Landing on New Years Eve

[77danj7]

Was this the first year they closed at 9 for anyone under 21???
We went down last night and sure seemed like TONS of families were getting turned away because they had kids or even babies in strollers.
Was it well publicized that they there closing to anyone under 21 even adults with their kids?

[tufsu1]

they have done this for many years....and its a good idea....with all of the college football fans and alcohol, The Landing is no place for families on New Years Eve.

that said, there was plenty of space on the Riverwalk on either side of The Landing to view the fireworks.

[Ocklawaha]

I ended up right in the middle of the crowd at the Landing. Was excellent, well behaved, well policed, mixed 75% college with about 25% oldsters (many with college connections).

They were even chanting each-others cheers on the East Side of the place!

It would probably be a tough job to find two larger groups of polite and friendly people then to mix Nebraska and South Carolina folks. I only saw one emergency and THAT didn't see in any way related to the party. Someone had a possible heart attack or some such, upstairs in the food court. Even so the kids made a large path for the paramedics.

I heard one complaint that many of the firework shell looked "alike".  Frankly they did. No hearts, happy faces, no lit up bridge, no lazers and no building top launches. I question the wisdom of this because when we have out of state visitors THIS is when we should pull out all of the stops. How many fortune 500's were represented by that crowd? How many future professionals? planners? industrialists? tech geeks? successful businessmen and women? When we do the "works" for the 4Th of July or Christmas parade of boats, it's for locals mostly - and we spend big. When 100,000 screaming out of towners come in - we cut back.

The other complaint hurt more from a civic pride standpoint. "We couldn't get a room this side of ORLANDO!"
So guess where their dollars are being spent? We need to wake the hell up and somehow get more hotel-motel rooms of business or family quality in our City core. Then provide the venues to keep them afloat.

ONE LAST OBSERVATION... Why not pioneer a bit and have the visitors bureau do advertising in whatever markets are represented by the NEXT GATOR BOWL? The add's could be co-oped and payed by groups or business clusters with lots of 800 numbers. Something like:

While your in Jacksonville - You might want to enjoy our beaches - Best Western - Holiday Inn - Comfort Inn -JACKSONVILLE! With scenes of the beaches, and minor sponserships by places like BUCKETS - SNEAKERS etc.

While your enjoying Jacksonville - Did you know we have a world class zoo and gardens? Northside shops at River City Marketplace - Airport hotels etc...

While your basking in Jacksonville's sunshine - Maybe it's time for a cruise? St. Augustien, Fernandina, NPS, Jacksonville Parks, State Parks, 5 points - Park and King, etc... etc...

Ad's are cheap in markets like Omaha, NE; Stillwater, OK or even South Carolina.

MOST OF THOSE I SPOKE WITH DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT TO DO OR SEE IN THE CITY.

OCKLAWAHA

[ProjectMaximus]

Yeah, I agree Jax tourism should advertise in the local team markets, or at least in conjunction with the schools' bowl packages (as I'm sure many alumni no longer live where their school is)

I did see a heart, but I agree I was disappointed with no bridge spectacles, etc. This was my first trip to see fireworks in downtown Jax in at least three years, so I've definitely recalled better. (Though I have read that in this economic downturn, many cities were cutting back or canceling their traditional celebrations altogether)

One question in general: where were all the people on the southbank? It was not crowded at all. Maybe a third to half capacity all along the riverwalk. My parents, who come almost every new year's and fourth of july, said it's usually packed and they can hardly walk around. This year you could have shown up just as the fireworks were starting, and still parked anywhere along the southbank (plenty of spaces) and pretty much had your choice of where to stand to watch the display.

[Lucasjj]

Coming back from a commercial break during the Gator Bowl game an ad was ran for visitjacksonville.com.

[Seraphs]

Most definitely agree, the fireworks were a  bit lackluster.  My favorite is off the buildings.

[tufsu1]

bottom line....the hotels were sold out....that's a good thing!

And many of the fans were here for several days and visited places like the beach, zoo, MOSH, etc.

having been at The Landing last night and the game today, I can tell you that fans from both sides were very happy with their visit here.

The only complaint I heard was that there weren't enough restaurants at The Landing (given that 2 have closed in recent months)...now that is the fault of the City, Tony Sleiman, and the residents of Jax. who don't patronize The Landing enough!

[copperfiend]

bottom line....the hotels were sold out....that's a good thing!

And many of the fans were here for several days and visited places like the beach, zoo, MOSH, etc.

having been at The Landing last night and the game today, I can tell you that fans from both sides were very happy with their visit here.

The only complaint I heard was that there weren't enough restaurants at The Landing (given that 2 have closed in recent months)...now that is the fault of the City, Tony Sleiman, and the residents of Jax. who don't patronize The Landing enough!

Well, the Landing restaurants leave alot to be desired.

[77danj7]

I think it's a GREAT idea to close it off like that, it just seemed like it was not advertised enough that it would be that way for local families.

[tufsu1]

I agree that the restaurants might not be that good, but there's no room to complain about the lack of things downtown if you don't frequent what is already there!

[CrysG]

Think about things like this....I live and work in Clay. Why would I want to drive all the way downtown to eat at the Landing?

If you owned a good quality restaurant why would you build downtown? I don't think there is a lot of money to be made in the daytime lunch crowd. It I had to pick between building downtown and getting lunch customers or building in the burbs and getting lunch and dinner crowds I'd pick the burbs.

[thelakelander]

I think it depends on the atmposphere and customer you decide to target.  If I were targeting an urban oriented demographic, in a pedestrian friendly environment, the burbs would be a no go.

[jaxlore]

there isn't one thing that appeals to me (other then the starbucks). I ride along the river on my way home from work everyday and just shake my head. Every time I give a new restaurant there a chance i am disappointed. I eat out in San Marco and Riverside and downtown from time to time. Other then the view of the river what else is there?

[thelakelander]

^The Landing or the urban core in general?

[tufsu1]

the view of the river and the bridges is invaluable...think of the ambience.

Other than that, The Landing is one of the few places in town where you can see people from all walks of life...its a great people watching place!