Jaguars amphitheater, flex field construction to begin next month

[paul_bcb]

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2016/03/17/jaguars-amphitheater-flex-field-construction-to.html?ana=twt

Nice to have an actual starting point, though who knows how long it will take.

[copperfiend]

Doubt it is ready for this season. But will be nice once it is finished.

[Steve]

^When they originally announced them both, the idea was the Amphitheater would be done about the end of the calendar year. I doubt they hit that, but could come close I suppose.

[KenFSU]

One of the strategies for doing this is hosting concerts on Saturday night as a warm-up for Sunday game days. Since the Jaguars only have seven home games per year, due to their one home game per year in London, this could be a critical element of their success.

"To convince people to come in from further away – because we have to do that to grow our market – the idea is that it's a Jaguars weekend," Lamping said. "When you hear there's a Jaguars game, you'll know now the night before there's a concert. The only question is who's playing."

I like it.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Nice read Ken, glad construction will be starting.

[JaGoaT]

I heard once they start they'll be working on it 24/7 6 days a week

[Dapperdan]

Any retail built into any of this? I only ask because Jerry Jones has surrounded his stadium with restaurants, shops, hotels, etc. The Jags stadium is kind of in a no mans land right now.

[Steve]

^The team would like to utilize the other side of Bay Street for that. They mentioned reimagining Metro Park and the surrounding areas in the Print Edition.

They still want to do the shipyards, but until the city cleans it up (or they strike a deal to get it cleaned up) I don't see it happening.

[Tacachale]

^I can't see Khan being all that seriously interested in the Shipyards now that the city won't be essentially paying him to take it. And that's mostly a good thing, since the things Khan really wanted - the practice field and amphitheater - have been moved off the water.

[JaxAvondale]

Any retail built into any of this? I only ask because Jerry Jones has surrounded his stadium with restaurants, shops, hotels, etc. The Jags stadium is kind of in a no mans land right now.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14878969/how-jerry-jones-dallas-cowboys-changing-game-new-training-facility

I would love to see a hotel built close to the stadium. As far as retail, I would create a space for pop-up shops.

[mtraininjax]

After speaking with DVI last night, it was interesting to learn how many acts and agents do not like SMG, so Khan and his people will manage the acts and entertainment. It will be great to see what they can do!

[spuwho]

After speaking with DVI last night, it was interesting to learn how many acts and agents do not like SMG, so Khan and his people will manage the acts and entertainment. It will be great to see what they can do!

Is it because SMG is best at getting bottom dollar for acts?

Or is it because SMG is not running the events well?

Would love to hear the center of the gripes.

[RattlerGator]

I noticed this the other day:

http://www.floridabids.net/bid-opportunities/2016/05/11/7033805-EverBank-Field-Improvements-South-End-Zone-Phase-II-Amphitheater-and-Covered-Flex-Field-Project.html

So, the phase 2 EverBank Field improvements of the South endzone leading into the Amphitheater leading into the Flex Field will go to bid soon. I'm anxious to know when these exterior projects are scheduled to be completed. Sometime next summer, I presume.

[mtraininjax]

So, the phase 2 EverBank Field improvements of the South endzone leading into the Amphitheater leading into the Flex Field will go to bid soon. I'm anxious to know when these exterior projects are scheduled to be completed. Sometime next summer, I presume.

If Facebook knows you are a Jaguar fan, they are throwing the video of how the entertainment district will look with a new club section featured in the end zone. Love him or think he's crazy, Lamping knows how to turn a Teal Seat Stadium with Concrete and steel into a 5-ring circus. The man never stops promoting and looking for ways to drive more revenue for Khan.

[RattlerGator]

When you're the little city that could, full of residents who moved here who still can't quite fully acknowledge your rather obvious strengths, that's what you have to do. Achieve against the odds, because the odds are definitely against us. That's why we're so incredibly lucky to have Khan and Lamping. They know we're not a Super Bowl city; fewer and fewer places are but we definitively proved the event has outgrown smaller cities. Those two guys aren't reality-challenged. They're cool with who we are and can be. The best is yet to come from them.

I watched the NFL press conference yesterday from Charlotte announcing the next round of host cities. A reporter from Charlotte asked what it was going to take to get the game there and the Commissioner was very diplomatic in his response. He essentially said, it ain't likely (factors: ability to handle influx of 100,000 people, hotel rooms near entertainment district, well-established tourism infrastructure, etc.) but hey, put together a great proposal and we'll see.

The NFL is about to go into a rotation where L.A. is probably going to get the most, by far, and Miami the second most, with a few other locations sprinkled in as needed.