Quote(https://photos.moderncities.com/Cities/Jacksonville/Development/Jaguars-Sports-Performance-Center/i-LNpxJ6X/0/301107f7/L/20210812_DDRB%20AGENDA%20PACKET_Page_039-L.jpg)
A look at the plans for a new $120 million football performance center for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Sports & Entertainment District.
Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/jaguars-seek-ddrb-approval-for-performance-center/
I thought Jag practices were free to attend but I see ticketing gates in these drawings. If they charge for that will that be a change? I note concessions and souvenir shops so it looks like the Jags see this facility as another revenue stream to tap into.
Overall, architecture, particularly of the field house doesn't look impressive for $120 million. Also, looks like a net loss of parking spaces with this project. Any plans to replace them? Seems a "next" project at the stadium will be to ask for parking garages.
If they want to build it, they can build it. I don't think they should get one dime of public money for it. And I am not saying the Jaguars are going to leave Jacksonville (honestly), but I wonder about the danger of spending so much money on developments all linked to one thing. It's kind of like these countries that have an economy that's overly-reliant on a single export or revenue stream - all your eggs are in one basket and if that fails, you're stuffed.
Of note, this is (in my memory) the first Jaguars project to go before DDRB. That's a good thing IMO.
While this doesn't necessarily scream $120M, the cost is in line with recent NFL facilities (save for Dallas which had another 0 in the price). Now, this is the building; not sure of the cost IN the building.
In terms of ticketing, I wouldn't read too much into the ticketing booths being tied to charging for training camp for 2 reasons:
1. I'm pretty sure the Jaguars offices (including all ticketing) is vacating the stadium upon completion of this.
2. If the Jags wanted to charge today for Training Camp practices, I don't think NOT having a booth today would stop them.
In terms of the project, I'm fine with it. The lease says we have to help fund team facilities, and the Jags could explain in about 10 minutes how their current facilities aren't up to par in the league. Obviously you can make the "arms race" argument, but I'm much more fine with this than the Lot J trash.
It does look like a net reduction of parking. The new Parking in the rendering effectively replaces the team parking currently in Lot N (the area of N that is Gated) so that is about a wash. The reduction comes from the loss of Lot R which looks to be ABOUT 100 spaces. Between the two call it ~150 spaces.
This reduction isn't going to result in a new garage. They may want to do a garage at some point in the future, but I'm not sure this project leads to that.
I am happy to see the photovoltaics on those large roof surfaces.
I hope they can take the DDRB suggestion to make the indoor facility look less "hangar-like."
Quote from: jaxlongtimer on August 06, 2021, 01:29:21 AM
I thought Jag practices were free to attend but I see ticketing gates in these drawings. If they charge for that will that be a change? I note concessions and souvenir shops so it looks like the Jags see this facility as another revenue stream to tap into.
I looked again and see what you mean - disregard my previous comment. While I don't see them charging for practice, I consider that irrelevant for the rendering. They also do some practices which are free but restricted to Season Ticket holders only, so there's a type of access restriction there.
It also doesn't look like they're moving their business operations to the facility, only the Football Ops so disregard that comment too.
I believe the business operations would be moving to the office building proposed next to Four Seasons. I can understand the gates, since there is an expectation that these fields can be used for other events.
Quote from: thelakelander on August 06, 2021, 11:26:00 AM
I believe the business operations would be moving to the office building proposed next to Four Seasons. I can understand the gates, since there is an expectation that these fields can be used for other events.
Gates/ticketing will be used for ancillary events but the Jags have never charged for practices. Obviously there are free practices to the public as well as exclusive STHs practices but the ticketed component for these are used mainly for crowd control and marketing purposes.
Business side of the Jags will remain in the stadium until Four Seasons project is built and space will be dedicated for their office. The separation of Business and Football has always been a logistics nightmare considering that they were so tightly together within the stadium. Having these broken out into two locations will operationally be better.
DDRB granted conceptual approval at todays meeting. The development team was asked to make the side facing the Arlington Expressway more visually appealing and to work with staff to make the Franklin St side more inviting to pedestrians