Mark Woods: NBA at arena is too long of a jump shot

[Tacachale]

^Oh yeah, the D-League would definitely work at the arena. That's a great idea.

[blizz01]

I popped this into another thread, but the mayor isn't backing off of his vision.....

From the Lacrosse discussion:

Brown welcomed the new franchise and also provided those gathered with a glimpse into Jacksonville’s sports future.
“We are a sports city and I believe this is one way to bring Jacksonville to the next level,” said Brown.
“Lacrosse is here. Who would’ve thought several years ago that we could have a professional lacrosse team here? One thing you keep hearing me say, time and time again, one day we are going to have an NBA team. That’s how you get to the next level, having a vision and looking to the future,” Brown said.
The mayor may have found a connection for that. Evans is the former president of the NBA’s Developmental League, a position he held from 2002-07.

[Tacachale]

^I was just going to post that. The Evans quoted above is North American Lacrosse League commissioner Phil Evans. This could be a good connection toward the D-League at least.

[AFCassidy]

This Lacrosse thing is pretty funny.  It's a developmental league for indoor lacrosse, which is basically what Arena Football is to the NFL (in this case, Major League Lacrosse).

So essentially we got ourselves the Lacrosse equal of an old AF2 team.  Hooray?

The D-League could work here... it would have 5% the economic impact that a real NBA team would have, so it's not such a huge deal.  But it would be fun to watch.

On the downside, it is definitely minor league.  We'd be playing against the likes of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and the Maine Red Claws.   Certainly no worse than the Suns hosting the Montgomery Biscuits, but not something that makes us really sound like a major league city, either.

[duvaldude08]

I dont think its so much about being a major league. You dont have to be condiered a "major league city" to be considered a sports city. Also, Jacksonville has to find its own nitches and what will work for us. I like having a Lacrosse team and a Rugby team. That makes us unique and different. We NEED to find our own identiy and stop trying to be like other cities.

[AFCassidy]

I'm all for us being a sports city.  If we got a MLL team and people supported it, that would be awesome.

Though, to be honest, I've tried watching several MLL games on TV and it's not all that spectator-friendly. 

There is nothing particularly unique about having a smattering of minor league teams.   Most mid-sized cities have the same thing.

There's a lot to like about sports in Jacksonville.  You could argue that we're already a sports city.

In terms of being unique - we're a golf super-city.  Heck, we have the World Golf Hall of Fame here! 

Our Arena Football team has been spectacularly good recently, so that's a definite plus. 

And we are an awfully small city to have an NFL team... which is also great, so long as we can keep them here. 

[KenFSU]

What I would personally love to see in Jacksonville within the next ten years, all of which I think are reasonable and attainable goals.

1) A strong Jags franchise without any talk of blackouts or relocation.
2) AAA Baseball with some exciting MLB prospects
3) Continued success for the Jacksonville Sharks
4) Minor league hockey with affordable ticket prices drawing crowds similar to the Sharks
5) D-League NBA, again with some good future NBA prospects and a high quality level of play
6) A genuine, up-and-coming football program at UNF, flanked by a decently competitive basketball team as well
7) A big UFC event at the Arena. MMA isn't quite as popular as it was at its peak in the last few years, but I think a major show, or even a television special, could do pretty well here.
8 ) Yearly big WWE events at the Arena. Though not necessarily a true "sport," it's still amongst the highest rated shows on cable, and their events can have big economic impact on cities.
9) A regular presence hosting the NCAA Tournament.
10) Yearly NBA preseason games, to get the city excited about basketball and behind the idea of making a run for a team in the future.

[redglittercoffin]

What I would personally love to see in Jacksonville within the next ten years, all of which I think are reasonable and attainable goals.

6) A genuine, up-and-coming football program at UNF, flanked by a decently competitive basketball team as well

The JU football program has been top dog in the Pioneer league for the past couple of seasons -- and their basketball team has been competing for A-Sun title for the past 3-4 years with some strong prospects.  --and was 2-0 versus the SEC last year in basketball.

[fieldafm]

The JU football program has been top dog in the Pioneer league for the past couple of seasons

I have JU, FSU and Jags season tickets.

I have to say... JU offers a tremendous product for the price now that Kerwin Bell has assembled some good rosters.  They had a special this week where you could have bought 4 season tickets for $90. 

And JU has always put out a get basketball team.  Have been going to JU games since '86.  Season ticket holders also get a pre-game meal.  Again, D1 basketball for $200 season tickets that includes food in a great facility is a pretty darn good deal.

[Tacachale]

^UNF season tickets run even cheaper than that. $120 for D-I hoops, now featuring tournament eligibility. Made that A-Sun final last year, one game away from the big dance in our second year. This train's a-rollin', get on board now.

[fieldafm]

^UNF season tickets run even cheaper than that. $120 for D-I hoops, now featuring tournament eligibility. Made that A-Sun final last year, one game away from the big dance in our second year. This train's a-rollin', get on board now.

Just JU season tickets are $100.  $200 if you want a pre-game meal in the Everbank Arena Club(great socializing place and one of the coaches always comes up and talks before the game) and you get a reserved seat.

Courtside tickets are $400.