Jacksonville's next Superbowl !!!

[Ocklawaha]

I think 2 major things have to happen. First is to follow through with the stadium improvements, and second is to upgrade downtown. The next time they should follow through with the original plans with the barges in the river for the entertainment district. With the hotels added at the airport and other new ones sprinkled around town we probably  have about 1,000 more hotel rooms. I worked near the airport during the last super bowl and there are at least 5 more hotels with another one being built right now.

I think we need to not only work on those two things but transportation as well.  One of the major complaints with Jax revolved around poor mass transit options and being forced to drive 30-45 minutes to visit various attractions.  Its hard to compete head-to-head with the big dogs when all you have is a second class bus system.

On the field as a team, or in the bids for the big game, it all boils down to mobility and livability. We are poor in both arenas.


Guess which local companies "GET IT?"

OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

If mobility were a major factor, Tampa would not be hosting its 4th Super Bowl....plus New Orleans doesn't have much of a transit system and Miami's stadium and attractions are nowhere near Metrorail

The fact is most of the people who attend the game and the events don't ride public transit....the biggest problem Jax has is that its not glitzy enough....and that's just fine by me!

[ProjectMaximus]

The absolute soonest we might be awarded the Superbowl would be after we complete the $150 million upgrade to the stadium. What's the time frame on that? A few years? And then we'd be bidding for the game about 5 years later? So maybe, possibly the 2016 or 2017 Super Bowl at the earliest.

That said, I'm not optimistic they'd even consider us for the next decade.

[thelakelander]

If mobility were a major factor, Tampa would not be hosting its 4th Super Bowl....plus New Orleans doesn't have much of a transit system and Miami's stadium and attractions are nowhere near Metrorail

The fact is most of the people who attend the game and the events don't ride public transit....the biggest problem Jax has is that its not glitzy enough....and that's just fine by me!

Tampa is not glitzy, but the area does have some things going for it that Jax does not, when it comes to hosting the big game.  Its larger, there are more attractions in the area, it has more hotel rooms and it has larger pockets of compact entertainment options (even the strip clubs on Dale Mabry become a huge draw).

Out of all the cities mentioned about, they all have decent pockets of entertainment activity (New Orleans - one of the most pedestrian friendly cities in the US, Tampa - Ybor, Miami - South Beach) that don't require visitors to travel all over town if they chose not too.  I think we can all agree that Jax does not bring much of these qualities to the table, so mobility (even pedestrian mobility) stands out more locally.  As for hosting another super bowl, in the next decade, I would not hold my breath.

[JeffreyS]

The NFL is playing the game in more venues than in the past if we can get the game in say 10 to 12 years that would be right in the mix.

[thelakelander]

If we want to compete for it, in the next decade, we need to work on bringing something to the table to make up for our shortcomings.  I don't think we'll land another if we don't.

[tufsu1]

I agree....beefing up the Bay Street district and adding another large hotel downtown would go a long way to makeing a bid more attractive

[Ocklawaha]

If mobility were a major factor, Tampa would not be hosting its 4th Super Bowl....plus New Orleans doesn't have much of a transit system and Miami's stadium and attractions are nowhere near Metrorail

The fact is most of the people who attend the game and the events don't ride public transit....

Say What?

Uh, New Orleans is expected to hit at or near pre-Katrina numbers in mass transit ridership for 08. That's some 45 MILLION riders on over 60+ bus routes. Don't forget the streetcars are running 2 MILLION per year ( on 5 miles of track) and growing. New Orleans is replacing the entire 372 bus fleet adding 45 streetcars, and going bio-fuel.  In fact the feds and city are looking toward the RESTAURANT INDUSTRY to feed mass transit with waste oil.

The difference is, as Lakelander said, Transit and livability go hand in hand. People go to New Orleans just to ride on it's transit system. How many come to Jacksonville for the same reason? Skyway anyone?

The numbers for Jacksonville should trump last years 10 MILLION rider mark, but however you want to count New Orleans (about 35 MILLION riders projected before the fuel ran out with 1/2 the system running) they whip us in spades.

Miami has a great mix which is a better start then any other Florida City. Appears they are now awake and trying to become a world class system. Time will tell - meanwhile the ZZZZZZZ from Tallahassee and Jacksonville City Hall echo over our state.

OCKLAWAHA

45 Streetcars? WTF? Yeah boyz and girls, those are the PCC's I located for OUR use. "Sa La Vie inteligencia!"

[copperfiend]

I agree....beefing up the Bay Street district and adding another large hotel downtown would go a long way to makeing a bid more attractive

Yes, and that is just a start. I think the chances we get another SB are slim. Wait until the new stadium in NYC is built. The game will be played there. A rotation of Miami, NYC, New Orleans, Dallas and Phoenix is not out of the question.

[Coolyfett]

Let me say this one more time....Jacksonville got the Super Bowl a few years back as all new or relocated teams in decent weather markets are given one....but we have very little chance of getting another one in the next 10 years....at this point, a bid would be a waste of time and money!

The Superbowl is not given away FSU, why is Phoenix & Houston bidding so much? Where is the ambition? That's a great attitude man.....really. I guess that's it then Jax should be satisfied with their first and only opportunity....While cities like Miami, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, San Diego, Phoenix & Houston just get more familiar and more familiar with the lime light.

*shaking head*

[tufsu1]

I didn't say be satisfied with one...I just stated that we shouldn't hold our breath for anything before 2020....and yes, putting a bid together for any time sooner would be a waste of time and money.

[Keith-N-Jax]

I agree until downtown is functional why waste money. SO 2020 gives us 11 yrs right. Let's see what happens. IMO I think we will still be havinig conversations like this, based on this city's history of doing things

[Coolyfett]

Future Super Bowl host cities

2010 - Miami (10)

2011 - Dallas (1)

2012 - Indianapolis (1)

2013 - New Orleans (10)

Any guesses for 2014? Any hope for Jacksonville getting in the mix?

[thelakelander]

No.

[copperfiend]

Future Super Bowl host cities

2010 - Miami (10)

2011 - Dallas (1)

2012 - Indianapolis (1)

2013 - New Orleans (10)

Any guesses for 2014? Any hope for Jacksonville getting in the mix?

No. Not a chance. With new mega stadiums in Dallas and Glendale, Az and soon to be in NYC there isn't much hope for a SB ever coming to Jacksonville again.