Aquarium could be coming to Jacksonville?

[KenFSU]

Personally, I'd be more scared of the ongoing annual maintenance costs/subsidies than the price of the initial build.

Especially if the organization is basing their sustainability numbers off of a projection of 1.15 million+ visitors through the gate each year, which is patently insane.

Literally insane.

I work with an aquarium in New York City, in an area that's got to have some of the heaviest foot traffic in the country, and they don't do this type of numbers.

Not opposed to an aquarium, not opposed to the city giving up riverfront land for an aquarium, but whoever runs it better have deep pockets or else we're going to find ourselves using the general fund for trout-welfare for years to come.

[Kerry]

What is everyone panicking about.  Here is the simple funding plan.

1.  City agrees to spend $100,000,000 putting dome over stadium.
2. City contributes $50,000,000 to the aquarium.
3. Khan contributes $50,000,000 to aquarium and gets 50% of all ticket sales, 75% of concessions, exclusive rights to all meeting events, and 50% of parking revenue.
4.  Khan will cover all cost over runs in exchange for the City guaranteeing Khan won't lose money.
5.  Construction starts next week.

I call it the Daily's Place Model.

[JPalmer]

The Aquarium is not coming anytime soon and honestly that's a good thing. 

The interest group AquaJax has been a complete failure, and there is no indications of this moving forward under their guidance.  AquaJax was essentially a Facebook page.

If an Aquarium were to become an actual proposal for development in the future.  I would have more confidence knowing everyone associated with AquaJax was purposely left out on all of the proceedings. 

[Captain Zissou]

If an Aquarium were to become an actual proposal for development in the future.  I would have more confidence knowing everyone associated with AquaJax was purposely left out on all of the proceedings. 

I really really like this quote.  Makes me want to join the AquaJax facebook page and troll super hard.