Shad Khan: City of Jacksonville needs to evolve!

[BridgeTroll]

Great idea Simms!!

Who would the top ten "difference makers" be?   

[Cheshire Cat]

1) The Weavers are amazing for this city, this community, and elsewhere as well.
2) Shad Khan has been terrific so far and the future looks incredibly bright if both he and the city continue to do their share in this partnership.
3) The Weavers should get tons of credit for selling the team to Khan. For finding the right guy, working out the deal, and transitioning at the right time.

Absolutely agree. The Weavers are exceptional people whose public mindedness is the stuff of dreams in most other cities. Love the Weavers.

Khan want's a successful team, this is a man who does not play to lose and his personal integrity seems to be such that losing is not a word he accepts.  I am not what anyone would call a serious football fan but I have understood for a long time the power of football in Jacksonville, long before the Jags team when it was all about Ga & Fla.  The team provides something that all the citizens can get behind.  It is unifying.  Just a visit to the threads on this forum which in its heart is about the downtown core we can see some of the most popular and commented upon threads have been those about the Jags. 

It is amusing to hear some second guess Khans business choices whether they be about his plans or the moves he has taken to date, like games in London.  He does not think "small" like Jacksonville folk often do.  He thinks big, so big that he is making the needed moves to make the Jacksonville Jaguars a global phenomena. Where Jags football teams travel, so does Jacksonville.  He gets it even if we do not.  If football is the vehicle for us to evolve, than so be it.  Only the shortsighted would not understand that when we evolve as a city, no matter what the great stimulator of that might be, we also grow in all the things other folks want, which are jobs, restoration, renovation, revitalization, culture and the arts, increased tourism and growing tax base etc.

It's hard to swallow some statements ,especially those that pretend that Khan is just a local guy who bought a team and such especially coming from a non local of no real impact to our city.  Firstly Khan was not local and secondly the team is the biggest asset we as a city have to move us forward. A man who has the mojo and business acumen to amass a fortune is exactly the type of guy who can help drive the needed changes in our city and move Jacksonville out of its conservative and rather boring malaise that has kept us immobile for decades.  Negative commentary in this case to my view is representative of the uninformed who think they understand all that it takes to turn a city around and who might be the one to really start the process in a city that has been lagging behind for decades.

The one and only concern should be about our city's resources and how they are used to further the team and it's turn around. We cannot gut our city budget to do so but we must be willing to take some risks as well.   To me the scoreboard/video deal for 63 million was very extravagant, but then so was a hulk of a courthouse for 400 million with a life span of 50 years absurdly extravagant.  The team profile will grow us nationally and internationally a courthouse not so much. My guess is that those of us who dropped a jaw over the scoreboard really don't understand it's intended use beyond football.  Khan has mentioned something about worldwide infomercials and such.  Not sure what that means but if it gives us a worldwide boost with the team and city profile, cool.  Khan has yet to show much interest in the needs of Jacksonville beyond what he can do in a business sense via things like development.  Fortunately we still have the Weavers whose support of the needed social services and arts is still strong because we certainly need equal attention on the social issues that will also help the city grow as a good place to live and raise a family.  Those things that are not brick and mortar but imperative to a healthy and vibrant city.

Let me make a prediction here.  My guess is that while folks are jawing about what Khan should to, he already has an active plan being developed for the shipyards.  I mention this because I also believe that his plan will somehow encompass a sweet business deal benefitting Khan with the city for the Shipyards land.  The trade off will be some of what the city invested in the land and it's infrastructure in exchange for a viable development on that land.  I mention this so that folks can begin to get their heads around that possibility and prepare to adjust their thinking accordingly.

In the end Shad Khan owes us nothing, not a thing.  He is a businessman who invested in a team.  The one thing he is beholding to is his promise to the Weavers to keep the team in Jacksonville and the public statements he has made to all of our citizens that he is all in as far as the team goes.  No one expects him to save the city and no one should but at the same time we need to pay attention to the man, his ideas and investment in our city and imagine the very best outcome from his involvement.  I for one am prepared to take the man at his word about taking action in the city when others fail to do so.  Real action in Jacksonville is long overdue.

[BoldBoyOfTheSouth]

"The NFL franchise "like it or not", is the face of Jacksonville and will determine the atmosphere of the city business culture and climate." - Shad Khan

Well, what do we expect when most people in Jacksonville last a pride of place and even the native born and bred can't even come up Jacksonville's idenity.

[BoldBoyOfTheSouth]

Jacksonville needs more Rhett Butlers and less Ashely Wilks.

The elite members of Jacksonville society are shiftless with granddaddy's money.  They don't really build anything or create great businesses or invest in the future. The Ashley Wilks among us lack dynasim and excitment. They can't think outside of the box. The just look at a run down building, throw up their arms and say it can't be fixed. They look at a development plan on the suburban sprall strip malls and want to bring those to the urban core.

The Rhett Butlers will see a run down old building and see adaptive reuses.  They see a blighted area and envision a dynamic place that can be filled with people strolling about between dinner, dancing and supporting the arts. Rhett Butler would see an abandoned warehouse near some traintracks and see lofts for the creative class. Ashley Wilks would just see a run down building with environmental issues and just say "something needs to be done" as they drive past it going to play golf.

[Cheshire Cat]

Jacksonville needs more Rhett Butlers and less Ashely Wilks.

The elite members of Jacksonville society are shiftless with granddaddy's money.  They don't really build anything or create great businesses or invest in the future. The Ashley Wilks among us lack dynasim and excitment. They can't think outside of the box. The just look at a run down building, throw up their arms and say it can't be fixed. They look at a development plan on the suburban sprall strip malls and want to bring those to the urban core.

The Rhett Butlers will see a run down old building and see adaptive reuses.  They see a blighted area and envision a dynamic place that can be filled with people strolling about between dinner, dancing and supporting the arts. Rhett Butler would see an abandoned warehouse near some traintracks and see lofts for the creative class. Ashley Wilks would just see a run down building with environmental issues and just say "something needs to be done" as they drive past it going to play golf.

This and more!

[Tacachale]

The Weavers sold the team along with several other minority owners, several of whom have also done lots of good for the city and are connected.

The Jags is the single biggest "force" in the city.  My only concern is that it soaks up a lot of the resources to drive that force.  Khan may be a "billionaire" (who has a lot of his personal balance sheet consumed by the Jags), but it takes a number of these guys being proactive to really make a difference.

If we were to list out the 10 people in Jacksonville who we think are making the biggest difference, it would likely become apparent that ~6-8/10 of them are/were connected to the Jags in some way.  Is Rob Clements, CEO of Everbank, on the list?  Perhaps.  He received incentives to put mid-level staffers in Everbank Tower, which we all praised, however he also bought naming rights to the stadium and has played a role in that.  Everything comes back to the Jags in some way.

While I think the Jaguars is easily the most important thing for the city right now, in a smaller city with clearly limited resources, it [the NFL franchise] is a resource hog.

To me, Shad Khan is a non-local guy who is being tossed up as a knight in shining armor to rescue a city that he has a financial commitment to.  I'm wary that we are putting too much faith in one man who was not even born here and has in fact been a part of Jax for only a couple of years.  This is not usually how it works - usually the real hometown hero does more for a city than a mere outsider who happens to own a sports team there.  I think we should all use caution before worshiping the man.

I often disagree with you, Simms, but I think you're spot on here. Khan has been hugely positive for the team and the city, but at the end of the day he's just one man. He may be right about the dearth of "millionaire mojo", but just pointing that out doesn't mean he can change the tied all on his own, no matter how wealthy, capable, and mojoed up he is. And of course his priority locally will always be with his chief investment, the Jaguars. It's interesting to hear people who are usually very critical of guys with money influencing politics treating Khan this way.

[ProjectMaximus]

To me, Shad Khan is a non-local guy who is being tossed up as a knight in shining armor to rescue a city that he has a financial commitment to.  I'm wary that we are putting too much faith in one man who was not even born here and has in fact been a part of Jax for only a couple of years.  This is not usually how it works - usually the real hometown hero does more for a city than a mere outsider who happens to own a sports team there.  I think we should all use caution before worshiping the man.

I agree with Simms to an extent, but I think the hometown factor is overblown here. No reason why loyalties can't be earned over time, and in any case that only gets you so far. It's money and business that drives real change.

BTW, what is Khan's hometown then? He doesn't really invest in his actual hometown or home country, so what makes Champaign more of an adopted hometown than Jax? One was where he began his American dream, and the other is where that dream reached culmination.

[Cheshire Cat]

The Weavers sold the team along with several other minority owners, several of whom have also done lots of good for the city and are connected.

The Jags is the single biggest "force" in the city.  My only concern is that it soaks up a lot of the resources to drive that force.  Khan may be a "billionaire" (who has a lot of his personal balance sheet consumed by the Jags), but it takes a number of these guys being proactive to really make a difference.

If we were to list out the 10 people in Jacksonville who we think are making the biggest difference, it would likely become apparent that ~6-8/10 of them are/were connected to the Jags in some way.  Is Rob Clements, CEO of Everbank, on the list?  Perhaps.  He received incentives to put mid-level staffers in Everbank Tower, which we all praised, however he also bought naming rights to the stadium and has played a role in that.  Everything comes back to the Jags in some way.

While I think the Jaguars is easily the most important thing for the city right now, in a smaller city with clearly limited resources, it [the NFL franchise] is a resource hog.

To me, Shad Khan is a non-local guy who is being tossed up as a knight in shining armor to rescue a city that he has a financial commitment to.  I'm wary that we are putting too much faith in one man who was not even born here and has in fact been a part of Jax for only a couple of years.  This is not usually how it works - usually the real hometown hero does more for a city than a mere outsider who happens to own a sports team there.  I think we should all use caution before worshiping the man.

I often disagree with you, Simms, but I think you're spot on here. Khan has been hugely positive for the team and the city, but at the end of the day he's just one man. He may be right about the dearth of "millionaire mojo", but just pointing that out doesn't mean he can change the tied all on his own, no matter how wealthy, capable, and mojoed up he is. And of course his priority locally will always be with his chief investment, the Jaguars. It's interesting to hear people who are usually very critical of guys with money influencing politics treating Khan this way.

It should be beyond interesting.  There is an underlying point that goes beyond money and politics. Someone has finally come along who can say what needs to be said and not be accused of being wealth envious or driven by politics.  It really takes reading and balancing the entirety of my statements to get it.  There is no mystery here. 

[Tacachale]

Jacksonville needs more Rhett Butlers and less Ashely Wilks.

The elite members of Jacksonville society are shiftless with granddaddy's money.  They don't really build anything or create great businesses or invest in the future. The Ashley Wilks among us lack dynasim and excitment. They can't think outside of the box. The just look at a run down building, throw up their arms and say it can't be fixed. They look at a development plan on the suburban sprall strip malls and want to bring those to the urban core.

The Rhett Butlers will see a run down old building and see adaptive reuses.  They see a blighted area and envision a dynamic place that can be filled with people strolling about between dinner, dancing and supporting the arts. Rhett Butler would see an abandoned warehouse near some traintracks and see lofts for the creative class. Ashley Wilks would just see a run down building with environmental issues and just say "something needs to be done" as they drive past it going to play golf.

What we really need are less of those dudes and more Frederick Douglasses, Moncure Conways, and Ossian Harts. People willing to work to free us from the oppression of the status quo. A Nat Turner or two wouldn't hurt.

[Cheshire Cat]

To me, Shad Khan is a non-local guy who is being tossed up as a knight in shining armor to rescue a city that he has a financial commitment to.  I'm wary that we are putting too much faith in one man who was not even born here and has in fact been a part of Jax for only a couple of years.  This is not usually how it works - usually the real hometown hero does more for a city than a mere outsider who happens to own a sports team there.  I think we should all use caution before worshiping the man.

I agree with Simms to an extent, but I think the hometown factor is overblown here. No reason why loyalties can't be earned over time, and in any case that only gets you so far. It's money and business that drives real change.

BTW, what is Khan's hometown then? He doesn't really invest in his actual hometown or home country, so what makes Champaign more of an adopted hometown than Jax? One was where he began his American dream, and the other is where that dream reached culmination.

Exactly.  The above quoted portion of an early commentary was shallow in perspective.  IMO  The rest of the points I have no argument with. 

[Tacachale]

To me, Shad Khan is a non-local guy who is being tossed up as a knight in shining armor to rescue a city that he has a financial commitment to.  I'm wary that we are putting too much faith in one man who was not even born here and has in fact been a part of Jax for only a couple of years.  This is not usually how it works - usually the real hometown hero does more for a city than a mere outsider who happens to own a sports team there.  I think we should all use caution before worshiping the man.

I agree with Simms to an extent, but I think the hometown factor is overblown here. No reason why loyalties can't be earned over time, and in any case that only gets you so far. It's money and business that drives real change.

BTW, what is Khan's hometown then? He doesn't really invest in his actual hometown or home country, so what makes Champaign more of an adopted hometown than Jax? One was where he began his American dream, and the other is where that dream reached culmination.

I don't think his not being from Jax is significant, many of our best leaders aren't. The real point is he's only been vested locally for a few years, and it's primarily tied to the Jags - he's a great breathe of fresh air, but he's still pretty new to both Jacksonville and the NFL. However, he's heavily invested in his adopted home town of Champagne-Urbana, which bodes very well for his character and his future in Jax.

[BoldBoyOfTheSouth]

What I believe that he is trying to communicate is that we need to look deeply within ourselves to figure out why we are the way we are?

How can a city with as much to offer as Jacksonville does yet we don't seem to be doing much with what we have?

How are we "The River City" when the vast majority of the people who live here have never actually been on the river or any other inland waterway other than to drive over it on a bridge?

How is it that downtown Jax has a wealth of 1920s Jazz Age era hotels & office buildings that for the most part are either abandoned or very forlorn?

How is that that we have such a large amount of younger people yet those younger people don't seem to be very entrepreneurial?  Aren't the young usually the risk takers?

How is it that we have many historic neighborhoods of Riverside/Avondale, Murray Hill, Springfield, Lakeshore, Ortega, San Marco & St Nicholas yet other than using the institutional sounding "urban core", we have not come up with a term that gives excitement and a pride of place to our connecting historic neighborhoods?  As in, "let's go to XYZ and have some fun tonight?" or, "you live outside of XYZ? Could you be any less interesting??"

Why do our younger people often rather go to some generic Southside Blvd bar for happy hour or to listen to music? What kind of dull young people rather go to a bar and grille in a strip mall than an edgy neighborhood?

Why is it that UNF, Jacksonville University and Jones College don't seem to inspire much intellectual curiosity in their students?  Are they teaching back office drones?  Shouldn't they be teaching the innovative leaders of tomorrow?

So far, nobody really understands why.  Worse part, hardly nobody seems to care. Because of this, Jacksonville is more Hacksonville than Actionville.

[BoldBoyOfTheSouth]

He also might be saying that from what he's seen and heard, he would not hire any of the scion of our locally born and bred elite.

Hope those young people can use their family connections but apparently, they won't be able to get jobs with people who like Khan.

[Tacachale]

^I think you're seriously reading your own thoughts into his statements.

[simms3]

The Weavers sold the team along with several other minority owners, several of whom have also done lots of good for the city and are connected.

The Jags is the single biggest "force" in the city.  My only concern is that it soaks up a lot of the resources to drive that force.  Khan may be a "billionaire" (who has a lot of his personal balance sheet consumed by the Jags), but it takes a number of these guys being proactive to really make a difference.

If we were to list out the 10 people in Jacksonville who we think are making the biggest difference, it would likely become apparent that ~6-8/10 of them are/were connected to the Jags in some way.  Is Rob Clements, CEO of Everbank, on the list?  Perhaps.  He received incentives to put mid-level staffers in Everbank Tower, which we all praised, however he also bought naming rights to the stadium and has played a role in that.  Everything comes back to the Jags in some way.

While I think the Jaguars is easily the most important thing for the city right now, in a smaller city with clearly limited resources, it [the NFL franchise] is a resource hog.

To me, Shad Khan is a non-local guy who is being tossed up as a knight in shining armor to rescue a city that he has a financial commitment to.  I'm wary that we are putting too much faith in one man who was not even born here and has in fact been a part of Jax for only a couple of years.  This is not usually how it works - usually the real hometown hero does more for a city than a mere outsider who happens to own a sports team there.  I think we should all use caution before worshiping the man.

I often disagree with you, Simms, but I think you're spot on here. Khan has been hugely positive for the team and the city, but at the end of the day he's just one man. He may be right about the dearth of "millionaire mojo", but just pointing that out doesn't mean he can change the tied all on his own, no matter how wealthy, capable, and mojoed up he is. And of course his priority locally will always be with his chief investment, the Jaguars. It's interesting to hear people who are usually very critical of guys with money influencing politics treating Khan this way.

It should be beyond interesting.  There is an underlying point that goes beyond money and politics. Someone has finally come along who can say what needs to be said and not be accused of being wealth envious or driven by politics.  It really takes reading and balancing the entirety of my statements to get it.  There is no mystery here. 

Wait, Diane, seriously?  Khan isn't motivated by money or politics and Rummell is?  (not that there is something necessarily wrong with that)

Your statements continue to baffle the mind.