QuoteMembers of the Alvin Brown administration are looking to change the name of Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena — and many veterans are outraged.
"How this all came up was the City Council in the meeting last week wanted to know were there other revenue opportunities out there," the city's Sports and Entertainment Executive Director Alan Verlander said.
During that Nov. 12 meeting, the mayor's Chief of Staff, Chris Hand, brought up the idea of supplementing revenue of the downtown sports complex by selling the naming rights of the arena and the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
"These clearly are other revenue opportunities," Verlander said.
full article: http://members.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-11-19/story/veterans-outraged-possibility-selling-jacksonville-veterans-memorial
I'm not outraged... 8)
I'm not a veteran but I'm not outraged either. We have to generate additional revenue some type of way. Although the Jags got all the money, no one has lost any sleep over the adjacent stadium being named Everbank Field.
I just think that if the naming rights are sold for any facility, it should go towards the building repair fund, not the current tenants.
WOW!
Someone needs to contact the new guy Vitti. Any guidance for naming things?
On a side note how about the naming rights for a kayak launch and bike rack that can be next to the armory that is active legislation 2013-384. The bike rack can be named for a cyclist that had been killed on Duval county roadways. I'm serious.
My Dad is a veteran, and I have all the respect in the world for those who have served in our armed forces, but if there's money on the table, you have to take it. For a city of Jacksonville's size, it's frankly ridiculous that a corporate naming sponsor hasn't been in place since day one. It's the goofy little things like this that really combine to hold Jacksonville back. Kansas City got $62.5 million over 25 years from Sprint for naming rights to its downtown arena, despite having no major league tenet. You'd think Jacksonville would be leaving no stone unturned to secure an agreement even half of that.
Quote from: Noone on November 20, 2013, 08:37:28 AM
WOW!
Someone needs to contact the new guy Vitti.
The schools superintendant?
I am a veteran. So is my father. Both of my grandfathers were as was an uncle and many other friends and relatives.
It's the name of a building. It honestly means nothing. The memorial a few blocks away honors veterans alot more than the name of an arena does.
^ Really appreciate you and your family, Pierre.
Compromise maybe?
Verizon Veterans Arena?
Isn't there a law on the books that says it must remain Veterans Memorial? Or am I thinking of the baseball grounds?
Nothing that can't be changed.
Quote from: coredumped on November 20, 2013, 09:45:52 AM
Isn't there a law on the books that says it must remain Veterans Memorial? Or am I thinking of the baseball grounds?
As I recall then Jacksonville city councilman Jim Overton was involved in the debate. Maybe there is and Ord. or a resolution that specifically addressed this building.
The answer is in the linked article:
QuoteDowling, Lt. Col. Bob Adelhelm and other veterans, including two now-deceased World War II veterans, fought against selling the naming rights and won a major victory when City Council passed ordinance 2002-428-E.
"The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena shall not bear the name of any individual or company or any other thing as any part of the title, but shall be designated only as 'Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena,' " the ordinance states.
This means that, in order to change the name, at least 10 council members would have to vote for it. The mayor could then sign the legislation; allow it to become law without his signature; or veto it. If Brown did choose to veto, the council would require 13 votes to override it.
Just name it something like the CSX Veterans Arena. I am sure most companies would love the Veterans name association.
Quote from: JeffreyS on November 20, 2013, 10:11:50 AM
Just name it something like the CSX Veterans Arena. I am sure most companies would love the Veterans name association.
I'm sure they would... the question is... Is the reverse true?
Just name it N.B. Forrest Veterans Arena. I'm sure at least one forum member here will find it acceptable. ;D
Quote from: thelakelander on November 20, 2013, 10:19:42 AM
Just name it N.B. Forrest Veterans Arena. I'm sure at least one forum member here will find it acceptable. ;D
Jeez... I was gonna go there... but decided not to... ;D
Quote from: KenFSU on November 20, 2013, 09:16:32 AM
^ Really appreciate you and your family, Pierre.
Thank you. And the reason I posted that information was that I am a veteran and I don't understand what any outrage would be about. Alan Verlander even already said it would keep the "Veterans" in the name. Something like The Fanatics.com Veterans Memorial Arena.
I am still holding out hope that if they sold the naming right to the Baseball Grounds that Maxwell House would do that.
Quote from: pierre on November 20, 2013, 11:13:36 AM
I am still holding out hope that if they sold the naming right to the Baseball Grounds that Maxwell House would do that.
+1
Quote from: JeffreyS on November 20, 2013, 11:14:53 AM
Quote from: pierre on November 20, 2013, 11:13:36 AM
I am still holding out hope that if they sold the naming right to the Baseball Grounds that Maxwell House would do that.
+1
Good to the last drop...
I'm with Dapper Dan, etc. No reason why the city couldn't require the naming sponsor to leave Veterans Memoral in the name. Instead of Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, it would be XYZ Company Veterans Memorial Arena. Then everybody is happy. Why not?
As stated in an earlier post, I would hope they could somehow keep Veterans in the name however to make it a requirement is absolutely ludicrous. No company would do that as the name would be shortened to "Veterans Arena" because that is what we are used to now.
I would much rather see a corporate name go on it, and a percentage of the naming rights funds go specifically for the memorial wall.
Based on how long it took the football stadium to get naming rights, I am not to worried about the veterans, but is their really anyone interested in our arena?
On a related note, isn't it referred to as "Seabest Field" during Sharks games? I don't know if I recall them even using the "Veterans Arena" naming anyway. I don't remember much outrage about that.
During the Sharks games it is SeaBest Field at Jacksonville Veterans Arena. But that is a sponsorship deal solely with tw Sharks. Those attending Giants games, concerts, comedians, other ceremonies there never hear/see/know SeaBest Field.
As for whether there is interest, I think it would depend on price. After Alltell left a lot of people said what the city wanted for naming rights wasn't comparable with the market we were in, which led to it being Jacksonville Municipal Stadium for a few years. If that was true, hopefully this time they have learned their lesson and will market for an acceptable sponsor. One of the Jacksonville-based companies would be perfect in my opinion.
And now the mayor says he has no intension of changing the name?!?! Yet a full article from one of his highest paid Directors stating they were pursuing it. This administration is turning into one big ongoing blunder. Time for One and Done Brown.
There don't seem to be as many outraged veterans in the story as the headline claims. As a vet, I sure don't mind. It's a building.
Quote from: pierre on November 20, 2013, 09:06:07 AM
I am a veteran. So is my father. Both of my grandfathers were as was an uncle and many other friends and relatives.
It's the name of a building. It honestly means nothing. The memorial a few blocks away honors veterans alot more than the name of an arena does.
+100
Count me in as another vet who isn't outraged.
I'm also a Vet, could care less. Name it Sweet Home Alabama and be done with it :)
With the recent talk of Everbank potentially keeping naming rights, it got me thinking of this issue.
Is it a dead issue? Who will be smart enough to tell it like it is and mention how many millions the city has lost out on?
Sadly, sentiment will probably continue to win out over common sense and financial prudence. We ALL love veterans and believe that they should be honored wherever and whenever possible, but our arena name is a relic from decades past and needlessly leaves cash on the table. Based on deals that other non-NBA/NHL cities have brokered for mid-sized arenas, I don't see any reason that Jacksonville couldn't sell naming rights for $5 million over 10 years, or $10 million over 20 years. We probably could have made an even sweeter deal had we sold naming rights prior to Super Bowl XXXIX due to all the visibility that the game brought to the sports complex. That's millions we could have already allocated for maintenance of the sports complex, or put toward an amphitheater or soccer stadium. Love Jacksonville, but the stadium name is indicative of why we continue to lag behind other cities that we should have long since surpassed.
We have a real veteran's memorial a few blocks down the street at the site of the old coliseum.
I don't see how a name on a building is meaningful to anyone.
A good example of lack of foresight by this city's leadership. Again.
Quote from: thelakelander on November 20, 2013, 06:42:34 AM
QuoteMembers of the Alvin Brown administration are looking to change the name of Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena — and many veterans are outraged.
"How this all came up was the City Council in the meeting last week wanted to know were there other revenue opportunities out there," the city's Sports and Entertainment Executive Director Alan Verlander said.
During that Nov. 12 meeting, the mayor's Chief of Staff, Chris Hand, brought up the idea of supplementing revenue of the downtown sports complex by selling the naming rights of the arena and the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
"These clearly are other revenue opportunities," Verlander said.
full article: http://members.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-11-19/story/veterans-outraged-possibility-selling-jacksonville-veterans-memorial
I never really liked the names for the arena or the old coliseum. Fidelity Arena wound be better.
Remember, the City, under Peyton's regime, had the opportunity to keep their share of the naming rights for the Stadium, and instead gave the revenue to the Jaguars. Since then Weavers have sold the company to a multi-billionaire, do you think the Jags need the revenue now, more than the city?
Come on Mayor Brown, show some backbone instead of giving away the keys of the city to Khan at every photo op!
Quote from: stephendare on May 25, 2014, 12:11:51 PM
Quote from: mtraininjax on May 25, 2014, 10:35:24 AM
Remember, the City, under Peyton's regime, had the opportunity to keep their share of the naming rights for the Stadium, and instead gave the revenue to the Jaguars. Since then Weavers have sold the company to a multi-billionaire, do you think the Jags need the revenue now, more than the city?
Come on Mayor Brown, show some backbone instead of giving away the keys of the city to Khan at every photo op!
+1
I think this is one of the signs of the End Times! stephendare giving a Plus One to mtraininjax! ;)
No disrespect to anyone, but something is telling me that the types of vets who are outraged are the old school Korean War/'Nam type veterans who wear the division/service caps, pressed civilian clothes etc. I willing to bet that a very minuscule portion of new school Operation Enduring Freedom-era vets are hardly outraged over the name of a building.
Quote from: I-10east on May 25, 2014, 03:19:11 PM
No disrespect to anyone, but something is telling me that the types of vets who are outraged are the old school Korean War/'Nam type veterans who wear the division/service caps, pressed civilian clothes etc. I willing to bet that a very minuscule portion of new school Operation Enduring Freedom-era vets are hardly outraged over the name of a building.
According to the article, two of those that pushed Delaney hardest to not sell naming rights were WWII vets that have since passed away.
It's only November and the Veterans Memorial Arena has already set a new attendance record on the year:
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/morning-edition/2014/11/jacksonville-veterans-memorial-arena-breaks.html
It is insane that we continue to leave naming-rights money on the table.
Quote from: KenFSU on November 20, 2014, 09:41:07 AM
It's only November and the Veterans Memorial Arena has already set a new attendance record on the year:
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/morning-edition/2014/11/jacksonville-veterans-memorial-arena-breaks.html
It is insane that we continue to leave naming-rights money on the table.
There is plenty of advertisement being leveraged by the Arena. There are two large signs outside the arena... one for Tom Bush and one for Hugh Greene (attorneys). Tom Bush actually has cars setup outside the arena at the main entrance and the box office. Frankly, I think the outdoor signs look tacky (especially tacky are the advertisements on the aisles inside the arena)... but regardless of one's personal taste, no one can accuse SMG of not selling advertising wherever they can.
With the actual Veteran's Memorial just steps away, don't know why this is an issue. The city needs to sell the rights and then keep their portion of the stadium deal. I love what Shad Khan is doing here, but that 25% is city money and could be recycled back into sports complex maintenance. Plus it won't be long before the money train makes another stop at City Hall looking for more cash for something else to build/buy/upgrade.
Then again, unless its protected, the Mayor will likely try to use it for his pension plan.
Curious what the going rate for something like naming the arena is. It's apples and oranges from the stadium, which has TV viewing (this year) viewing in 13 non-local markets. That has to be great for EverBank. With very few TV events at the Arena, I'd think it would fetch way less.
^ Steve, for similarly sized non-NBA/NHL arenas in comparable cities, $500,000 a year tends to be the average.
With its close proximity to an NFL stadium, healthy revenue, and host duties for the 2015 NCAA Tournament, there's no reason we shouldn't be able to sign a 10-year/$5 million agreement with someone.
The Winn-Dixie Center?
CSX Arena?
Publix Coliseum?
Fidelity Center?
Landstar Garden?
Gate Arena?
It's ridiculous that it hasn't already been done, or at the very least explored. Millions left on the table that could have been used for upkeep of the sports complex, the Armada's Baseball Grounds conversion, or even a nice down payment on a soccer specific stadium.