Jacksonville arena a top-grossing venue

[Captain Zissou]

This seems like a smaller number than I would have thought.  Do the 11 concerts and events make up all large events at the arena?  It seems like we should be able to draw in at least 18 national acts a year.  I went to a beer festival at the arena that was amazing.  With the addition of the Sharks, the arena is definitely on the up and up, but we can do better.   

[WillNevaLeaveJAX]

Sure would be cool if the Skyway blew right though the place and the streetcars were right outside the door at the "Trolley Stop". Gee what a novel thought, a trolley stopping at the "trolley stop!"



Before I start a stampede i thought i'd give y'all a price for my dreams.

APPROXIMATE COST ESTIMATE PER MILE
OF SINGLE ELEVATED GUIDEWAY


Fixed Costs:

A.  Elevated Guideway, Including Foundations                                                  $ 6.30  Mill
B.  Four Passenger Station Facilities                                                               $ 1.50  Mill
C.  Operational Control Facility                                                                       $ 1.05 Mill
D.  Electrical Power, Signals, and Moving Block Control                                       $ 0.90 Mill
E.  Fees & Contingencies of A, B, C, & D                                                    +    $ 1.50 Mill
                                                                                                     ____________________
Total cost of  PER MILE                                                                          =  $ 11.25 Mill

OCKLAWAHA

Now the skyway going through the Arena would be nice. But i dont think that will ever happen (the skyway actually going through the arena) though anything is possible. But what is more realistic is the whole idea about the skyway expanding to the sports district. That is obviously needed.

[JaxNative68]

and jax doesn't want to build the new lounge designed for the inside of the arena?  could be larger profits for the building.

[stjr]

Seems to me it's too small for a city of our size...  Since we only have ONE shouldn't it be big enough to attract an NBA or NHL team? 15,000 seats won't do it, as I recall both leagues require 20,000 plus seats, maybe more like 30,000?

Ock, the size of the arena (18 to 20,000+ vs. 15,000 or less) was well debated before it was built.  In the end, we did what we always do and cut some corners to do it cheaper verses top rank.  (See the convention center or original airport (JIA) projects.)

The only BJP project where money was no object was the courthouse.  But, hey, that's how things get prioritized when the two immediately previous mayors come out of the state attorneys office.

By the way, they also skimped on the bathrooms, particularly in the suite levels, and handicapped parking which they run out of every time. (And, can you believe, no near-entry-door drop off lane/zone for handicapped since they close the street in front of the main entrance during events.).  

[tufsu1]

I actually like that the west side of the arena only has a lower bowl...it is set up better for concerts that way and also can work for some theater productions....and honestly, we hardly ever need the full capacity that already exists.

Temple University in Philly did the same thing when they built their new arena about 12 years ago...and it holds all kinds of shows/events/games

http://www.liacourascenter.com/

[Coolyfett]

Eleven shows and 73,000 people... So is less than 50% occupancy in a 15k arena good? Just asking.

I was wondering that...ive been in the Arena 3 times...Prince Concert, Jay Z & R Kelly and a WWE event...it was packed out, but the Arena seems too small to me. Plus I thought it was 16 000 seats.

[Coolyfett]

Yeah, I guess it can go both ways. I haven't been to a ton of concerts at the arena, but the ones that I have gone to have used the semi-circle setup, probably less to block off half the arena and more to accomodate the massive sets that many touring concerts incorporate. Anyone been to a concert at the arena that uses the small central stage like you'd see somewhere like Madison Square Garden?

Yea..the Prince & WWE shows were set up like that....but Prince had the upper bowl filled. The Best of both Worlds show the stage was on the Baseball Grounds side of the Arena and there were floor seats

[Coolyfett]

Is there any way there could be more seat added with a renovation? To me it seems as if the arena wasnt completed. Im talking about the western portion of the arena in comparison to the eastern side. Look at the top (where a second level SHOULD BE)
The West side of the arena

The East side of the arena

They could put about 3 thousand more seats on top of the West lower bowl.

[Ocklawaha]

Don't know if ours "expanded" could handle the NBA round ball boys, but the smallest in the NBA league is Sacramento's ARCO ARENA the current configuration seats up to 17,317.  Unless the bar has been raised (for example the Final-Four NCAA tourney requires 70,000 now) an expansion of 3,000 west end seats would allow us to squeak in ABOVE Sacramento at about 18,000.

I think Jacksonville would shock the hell out of the sports experts and be a dynamite NBA city.

The NHL on the other hand has a minimum of 12,500 seats, and Pittsburgh with 12,508, is the smallest arena in that league clearing the minimum bar by 8 seats. Hockey here? Hey the minors did well before the rent forced them out, and frankly, perhaps because of our "Newark" image, it always has.  Did you know we had a pro hockey team in the old AHL? Yup! Very fast club em - shove em battle with some blood has got to appeal to the good ol boys down at the docks...


OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

There is no specific requirement for NBA or NHL cities...but 2 of the smaller arenas (Orlando and Pittsburgh) are being replaced next season....it is difficut to be competitive without 20,000 seats and a whole bunch of private boxes.

[Coolyfett]

There is no specific requirement for NBA or NHL cities...but 2 of the smaller arenas (Orlando and Pittsburgh) are being replaced next season....it is difficut to be competitive without 20,000 seats and a whole bunch of private boxes.

Interesting...I think NBA has too many sorry teams to expand, but a bigger arena would be nice to pull other events.

[WillNevaLeaveJAX]

There is no specific requirement for NBA or NHL cities...but 2 of the smaller arenas (Orlando and Pittsburgh) are being replaced next season....it is difficut to be competitive without 20,000 seats and a whole bunch of private boxes.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are scheduled to play in Consol Energy Center next season. The arena was completed Aug. 1st of this year. Hockey capacity - 18,087 and 19,000 for basketball.

IM JEALOUS LOL...WHEN WILL IT BE OUR (JAX) TURN?

[Mattius92]

I was in Louisville over the Summer and I noticed that they were fixing to open their new arena in DT Louisville. It is a 22,000 seat arena that is built on the Ohio River! Ahh what a smart idea.

You want to see probably one the best arena's in the United States check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Wb9B-UcGRQ

What I like about this arena is first, its located right in downtown Louisville, second its on the river, the Ohio might be a ugly brown thing that they call a river but its still a river. Lastly it combines so many amenities that you wont find in many arenas, like full service restaurants and huge concession areas and all kinds of things to make this arena a place someone would want to go to time after time.

It opens 10.10.10

Ooh and the first concert there is to be the Eagles, isn't that a nice opener.

On a side note, Kentucky is a massive college basketball state with 3 - 20,000+ arenas: Freedom Hall (20,000), YUM! Center (22,000) and Rupp Arena (24,000).

Tell me the COJ couldnt spend an extra $20-30 million and build the arena with at least 18,000 seats...

[Mattius92]

why cant I post videos??

here is the link for the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Wb9B-UcGRQ

[Mattius92]

another idea, a arena and skyway station integration!