Some of the recent talk about companies choosing to leave downtown for the south side has got me thinking about our beloved Jags.
Allow me to play devil's advocate for a moment, if only to stimulate some interesting conversation.
It seems like we're seeing more and more NFL teams building their stadiums in the suburbs these days, rather than downtown. Dallas, Washington, New England, New York, and potentially Los Angeles all come immediately to mind.
Throwing all current reality out the window, let's pretend that, for whatever reason, the NFL decides tomorrow that Everbank isn't up to snuff and that the Jags will need a new stadium if they want to stay in Jacksonville. Let's also pretend that the Jags secure the necessary funding to build said stadium, rather from private investment or from the city itself.
Where do you build it if you are the Jags?
Do you build it in the same spot, or further south in the suburbs?
I'm interested in hearing what everyone thinks a suburban stadium would mean for both downtown vitality (factoring in both the loss of the stadium and potential other uses for the prime real estate Everbank currently occupies) and also for Jags ticket sales and overall financial viability in the city.
Obviously it's all wild speculation, but I'd be curious to hear some reasoned opinions on the matter.
What about off of the new 9B when completed. I always kind of imagined when the new stadium was needed that it could be built more or less next to where it is now. But we're talking at least 15-20 years down the road.
Those teams built their stadiums in the suburbs for the same reason some companies have left downtown...Land is cheaper and/or easier to assemble.
If the stadium was moved to the burbs, the Florida-Georgia game would be renamed the "The World's Most Boring Cocktail Party"
Cecil Commerce Center. Done.
Quote from: CityLife on April 14, 2011, 11:54:12 AM
If the stadium was moved to the burbs, the Florida-Georgia game would be renamed the "The World's Most Boring Cocktail Party"
Why do you say that? It's a party in a parking lot. I don't think location has much of an impact.
I think when choosing to move to the suburbs you'd have to do BETTER than the current location in terms of "what else" is there to do nearby.
Also -- that issue with the police chasing everyone out of the area after a game. Would THAT still happen in the suburbs?
Quote from: copperfiend on April 14, 2011, 11:49:51 AM
What about off of the new 9B when completed. I always kind of imagined when the new stadium was needed that it could be built more or less next to where it is now. But we're talking at least 15-20 years down the road.
I'd pretty much copy this comment. Your're looking at 15 years down the road or so, and I think, without changes in the dynamics of the metro area, the push would be for the very southern Duval County / northern half of St. Johns County area. Not good for downtown, this location would probably be more beneficial for attendance demand. The downtown stadium would lose its sponsorship, but I think the college games would remain there. If not for psychological reasons, I do think downtown would be taking another step backwards.
If the team is still here 15 years from now then, IMHO, this might not be an unlikely scenario.
(http://cdn.wn.com/pd/15/58/607a6a81ec6ebda90530e4fcaae7_grande.jpg)
QuoteCecil Commerce Center.
Sure thing, if you are pulling your fans from Lawtey, Maxville, and Waldo.
US1 and 210. There might even be room for a rail stop.
Quote from: mtraininjax on April 14, 2011, 01:17:14 PM
QuoteCecil Commerce Center.
Sure thing, if you are pulling your fans from Lawtey, Maxville, and Waldo.
US1 and 210. There might even be room for a rail stop.
Aw Hell mtrain, I had that all scoped out for a theme park!OCKLAWAHA
Considering the tax payers already paid a significant part for the old stadium to be almost completely torn down and esentially a brand new stadium rebuilt, and then millions more to upgrade the stadium to make it "suitable for a Super Bowl", I'd be pretty upset if any more of MY tax money were spent any time soon to build another new stadium in the boonies.
QuoteAw Hell mtrain, I had that all scoped out for a theme park!
Ock, I think a slip and slide park would work great there! I'd take the train from downtown to the water park in south jax, for sure! ;)
QuoteI'd be pretty upset if any more of MY tax money were spent any time soon to build another new stadium in the boonies.
I'd really like to know how the St. Augustine Amphitheater is doing since its renovations and if the loans that were taken to repair and enhance the facility are close to being paid off. Jacksonville could have done the same thing with Metro Park.
Quote from: Debbie Thompson on April 14, 2011, 01:21:19 PM
Considering the tax payers already paid a significant part for the old stadium to be almost completely torn down and esentially a brand new stadium rebuilt, and then millions more to upgrade the stadium to make it "suitable for a Super Bowl", I'd be pretty upset if any more of MY tax money were spent any time soon to build another new stadium in the boonies.
That's why I don't think it will be an issue for another 20 years. We have done an excellent job in keeping the stadium updated.
And the amount spent on rebuilding the stadium looks like an absolute bargain right now compared to what it would have cost just a couple of years later.
Not going to happen.
Yeah I agree. If we do not do anything, we keep that damn stadium up. For sure. I dont see stadium issues for a very long time.
suburbs of LA maybe
Oh I thought maybe Hogan would sell it ;)
Why would you move it further than one of the parking lots surrounding it?
Downtown may not be living up to what we're expecting it, but we have the infrastructure already in place for one of the best sports districts in the SE. We have 3 newly renovated stadiums: Everbank, Colliseum & The Jacksonville Ballgrounds, then right next door we have the agricultural fair/parkground, Metro Park & mini-Marina, The Shipyards area in the vacinity. Are you Fing kidding me. If there ever was a plan in place, it was sports in J'ville. We have, right now, an NFL team, an Arena Team, a Hockey team??, an ABA basketball team, a AA baseball team (2nd year champs in a stadium that rivals the top ten in AAA). The equestrian center should have been built at the fairgrounds to appeal to that crowd. We could open the river to boat races ala Savannah river races at Met Park.
I see so much upside. The only thing that we need in that area is connectivity to the rest of DT. We mostly bitch about the JSO direction during game day, but they do their job. If we had more transit options, they wouldn't be neccesary. Getting in and out of our stadium district by car is probably the easiest in the country. We need to make it just as accessible without a car. They've tried with the Park-n-Ride and Game Shuttles, but we need a true, dedicated transit to that area, be it streetcar (not PCT) or mono-cement rail or hand-truck rail.
We have everything we need in the area except for a way to move the masses sans vehicle.
So my 10-15 year plan is upgrading to an AAA Baseball team, securing a Hockey team (minor or major), keeping the Jags where they are, focusing on the lesser known sports at the arena (gymnastics, indooor soccer, arena football, indoor lacross, etc..) Using Everbank for other smaller events (rugby, premier leage soccer, lacross, track and field)
I guess my main point is that we are a sports oriented town and we have the facilities to operate as one, but we need to appeal to the lesser known sports and avenues and not solely rely on the Jags and the Suns to pull crowds. Have something there every weekend and have a way to get there and back without having to drive to the front door.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on April 14, 2011, 09:57:28 PM
Why would you move it further than one of the parking lots surrounding it?
Downtown may not be living up to what we're expecting it, but we have the infrastructure already in place for one of the best sports districts in the SE. We have 3 newly renovated stadiums: Everbank, Colliseum & The Jacksonville Ballgrounds, then right next door we have the agricultural fair/parkground, Metro Park & mini-Marina, The Shipyards area in the vacinity. Are you Fing kidding me. If there ever was a plan in place, it was sports in J'ville. We have, right now, an NFL team, an Arena Team, a Hockey team??, an ABA basketball team, a AA baseball team (2nd year champs in a stadium that rivals the top ten in AAA). The equestrian center should have been built at the fairgrounds to appeal to that crowd. We could open the river to boat races ala Savannah river races at Met Park.
I see so much upside. The only thing that we need in that area is connectivity to the rest of DT. We mostly bitch about the JSO direction during game day, but they do their job. If we had more transit options, they wouldn't be neccesary. Getting in and out of our stadium district by car is probably the easiest in the country. We need to make it just as accessible without a car. They've tried with the Park-n-Ride and Game Shuttles, but we need a true, dedicated transit to that area, be it streetcar (not PCT) or mono-cement rail or hand-truck rail.
We have everything we need in the area except for a way to move the masses sans vehicle.
So my 10-15 year plan is upgrading to an AAA Baseball team, securing a Hockey team (minor or major), keeping the Jags where they are, focusing on the lesser known sports at the arena (gymnastics, indooor soccer, arena football, indoor lacross, etc..) Using Everbank for other smaller events (rugby, premier leage soccer, lacross, track and field)
I guess my main point is that we are a sports oriented town and we have the facilities to operate as one, but we need to appeal to the lesser known sports and avenues and not solely rely on the Jags and the Suns to pull crowds. Have something there every weekend and have a way to get there and back without having to drive to the front door.
Hear! Hear! The city of Jacksonville has already been recognized as the best value for all NFL fan participation. Its common for visiting fans to come to Jax to watch their teams as those fans are unable to get soldout tics in their hometowns. And then spend the weekend in jax, head to the beach, ect. The commuting to the stadium is recognized as a dream compared to all other franchises.