No more fair in downtown Jacksonville...?

[77danj7]

Wow...this city is determined to move everything out of downtown!!!


"When fall rolls around every year, you expect to see all the rides at the fair in downtown Jacksonville.  It's tradition.

"Traditions can change," says Chris Verlander, chairman of the fair board.

That tradition could be changing soon.  Talks are underway between the City and the fair on moving the rides to the Westside and the City's Equestrian Center.

"We believe there are some synergies that exist between the facilities out there and the fair," says Mayor John Peyton's spokesperson, Misty Skipper.

The issue has come up before.  The main reason is traffic has been a nightmare in downtown with the fair, Jaguars games and Florida/Georgia festivities running around the same time.

Everyone seems to be on board with the idea of moving including those who are part of the equestrian society in North Florida.

"We're deciding nothing, but it's certainly worth exploring," says Verlander.

The City is now finding out what it would take to get the fair moved to the Center.  "We have to look at what the cost would be for implementing such a move.  Storm water retention ponds would have to be constructed.  We would need to install utilities for water and electric.  All the things needed to support the fair operations," says Skipper.

Part of the discussions have also revolved around the fair running the Equestrian Center for the City.  Verlander sees that as a win-win situation.  "We have a lot of contacts in that industry.  I think we could get a lot more events scheduled at the Equestrian Center than they are having now.  So, it could be a boom not only for us but for the City."

There's no timeline on when a decision will be made.  Verlander says if the idea is approved, he believes the fair will still be downtown at least through 2011.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=148056&catid=3

[BridgeTroll]

I might be for it if they had another use for the giant empty lot next to the sports complex... besides parking...

[JeffreyS]

There is no upside for the city just a way for that management company to take over running th equestrian center.

[tufsu1]

yes...the same equestrian center that could not be kept open without an increase in property taxes...remember when most of the members of City Council (and lots of folks on here) were opposed to the Mayor's proposal last summer....hmm!

[Juker777]

Yes!  The west side will be a great host for the fair.  The facilities are top shelf and the highway access will really help make it a success.  I wonder where they'll have concerts.

[north miami]

No matter how the spin: Another downtown entity lost to the edge city

[copperfiend]

I might be for it if they had another use for the giant empty lot next to the sports complex... besides parking...

That is sort of my thinking as well. I am not sure that a downtown is the best place for a fair like that but we don't have any other options for that site right now.

[Charles Hunter]

Will the Fair pay for shuttle bus service from downtown so folks who don't have cars - that currently ride the bus to the Fair - can get out to Cecil?


Or

Is that part of the thinking ... so 'those people' won't be able to attend?

[iloveionia]

Idea for the large lot next to the stadium:
Antique Swap Meet.
http://www.longbeachantiquemarket.com/
Downtown is surrounded by 3 historic districts. 
Easy access off the Interstate.

Peace,
Nicole

[Ernest Street]

I have mixed emotions about this Idea.  I always thought that bringing livestock downtown didn't help our burgeoning Cosmopolitan image. YET..I have all the respect for all the 4-H and livestock people that spend countless hours raising these prime examples of their craft.
That said, From experience I KNOW the equestrian center is nowhere near ready to host something like this. the sound system was spec ed out by a man named Lyle Klempt that helped run the Times Union Center into the ground.
(no..most outsiders wouldn't see it..you have to work there) He was one of those privileged people that would attend I.A.T.S.E union meetings as a "Union Brother"(officer?) then no doubt report anything he heard to his employer SPECTACORE MANAGEMENT GROUP yea..SMG....the ones that continue to run (Bleed) venues all across the country till they are dry.
The money spent and the broken equipment out there don't work if you do the math...something was pocketed.
Typically in these bait and switch Jacksonville Shams..there is no proof..No proof except for broken and inadequate equipment...only a couple years old, but still remaining broken after the same amount of years. Instead of getting REAL qualified Union trained and experienced employees out there,politics say their CLUELESS IT computer repair people from Skeptickor management will continue to LIE to the management of the Equestrian center and tell them "It's all fine".."It's all fixed" when someone qualified can tell how many speakers are blown out and amplifiers are not working.
If anyone has been following, some of the buildings weren't up to code and were temporary...still no word on what has happened to bring these temporary structures up to code.