Attractions in Jacksonville...we need way more.

[Ken_FSU]

Might be a wildly unpopular opinion, but I don't think a Southern Rock museum is a particularly good idea. In theory, yes. In execution, no. It's a one-time visit for locals, a questionable tourist draw giving the rapidly aging audience that Southern Rock history appeals to (45-75, I'd guess), and an ethical gray area in terms of some of the iconography and "Southern Pride" mentality that I wouldn't want to closely associate with as a city. From a financial perspective, there just isn't the mainstream interest in Southern Rock like there is with the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame or Country Music Hall of Fame. I think it'd have a great first year, and then flatline.

To me, it would make more sense as exhibit space in the proposed Hard Rock Hotel (assuming it happens one day), or a Southern Rock Hall of Fame type of installation within a large live music & entertainment venue.

[thelakelander]

^Ken, you've provided a potential financial solution for "museums" of the future. Incorporating nonrevenue producing items like museum exhibits into spaces that generate revenue, that may also share a similar cultural or historical theme.

[Charles Hunter]

How is The Big House Museum, the Allman Brothers Band museum, in Macon?

[Aristocles]

Never been to the Big House museum but it gets very good reviews. Also as Lakelander said about revenue generation it has a rental space for income.

I think these museums should not be paid for with tax revenue but by philanthropy from anyone interested. The recording industry, business groups, Black churches, whomever. As for me, I love stories like that of Robert Reed Church Sr. from Memphis. Known as the first Black American millionaire, he learned business principles working on Mississippi River riverboats until he became valuable as a manager. Later, when Memphis suffered its malaria epidemics he bought valuable real estate at low prices and held on to the properties as their values increased when the epidemics subsided. With his wealth he funded lots of infrastructure and philanthropic ventures. I'm wondering if there is a place where people like him, Black geniuses who did the "firsts" - first Black-owned bank, auto dealership, insurance company, etc. - are honored. Also I think Great Migration Communities is a better title than Freedman's towns, which is more specific and limited.

If the Ritz Theatre is a go then let's see how it does. It sounds good.

Who is underwriting the financing of the new MOSH building? Is that a certainty or still just a possibility?

[Aristocles]

Just found out MOSH raised $95 million, public and private, for the new Northbank facility.

[Downtown Osprey]

Might be a wildly unpopular opinion, but I don't think a Southern Rock museum is a particularly good idea. In theory, yes. In execution, no. It's a one-time visit for locals, a questionable tourist draw giving the rapidly aging audience that Southern Rock history appeals to (45-75, I'd guess), and an ethical gray area in terms of some of the iconography and "Southern Pride" mentality that I wouldn't want to closely associate with as a city. From a financial perspective, there just isn't the mainstream interest in Southern Rock like there is with the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame or Country Music Hall of Fame. I think it'd have a great first year, and then flatline.

To me, it would make more sense as exhibit space in the proposed Hard Rock Hotel (assuming it happens one day), or a Southern Rock Hall of Fame type of installation within a large live music & entertainment venue.

Totally agree with this. Many (myself included) were so sad when Freebirds closed it's doors. I think you would need a hybrid of museum and music venue. It would be awesome to have a Freebirds 2.0 that also included the southern rock history aspect. It already has a recognizable name both locally and nationally. It would be perfect.

[Ken_FSU]

Might be a wildly unpopular opinion, but I don't think a Southern Rock museum is a particularly good idea. In theory, yes. In execution, no. It's a one-time visit for locals, a questionable tourist draw giving the rapidly aging audience that Southern Rock history appeals to (45-75, I'd guess), and an ethical gray area in terms of some of the iconography and "Southern Pride" mentality that I wouldn't want to closely associate with as a city. From a financial perspective, there just isn't the mainstream interest in Southern Rock like there is with the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame or Country Music Hall of Fame. I think it'd have a great first year, and then flatline.

To me, it would make more sense as exhibit space in the proposed Hard Rock Hotel (assuming it happens one day), or a Southern Rock Hall of Fame type of installation within a large live music & entertainment venue.

Totally agree with this. Many (myself included) were so sad when Freebirds closed it's doors. I think you would need a hybrid of museum and music venue. It would be awesome to have a Freebirds 2.0 that also included the southern rock history aspect. It already has a recognizable name both locally and nationally. It would be perfect.

A+++++ idea.

Love this, and I too deeply miss Freebirds.

[Aristocles]

Well, you know the story about how Led Zeppelin got its name? Robert Plant and Jimmy Page were standing in Keith Moon's driveway saying they were going to name their band The New Yardbirds. Moon said that name would fly as well as a lead zeppelin.
So, let's call the new combined venue/music museum The New Freebirds. 

[Aristocles]

As The Stylistics sang, let's put it all together...

Put The New Freebirds venuseum at Lot J. There you go.

[Jankelope]

If only the people who commented on the JAXSON forums were all "benevolent billionaires"

[Jankelope]

Okay so this one is a moonshot...

But what do you think about an attraction/hotel combo called "ICEWORLD" that has a 50,000 square foot "Thermal Core" that is 27 degrees year round. There is an attached hotel, and in the Thermal core there is also floor level retail for coffee/hot chocolate, winter clothing, etc. It snows every day, there's slides, frozen cave, events, field trips.

Basically a year round version of what Gaylord Palms does. I think you would have to get the scale and scope right for it to be sustainable, but I think there could be a market...

It is my craziest idea but it would be something only Jacksonville has.