Atlanta bids for Florida-Georgia game

[ProjectMaximus]

Don't underestimate ATL's firepower in this battle.  They obviously see that Jax 's is in a relatively vulnerable position and $ talks.  The Jax business community better be ready to carry the ball on this one or that game will be in ATL.  

Well, from what I've read, theres no way the game in the Georgia Dome can match the Gator Bowl in revenue, unless they increase ticket prices substantially (which those in charge say is out of the question). This one will come down to whether UGA decides to shirk tradition and turn down bigger dollar signs for a slightly easier travel schedule.

[billy]

My money's on Jacksonville.

[BridgeTroll]

One of the arguments is that the Gators hold an unfair advantage with the game in Jax every year.  People should not forget that before Spurrier showed up the gators were beaten fairly regularly by Georgia...

Following the 2008 contest, Georgia held a 46-38-2 advantage in the all-time series. However, Florida has gone 16-3 in the game since 1990 (Georgia winning in 1997, 2004 and 2007) to follow a similar 15-5 domination by Georgia through the 70s and 80s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World's_Largest_Outdoor_Cocktail_Party

[Coolyfett]

There was an article about this in the Atlanta Journal Cont (the local rag). I was not aware that this was going on. Being that I am a Bulldogs fan I was interested, plus I am interested in Jacksonville's progress because I lived there.  The article was saying that the contract with Jax ends after the 2010 game, so as of now there are only 2 games left to be played. Atlanta is just trying to get the leap year game, with Jacksonville having the other 3, then back to Atlanta. It would be a major lost for everyone if the game returned to the campuses!!! And the more the Bulldogs lose, the more they bitch about it not being in a neutral site. Do Gator fans mind the game coming to a Georgia metro? Honestly a part of me wants the game to stay in Jacksonville forever, but being that I live in Atlanta now, I kinda miss the GA-FL experience, it would be cool to get it every four years. Is Jacksonville trying to land the contract fulltime after 2010? Whats the word down there?

[Steve]

If Atlanta wins this, then it would be a major blow to Jacksonville.  This should be a slam dunk for us

[Coolyfett]

Some of my family (big UGA fans) are from the Athens area and they always moan how it's not fair Georgia has to play in Florida every year, but then again they hardly ever leave the state so you're right. It's a great excuse for a road trip!

If Atlanta were to get this game once every 4 years I’d imagine we would try to snag the other 3?

Originally the game was placed in Jax, because Jax was the closes major city to the state line. The miles between Athens-Atlanta & Jacksonville-Gainesville are about close I think? I don't know if it is for the Bulldogs team or for the Bulldogs Fans, Maybe be the Bulldogs would like for the Gators fans to start traveling instead of them. I don't really think its an actual problem with Jacksonville the city, just the travel aspect of it. I think the leap year game may help it grow, but campus games would so hurt this game!! Either keep it in Jax forever or do the 3 in Jax 1 in Atl system, but No Campus games!!! It would mess up everything. Personally I wouldn't even watch it if it went campus. Keep them in the city not the country.

[BridgeTroll]

Everyone needs to remember that georgia used to own the gators prior to the Spurrier era...

[Coolyfett]

If Atlanta wins this, then it would be a major blow to Jacksonville.  This should be a slam dunk for us

Do you mean the 1 game every 4 years in Atlanta or Jax only having 3 games in 4 years?

[tufsu1]

I was at the Tourist Development Council meeting the other day....the Gator Bowl people were there asking for an increase in $ for 2011 and beyond....and lots of people were wearing red & black....don't worry, Jax. will do what it takes to keep this game

[urbanlibertarian]

TU Sports columnist Gene Frenette in today's Times-Union:

Georgia, Florida will follow the money - back to Jacksonville

University of Georgia president Michael Adams and athletic director Damon Evans can talk publicly all they want about possibly moving the Georgia-Florida football game out of Jacksonville. The reality is it's a bluff that makes no sense economically.

How many times does this issue have to surface before they reach the same conclusion - the extra $1.5 million to $2 million they receive every two years from playing at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium is too much to turn down.

Adams or Evans, especially in this economic climate, can't possibly justify to their constituency bypassing that kind of a revenue stream.

Georgia can squirm about losing 16 of the past 19 games, but there's no getting around the fact Jacksonville offers a better deal than going to a home-and-home series or moving it to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta every other year.

Adams, obviously trying to straddle the political fence, made a bizarre comment to the Athens (Ga.) Banner Herald after the Georgia Athletic Association board of directors met on Thursday, saying: "There are things we want yet out of the city of Jacksonville that can even the playing field a bit."

Really? Like what?

Jacksonville, whose game contract expires after the 2010 game, has stacked the deck economically in both schools' favor. The city reduced the annual rent on the stadium from $100,000 to $1. Evans and UF athletic director Jeremy Foley have set the game's ticket prices, $40 (general admission) and $70 (club seats), at rates that have drawn overflow crowds of about 84,500 spectators.

Now if Evans wants to move it to the Georgia Dome, there's also the matter of determining which 6,000 Bulldogs fans will no longer be able to purchase a ticket because of the reduced capacity. Does he want to say goodbye to 76 years of tradition and irritate the entire south Georgia fan base that looks forward to the unique game-day experience in Jacksonville?

If Adams really thinks about it, the only evening out of the playing field is what he and Evans could possibly do to match what Jacksonville offers. Unless the Georgia Dome expands to 90,000 seats, how is that going to happen?

We all know this is nothing more than some Georgia high-rollers, along with coach Mark Richt, not liking Florida's recent domination in the series. But when the Bulldogs had their way in this game under coach Vince Dooley, did you hear Florida pushing for a home-and-home series?

The truth is whether the game is in Jacksonville or somewhere else, both Georgia and Florida's hopes for victory will ride on the quality of their football teams and their game-day strategy, not on the venue.

As long as Jacksonville puts more money into the coffers of both schools, what's the point of Georgia power brokers even discussing a move?

Unless they find throwing away millions of dollars, and possibly still losing to Florida, really appealing.

[Adam Hollingsworth]

Keeping this game must continue to be a top priority for our city.  The Mayor is focused on this...and we are in regular communication with the two schools. 

[Seraphs]

At this point I don't see how Atl could match Jax dollar for dollar.  In this case, thank goodness money talks and bull____ walks!

[reednavy]

Atlanta, I got some questions.

Where would everyone be able to tailgate, especially RV City?
How would you make up for over 8,000 fewer seats?
How would you be able to accomodate this many fans for parking alone?
How would you do on traffic routes and such?
How can you shake the perception of an already traffic nightmare city for a weekend?
Can you asure GA fans that moving it to Atlanta that the Bulldogs will win?

[Coolyfett]

Atlanta, I got some questions.

Where would everyone be able to tailgate, especially RV City?
How would you make up for over 8,000 fewer seats?
How would you be able to accomodate this many fans for parking alone?
How would you do on traffic routes and such?
How can you shake the perception of an already traffic nightmare city for a weekend?
Can you asure GA fans that moving it to Atlanta that the Bulldogs will win?

Probably the same lots the Falcons fans use when they tailgate. The lots seem to be the same size.
8000 seats is a lot, they would probably have to raise prices per seat.
Parking? Not every fan has an RV. Once fans are in Hotels, they could either walk or use Marta. Have you seen Bay, Forsyth, Laura & Liberty the friday night before gameday. Its packed with peds. Where did they park at?
Traffic..Jacksonville wins there. No argument!

Im a Bulldogs fan and I hate this idea coming up after a lose. But coming from a fan spending point, the Bulldogs have to spend more to enjoy the game, Buy more gas and drive longer miles. Both schools need to stop the short term contracts and just write one for 50 or 75 years. If not every time the short term runs out, this comes up again. One thing for sure, people should not want this to go Home and Home. It would become just another game and ruin the rivalry and tradition. They need to do something long term. Either Jax forever or Jax-Atl rotate. Florida U and Jacksonville has no say in the matter regardless. The Joystick is in the Bulldogs hand. They have the final say if they play in Jax, Atl or home n home. It wont go Atlanta full time though, that would never happen. Many fans here want the game though NOT including me, Id rather it stay in Jax fulltime. I don't think Jacksonville has enough Bulldog citizens though. And if it really is a neutral site, then the local media needs to lay off the Blue.