Prime Osborn Convention Center in demand for trade shows, but few conventions

[thelakelander]

Jacksonville's Prime F. Osborn Convention Center is definitely in demand these days. It's schedule is nearly full, with 85 percent of its space booked.

So what's the problem? Why does talk continue to swirl around a new convention center?

Although the former Jacksonville railroad terminal, which opened as the convention center in 1986, is the site of many events, they are not the kind of functions that draw more crowds — conventioneers, for example, who stay at area hotels and spend significant money.

Full article: http://jacksonville.com/metro/business/2017-03-26/prime-osborn-convention-center-demand-trade-shows-few-conventions

[thelakelander]

My initial thoughts to certain parts of this article, when first reading it yesterday:

Ultimately, Wallace and Boyer both said, Jacksonville will need a more vibrant downtown, an entertainment district that becomes a drawing card. A new convention center could capitalize on that happening scene. Until then, the city is missing out on potentially millions of dollars from business conventions that are bypassing Jacksonville for other cities.

A well placed and designed convention center is a part of making a more vibrant downtown.  We already have elements in place to build upon. They include the TU Performing Arts Center, The Elbow's restaurants and bars, the Northbank Riverwalk, the Landing and a host of special events hosted on a regular basis in the heart of the Northbank.  Soon, these will be joined by the Trio, Cowford Chophouse, Morton's, Bellwether, etc. A convention center (even if it draws the existing trade shows to the core) feeds existing businesses and helps stimulate a market for more.  Assuming it is mixed use (i.e. with retail facing Bay), the Elbow benefits for pedestrian activity and life on both sides of Bay.  In other words, if you want a more vibrant downtown, the center is a part of fostering such a scene.

And there's been much talk about that, just as there has been lately for a convention center downtown, perhaps at the Shipyards property. Over the years, there has also been plans for an adjacent hotel to the Prime Osborn, but all attempts have been scuttled as officials still had a new convention center/hotel in their sights.

Sounds like a problem. Instead of swinging for the fence, you can still score with singles, doubles and stealing a base, here and there.  Look for alternatives that build and incorporate existing assets. If you don't have to invest in a brand new hotel or 100% new convention center from the ground up, you'll save millions.

inexpensive is a pitch

Ultimately, the city is in a Catch 22, Boyer said. Clearly, the Prime Osborn is not centrally located in downtown that would help promote more activity there. Meanwhile, there's not enough activity downtown to prompt a major project that would involve the construction of a new convention center associated with a hotel.

Correct. An alternative would be using an existing hotel (ummm...say the Hyatt and it's 1,000 rooms), existing meeting space (ummm...say the Hyatt's 110,000 square feet of meeting space) and combine with a new exhibition space that can host our existing events that are outgrowing the Prime Osborn.  Considering COJ already owns the land, land acquisition costs drop to zero. There's already a hotel, so hotel costs drop to zero. There's already 110,000 square feet of meeting space, so subtract that from your convention center construction costs.  In the end, you'll end up with a decent space in a great centralized location for a fraction of the cost you'd have to invest at any location.

"Do I think that the city ultimately needs a new convention center? Yes," Boyer said. "But I think it would be a mistake to build a [new] convention center in isolation."

The Hyatt/old courthouse site option resolves the isolation problem.

The challenge, Boyer said, is that the city can ill afford to spend tremendous amounts of money on a new convention center without having enough hotel rooms to support what could turn into larger-scale conventions.

This is only a challenge if you don't build at the Hyatt site.  As it stands, the Hyatt's 1,000 rooms are more than enough hotel rooms to support larger-scale conventions.  In fact, you'll be hard pressed to find a city Jacksonville's size with a similar sized hotel already standing.

"You also have to have it be an experience. Well, it's in Florida and it's in the winter and people will have to want to come here for the weather ... . " Boyer said, adding Jacksonville will have to re-position itself as more competitive among cities such as Orlando, San Diego or Houston and not just [be] the cheapest facilities at a convention center.

Not really. Chasing after Orlando, San Diego and Houston for conventions is fool's gold. They are on a different level and will always be for the foreseeable future. Instead, we should know our lane and find ways to better compete in it.

"I think our failing the last time was building the convention center and thinking the convention center would drive the surrounding activity," Boyer said. "I think we see that it doesn't."

Correct. It's definitely better to locate in a place that can be a part of creating a scene, as opposed to using it as the anchor to build one.

He also acknowledged that there's one element already in place that could boost activity downtown — The Elbow, which is about half a dozen blocks surrounding Bay and Main streets. If more restaurants and clubs can be added to The Elbow, the city will have a downtown scene that will be attractive to more than just the locals.

Hmmm, there's only one site that can really benefit growth in the Elbow...

[spuwho]

I concur with Lake on who the competition is.

It isnt Orlando or Houston of Chicago. That is fools good if they are thinking at that level.

Stick to what Jax is good at, regional consumer shows with in and out biz shows plugged in.

Not everyone brings their family with them to conventions.

Focus on biz people and the golfing. Not roller coasters and Mickey replacements. Go for the affinity shows, that is where the money is.