Jaguars: Stadium needs millions

[ac]

Do these upgrades also not ensure the future of the Fla/Ga game or Gator Bowl?

Any group who uses the stadium stands to benefit, yes. 

The sticking point with people who oppose the Jaguars at any cost will be that it was apparently the Jaguars alone who commissioned the report.  Most would appear to have no concept of the fact that without the NFL, we'd probably still have rickety steel scaffold bleachers and a single, 25-year-old concrete upper deck if the stadium hadn't already collapsed by now.

[copperfiend]

And we'd have no Gator Bowl or Fla/Ga game. The Jaguars saved both.

[Keith-N-Jax]

I think we have a pretty nice stadium, I wonder what they plan on doing as far as renovations go?

[copperfiend]

Alot of it is for basic things like repaving the parking lots, replacing seats and plumping improvements.

[ac]

I think we have a pretty nice stadium, I wonder what they plan on doing as far as renovations go?

From the article linked in the OP:

What a stadium can get for $148 million

The February 2007 report, commissioned by the Jaguars, is full of upgrades that are said to be needed just to keep up the current level of service to fans. Here’s how it breaks down:
Audio-visual: $4.4 million
Building system upgrades, including air-handling equipment, plumbing and boiler system: $18.1 million
Seating repairs and replacement: $15.4 million
Exterior finish: $2.4 million
Various equipment, including storage, trash bins and forklifts: $4.6 million
Food service equipment: $6.2 million
Handheld communications: $560,000
Interior finishes: $24.3 million
Scoreboards: $867,000
Video boards: $37.6 million
Security: $200,000
Sound systems: $5 million
Telecommunications: $1.8 million
Waterproofing: $5.8 million
“Other,” which includes parking lot and elevator maintenance: $21 million
Source: February 2007 HOK architects’ report

[Keith-N-Jax]

Not cheap huh. It's amazing how exspensive things are now a days. Imagine the cost on the Cardinals stadium with the sliding field and the stadiums with retractable roofs.

[copperfiend]

That is why there isn't a team in LA. People talk about the Jags moving to LA but it won't happen because a new stadium now would cost you well over a billion dollars.

[GatorShane]

I hope this doesn't sound  superficial, but I hope some of the money will be spent on cosmetic changes in and around the stadium. Don't get me wrong, it is a nice funtional stadium, but lacks that certain "Wow" factor. Maybe some more LED ribbons on the inside, major landscaping on the outside, and perhaps some nighttime signature lighting. I now a lot of people are going to be upset about the money but I believe this is just an upgrade to part of the cities infrastructure. The people of this city need to realize that this stadium was built at a bargain price to begin with and with the Jaguars, FLA_GA, and the Gator Bowl, the stadium is a major source of economic impact and tourism.

[copperfiend]

I am curious to see what the 37 million for "video boards" is.

[ac]

For that price, I hope they're the panoramic ones that nearly span each end zone.

[Keith-N-Jax]

I doubt any new landscaping will be done, all of Jax tends to be very uninspired when it comes to landscaping.

[copperfiend]

I doubt any new landscaping will be done, all of Jax tends to be very uninspired when it comes to landscaping.

I am with you there. Driving around Orlando and then returning home, the first thing I notice is all of the dead grass and weeds.

[BridgeTroll]

And we'd have no Gator Bowl or Fla/Ga game. The Jaguars saved both.

Or Monster truck rally...

[winthropf]

ok, maybe i'm in the minority on several fronts here...  but, i have been to games and I enjoy it when I go to see a game at the stadium, but I can't afford to go to every game. If they lowered the price, would I go to every game...  no, i have other stuff to do.  But, I think there comes a time to cut the cord....  I have a MUCH better time at Suns games then I do at Jags games

Let's be honest, a lot of the talk about lowest ticket prices in League is a moot point...  people make less here.

Do the Jags increase our exposure on a national basis?  That point is debatable...  what kind of press do we want as a city?  Do we want everyone to know about one of our richest community members getting gunned down in a parked car early in the morning?  What are ideas about our city are being re-enforcing?

Are the Jags the only reason for people to go downtown?  I highly doubt that...  How many of those people who are so crazy about Jags even know there is an Artwalk every month? Or even bother to look for other things because they don't have the money to do anything else?  I was amazed that ArtWalk was on the news last night....  but the Jags get extensive coverage on the news, everyday! 

How about  instead of a local sports radio show...  a local music show...  How about instead of a local Jags TV show, we have a local variety talk show... 
I've seen bands in Jacksonville play to 20 people, when they play to 2000 in other cities...  i don't think we are full of hicks, i think we are fully of spoonfeed people, and people that don't fit into our city have to move away. 
Not to take anything away from the people that are working really hard to bring bands and nightlife to our town....  but often times I have to go out of town to see a band I like...

Just look at what the city has been doing to clubs downtown the past year.... The city doesn't want us to have any other reason to go downtown...

I would rather see us lose the Jags and keep some of the awesome, amazing, positive talented poeple that leave for greener pastures every year...
 
So, in summary, I don't see the benefit of the Jags for the city at this point, but then again maybe I'm missing something....

I have another idea to use the stadium and tickets would be cheaper....  MLS is expanding...  they are looking to add 2 more teams.....  Imagine getting a $20 ticket to go the stadium and seeing an MLS game... or the Stadium actually being able to host concerts again...   and taking the Skyway from the Southbank, all the way to Stadium for that game!   Maybe the people who run the stadium will have to get imaginative and bring people in for other events...  festivals, races, swap meets....  anything/everything...  plus if the city was spilling 1.5 mil to keep it up each year, that's a whole lot better than shelling out 100 mil every 10 years (along with the normal upkeep items)...  you know this 148 Mil is another band-aid, and we will need to upgrade again in 10 years...

OR
INVEST THE $148 MILLION in local transport projects!  Trainsportation will benefit the city more, and will put us on the map as a progressive, forward thinking city. 
Then build some cool tourists destinations...  let's start another large fest like the Jazz fest for another style of music...  Let's do something... i agree with the person who said earlier said we as a city are too slow.

Otherwise, I can think of 20 other things that the city could invest 1/148th of that money in, and it would contribute to our city!   
There's an idea....  open our city up to ideas...  submit your plans to use 1 million dollars to help the city...... heck at this point they could give 25 ideas almost 6 million each!

[copperfiend]

You talk about the stadium being used for concerts or an MLS team. Would the parking lots still not need to be repaved? The plumbing updated?