendance of all MiLB and Independent Teams over the past 2 years

2007 avg attendance
43. Jacksonville Suns (SL) 5,739 

2006 avg attendance
35. Jacksonville Suns (SL) 5,869

                 

I am hardly an expert, but the few game that I've been to did not have 5k people there, maybe they sold 5k tickets but their rear ends were not in the seats. Ticket sales are a part of a team's income but they'd rather have bodies in the stands than people just buying seats. empty seats do not buy beer and hot dogs and whatever, and that's the profit center

The suns still count actual attendance. So this figure is actual butts in seats. The NFL has gone to "tickets distributed" but MiLB still counts actual bodies

The suns would draw 7-8k on thursday nights for "Thursday Throwdown-Buds for a Buck"

[apvbguy]

a AAA park is like what they have in richmond va, and our park is nothing like that

You're right.  The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville is much nicer. 

that could be, but I thought we were discussing seating capacity.

[cline]

that could be, but I thought we were discussing seating capacity.

Richmond:  12,000
Jacksonville:  11,000

Jacksonville's park is large enough to support a AAA team.

[apvbguy]

Avg attendance of all MiLB and Independent Teams over the past 2 years

2007 avg attendance
43. Jacksonville Suns (SL) 5,739 

2006 avg attendance
35. Jacksonville Suns (SL) 5,869

                 

I am hardly an expert, but the few game that I've been to did not have 5k people there, maybe they sold 5k tickets but their rear ends were not in the seats. Ticket sales are a part of a team's income but they'd rather have bodies in the stands than people just buying seats. empty seats do not buy beer and hot dogs and whatever, and that's the profit center

The suns still count actual attendance. So this figure is actual butts in seats. The NFL has gone to "tickets distributed" but MiLB still counts actual bodies

The suns would draw 7-8k on thursday nights for "Thursday Throwdown-Buds for a Buck"

wouldn't that be a full house? Like I've noted, very unscientifically I might add, I've never seen a crowd that even came close to 5k people there, but that really doesn't mean anything.
The real point is that JAX doesn't seem to be a real hot bed for sports unless UF or GA are playing football, regardless of the level of baseball team we have here, there isn't too much upside potential for more fans to attend games.
I do agree that JAX should have a AAA team but what we want isn't always realistic.

[RiversideGator]

I think Jacksonville is clearly not a basketball town.  We are football and baseball oriented like the rest of the South (excluding North Carolina and Kentucky of course).  So, I agree we need to focus on retaining the Jags first.  Keep buying tickets and attending the games.

Secondly, we should focus on improving the Gator Bowl and making it into one of the top tier bowls (i.e. BCS).

Thirdly, we should focus on organic growth with out baseball team.  I think the move to AAA is fine but ultimately I think the next step would be MLB within the next 20 years.  Once we hit 1.6 to 1.8 million, this should start being our next goal IMO.  There is also no reason we could not leapfrog from AA to MLB given the proper size.  I think Phoenix did that.

[adamh0903]

The current configuration for the Jacksonville Suns will seat 11k
6k in stadium chairs the rest in Outfield bleachers, the burm and 12 skyboxes and 2 party decks

[cline]

I've never seen a crowd that even came close to 5k people there, but that really doesn't mean anything.
The real point is that JAX doesn't seem to be a real hot bed for sports unless UF or GA are playing football, regardless of the level of baseball team we have here, there isn't too much upside potential for more fans to attend games.
I do agree that JAX should have a AAA team but what we want isn't always realistic.

I'm not sure what days you've been to games but like adamh0903 said, the Thursday night games regularly draw a large crowd as do the weekend homestands. 

As for a AAA team not being realistic, I disagree.  There are currently AAA teams that draw less than the Suns do (such as the Las Vegas 51s and the New Orleans Zephyrs).

So, I agree we need to focus on retaining the Jags first.  Keep buying tickets and attending the games.

Agreed RG, can't wait for the first home game!

[adamh0903]

We lost the ACC championship Baseball Games, so I think exhibition games or other special games are a good move for the city. Games like the Orlando v Miami game and It would be nice to get some Rays games here...The Baseball Grounds would still draw more fans then Tropicana field in Tampa does.

[apvbguy]

We lost the ACC championship Baseball Games, so I think exhibition games or other special games are a good move for the city. Games like the Orlando v Miami game and It would be nice to get some Rays games here...The Baseball Grounds would still draw more fans then Tropicana field in Tampa does.

they would draw very well here for a few games but an 81 game season is another thing. hey, I hate to sound so negative, but from what I've seen of the sports scene here, it isn't too impressive

[copperfiend]

We lost the ACC championship Baseball Games, so I think exhibition games or other special games are a good move for the city. Games like the Orlando v Miami game and It would be nice to get some Rays games here...The Baseball Grounds would still draw more fans then Tropicana field in Tampa does.

I think the ACC is only temporarily leaving Jax for their baseball tournament. In 2006. Boston was selected to host it in 2009 but just recently said they couldn't due to a "scheduling conflict". The Bragans and the city of Jacksonville would gladly have hosted it again but the Red Sox waited so long to tell the ACC about the conflict that it may nearly be impossible for logistical reasons. It will likely be played somewhere in North Carolina now. Jacksonville has bent over backwards to host and has done a good job. I suspect if Boston actually hosts in 2010, it will be back in Jacksonville in 2011 and beyond.