Jacksonville arena a top-grossing venue

[blizz01]

From today's Business Journal - I wonder how long until we see another naming rights deal/opportunity?

The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena is among the highest-grossing venues in its class, according to a new report from Venues Today.
The publication ranked the arena 10th worldwide in the 10,001- to 15,000-seat category, based on concert and event gross revenues from October 2009 to May 2010, which were up 5 percent over the prior period.
The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena is a 15,000-seat, multipurpose arena built in 2003. It is managed by SMG property management, a Philadelphia company that specializes in publicly owned facilities.
The arena hosted 11 shows with more than 73,000 people in attendance over the past year. The 11 shows, including AC/DC, John Mayer, Jimmy Buffett, The Black Eyed Peas and Harlem Globetrotters, grossed more than $3.6 million.
“Jacksonville is a good city for concerts and events and deserves to be recognized as a top stop in Florida,” said Larry Wilson, general manager of SMG Jacksonville.

http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2010/08/02/daily16.html

[fsujax]

wow. interesting. Normally we have to hear how horrible Jacksonville is for anything. Glad to see some good news.

[exnewsman]

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

[St. Auggie]

Some larger cities have multiples of these arenas.  Tough for them to beat out a city w/ 1.3 million people and one 15K seat stadium.

[simms3]

Atlanta, a city of between 5.5 and 6 million people in the metro has the 21,000 seat (for concerts) Phillips Arena and the 13,100 seat (for concerts) Arena at Gwinnett Place.  These are the only two similar venues to ours.  I am not counting school arenas, because Jax has school venues.  I am also not counting performance halls like Woodruff, Verizon Amphitheater (12,000 seats), Fox Theater, or Cobb Energy Center because they are not "similar" venues and we have our own in that category, albeit smaller.

Doing the math, and being conservative, Atlanta's 5.5 million people to 34,100 seats makes for a ratio of over 161 people per seat, whereas our arena has 1.3 million people to 15,000 seats, making for a ratio of just under 87 people to a seat.  Multiple arenas or not, the larger cities that have them are so much larger than Jax and have such a large "pull" from surrounding areas that their ratios are still much "tighter" than Jacksonville's, making for more concerts and more sold out concerts and higher ticket prices, all contributing to higher revenues.

Still, good to see our arena is apparently doing well, though I am not sure if I completely buy it.

[KenFSU]

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

You lose a ton of seats with most concert setups.

I would guess maybe 10,000 tops can fit in the arena for concerts.

[simms3]

^^^^ Actually concerts can also on the flip side have more seating than hockey or basketball, at least according to every venue I have looked up/shows I have been to.  The only time a concert would have less is if they close off half the seats and focus in one direction in a semicircle.  If the show is that small, then it often skips over a venue like an arena and goes to an amphitheater or concert hall.

And don't forget that during concerts there are also "floor" tickets for standing room only near the stage.  This adds a very good amount of people, even if the show is directed in a semicircular fashion to half or slightly more than half of the arena.

[KenFSU]

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?

[vicupstate]

I wonder how long until we see another naming rights deal/opportunity?

The City passed an ordinance while the Arena was being constructed, that it had to keep it's name, so there won't be a naming rights deal for the arena.  However, it might be possible to sell the naming right to the Ticket Office or the 'main entrance' of the arena.  Greenville has done this for it's arena.   

[Wacca Pilatka]

Didn't EverBank buy naming rights to some suites or club seats in the arena?

[stjr]

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?

Most concerts I have seen have the stage at one end which results in about 70 to 75% use of the fixed seat plus all the floor seats.



I do remember a concert with Faith Hill and Tim McGraw where the stage was in the center with full in-the-round seating in the stands and on the floor.  Seems like for setups like this, they can actually squeeze north of 16,000 plus in there.



For various other seating arrangements go to:   http://www.jaxevents.com/veteransmemorial_sc.php

Didn't EverBank buy naming rights to some suites or club seats in the arena?

Not sure if it's the dining area (kind of like the terrace suite in the stadium) at the top of the end seating on the second level or the area for food and drink just above and for the club seats along the sidelines.  I was thinking it was at the end.  Also, based on the description below, because I think the side line club seats automatically include tickets to all events for the year for a fixed price.  Or, at least they did when they opened the Arena originally as I recall.

EverBank Arena Club Information

The EverBank Arena Club is a “First Right of Refusal” program which allows you to request event tickets and parking prior to the public on sale of the event. The seats are located in the Everbank Arena Club sections. The club area features a private bar, private restrooms and upscale food and beverage offerings.

Membership starts at $375 per year/per seat, plus applicable taxes (minimum two seat purchase required). Membership allows you to purchase event tickets and parking through the www.jaxevents.com website.

Ticket prices are determined by promoters and changes from event to event. Membership to the club is for private and corporate use.





http://www.jaxevents.com/veteransmemorial_vip.php

Arena Club
Arena Club Members receive the first right to purchase tickets for all public events at the Arena. In addition to the spectacular sightlines and comfortable seats, Arena Club Members receive access to first class services and amenities, including an exclusive bar and dining area. The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena’s 1,116 club seats are currently SOLD OUT. For more information or to be placed on a waiting list, please Contact the sales and marketing office at 904-630-3900 or email at smgmktg@coj.net.

[WillNevaLeaveJAX]

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

[Ocklawaha]

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?

Okay, okay, yes and okay already! I KNOW this is Jacksonville, and nobody is talking about us EVER having an NBA, NHL, or other major league team. But guess what negative Nelly's, sooner or later it IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I wonder how many we could squeeze in with the end zone seats added? I wonder if there is any way to expand the seating without knocking down the whole place?

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

[blizz01]

Hard to believe that less than 10 years ago we were still piling into the old ~8000-ish seat relic.

[copperfiend]

Arena management needs to thank all the country music acts that come here annually and get the same people to fork over $75 per show ever year.