One Spark returning for 2017

[KenFSU]

Mayor Curry and One Spark organizers have a 10:00 AM press conference scheduled on Monday at Everbank Field to announce details.

Full story:
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2017/06/15/one-spark-2017-will-happen-details-to-be-released.html

[Tacachale]

Interesting...

[RattlerGator]

Hmmmmm. Sounds like Daily's Place and the Flex Field might have a big role.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Good idea in a vacuum - it condenses the event so that more people are around more vendors in a compact area.  But I don't see how it benefits the city as a whole.  Sorry, but if they're going to host the event at Everbank, then they might as well host it at SJTC - similar impact for the businesses downtown.

Anyone remember Jazzfest at the Shipyards?  Well, this is further out than that.

And I guess I only feel this way because Curry is getting behind a podium.  If this is the only event they're announcing (i.e. the overpass coming down doesn't have a timeline yet), then he's just shilling for an event that doesn't benefit the majority of his downtown businesses. 

[KenFSU]

^Agree in theory. Hosting the event at Everbank/Flex Field/Daily's Place, if that's the announcement, completely isolates the event from the downtown core and the businesses therein. That said, if the two choices are 1) hold One Spark 2017 at Everbank with what I presume to be a significant sponsorship from the Jaguars, or 2) Hold no One Spark in 2017 at all, I guess it's a net win. Don't love it, but I'd take it over nothing.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Don't love it, but I'd take it over nothing.

Sorry, bud, but we're gonna have to agree to disagree on this one. 

Like I said, it's essentially no different IMO to holding it at the Morocco Shriners, SJTC, Regency Mall or any other open area outside of the core.

Because they're going to sell this as a downtown event, but it's going to do absolutely nothing for downtown proper.  In all honesty, it would probably be better received at some of the other places mentioned, but then they wouldn't be able to claim to be anything other than what they are - a convention of idea-makers.  The 'festival' aspect was gone after the 2nd one.

[KenFSU]

^Fair enough. And I do agree, it would be as much of a "downtown event" as a Welcome to Rockville, or the Jacksonville Fair.

Pure speculation, but with Bold Events wanting to enter the event and convention space, I wonder if they would sponsor this and hold it at the sports complex as a proof of concept type of deal.

[jaxjaguar]

What if they held the main event at the stadium district and then offered free trolley rides into the core for the "after party?" Then people have plenty of easy parking at the stadium and a quick convenient way to get in and out of downtown if they want to see some local artists, bands, food, drinks, etc?

[ProjectMaximus]

The 'festival' aspect was gone after the 2nd one.

Not to nitpick, but ok that's exactly what I'm doing, I think you meant after the 3rd one. The 3rd one was the biggest festival of all with record attendance.

Anyway, I do think it's important to note that they pulled off three years of major activation in the core...before collapsing on itself.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

^Fair enough. And I do agree, it would be as much of a "downtown event" as a Welcome to Rockville, or the Jacksonville Fair.

Pure speculation, but with Bold Events wanting to enter the event and convention space, I wonder if they would sponsor this and hold it at the sports complex as a proof of concept type of deal.

Possibly.  Like I said, in a vacuum it's a pretty solid deal.  They'll have the ability to host what has been an outdoor event 'outdoors' with the convenience of a roof.   They'll have a centralized stage for the musical acts to perform.  Plenty of expansion into the parking lots.  And plenty of available parking nearby.

As many have said on various threads before, I agree that the flex field is not a good substitute for your typical convention, but it's a great place to hold this event and those like it.

And yeah, Max, my bad.   Thanks.

[Adam White]

Why are we assuming that the festival will take place at the stadium, etc? Is it because the announcement is happening there? Or is it something else? I didn't see anything in that story stating where the festival was being held.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Why are we assuming that the festival will take place at the stadium, etc? Is it because the announcement is happening there? Or is it something else? I didn't see anything in that story stating where the festival was being held.

[Adam White]

Why are we assuming that the festival will take place at the stadium, etc? Is it because the announcement is happening there? Or is it something else? I didn't see anything in that story stating where the festival was being held.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Why are we assuming that the festival will take place at the stadium, etc? Is it because the announcement is happening there? Or is it something else? I didn't see anything in that story stating where the festival was being held.

Lol.  I.  Can't. 

*you still missed a _

[Adam White]

Why are we assuming that the festival will take place at the stadium, etc? Is it because the announcement is happening there? Or is it something else? I didn't see anything in that story stating where the festival was being held.

Lol.  I.  Can't. 

*you still missed a _

Fixed!