Say no to taxpayer bailout of the ACC football game

[Lunican]

The Florida Times-Union

November 11, 2008

Say no to taxpayer bailout of the ACC football game

By RON LITTLEPAGE
The Times-Union

As is usually the case, the City Council will be dealing with some sticky issues in the weeks ahead.

One is whether the city, which has already ponied up $500,000 to the Gator Bowl Association to support the Atlantic Coast Conference championship football game that was held here last year, should shell out another $430,000 because the association over promised how much revenue the game would produce for the conference.

The answer to that one is simple: No.

No as in no taxpayer-financed bailout for a football game.

Full Article:
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/111108/opl_354409979.shtml

[vicupstate]

What is the cost of the Cruise Terminal relocation? 

I took the cruise out of Jax once ( and plan to again in Feb.).  I don't think anyone in my party of ten people spent any money in Jax.  We got into Jax that morning, got on the boat, and got off the boat and left the same way.  Except for a few cruisers buying gas (the ones that don't drive through GA), and food purchases (by the ship itself?) little money goes into the local economy.     

[GatorShane]

Although I do love me some football I dont think we should bail this one out. The truth of the matter is that unles certain schools are invited(Clemson,Virginia Tech, or Florida State) the game will struggle. The ACC isnt a strong football cobference. Sorry that is just my bias toward the SEC. What si going to make Jacksonville look bad is that the game is now going to be played in Tampa in a 65,000 seat stadium compared to Jax and its 77,000 seat stadium. To make matters worst the ACC is also spending a lot more money in promoting the game than they ever did when it was here. That being said, let the ACC pick up the tab for the shortfall.

[thelakelander]

I think Tampa may luck up this year with an FSU vs. Miami or VT match up.

[thelakelander]

Port officials hope a hotel will be built in Mayport. Make that a guarantee.

Then people need to get creative. Mayport itself needs to be an attraction so more people, and their money, will stay there.

Perhaps a museum that highlights the fascinating history of Mayport. Perhaps the story of the Navy at Mayport. Perhaps Mayport could be the launching point for eco-tourism in the area.

Littlepage is right.  Mayport will only benefit by being an attraction itself.  Without that, don't expect cruise ship passengers to spend much money in the immediate area.

[ProjectMaximus]

Although I do love me some football I dont think we should bail this one out. The truth of the matter is that unles certain schools are invited(Clemson,Virginia Tech, or Florida State) the game will struggle. The ACC isnt a strong football cobference. Sorry that is just my bias toward the SEC. What si going to make Jacksonville look bad is that the game is now going to be played in Tampa in a 65,000 seat stadium compared to Jax and its 77,000 seat stadium. To make matters worst the ACC is also spending a lot more money in promoting the game than they ever did when it was here. That being said, let the ACC pick up the tab for the shortfall.

interesting. I hadn't been keeping up to date with the ACC championship news. It doesnt have much to do with the ACC being a strong football conference or not. We're (SEC, im UF '07) on top right now, but this sort of thing is very cyclical. We won't be strong forever, the power will shift, and then shift back over decades.
But, you're absolutely right that it entirely has to do with the specific matchup. Bowl games and championship games rely primarily on traveling fan bases (or those already located in the city)...I think it's ridiculous to expect a large turnout from impartial locals for these games.

If you want to dissect the ACC...I'm inclined to say that part of their "traveling" problem is that 4 of the members are small private universities. And of the 8 public institutions, 5 of em are pretty small state schools (less than 18 thousand undergrads according to wikipedia). By quick comparison every other conference in the big six has just one private university, except for the pac-10, which has two. I dont know...theres so many other factors, but thats just one thing that popped into my head. Football overall seems to be a much bigger deal at "state u" than at "private u."

[copperfiend]

I think Tampa may luck up this year with an FSU vs. Miami or VT match up.

You can probably scratch Va Tech off the list. It's probably going to be Miami/UNC vs. Wake Forest/FSU. If it's anything that does not involve FSU, it will be a half empty stadium like it was the last two years here. Like a previous poster mentioned, unless Clemson, Va Tech or FSU are involved, there will be minimal interest. Dolphins Stadium was filled with empty seats last night for the Hurricanes game.

[tufsu1]

I think Tampa may luck up this year with an FSU vs. Miami or VT match up.

You can probably scratch Va Tech off the list. It's probably going to be Miami/UNC vs. Wake Forest/FSU. If it's anything that does not involve FSU, it will be a half empty stadium like it was the last two years here. Like a previous poster mentioned, unless Clemson, Va Tech or FSU are involved, there will be minimal interest. Dolphins Stadium was filled with empty seats last night for the Hurricanes game.

the only major advantage Tampa has is they are offering tickets in the upper level for $25....the cheapest seats here were $60!

[reednavy]

We all know what ACC really stands for.

Almost Competitive Conference

This conference is in some states where the SEC reins supreme, i.e. Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia. The ACC is overshadowed by the SEC except for FSU, UM, and VaTech. The conference needs to become better as a whole, and not just a few teams you can count on one hand with.

We do not need to bail out the conference championship game, let Tampa deal with it for now. At least it moves, unlike the SEC champ. game. I think they need to move it around some, instead of same ole' Atlanta. Nashville and Jacksonville could also hold it, as well as New Orleans.

[copperfiend]

We all know what ACC really stands for.

Almost Competitive Conference

This conference is in some states where the SEC reins supreme, i.e. Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia. The ACC is overshadowed by the SEC except for FSU, UM, and VaTech. The conference needs to become better as a whole, and not just a few teams you can count on one hand with.

We do not need to bail out the conference championship game, let Tampa deal with it for now. At least it moves, unlike the SEC champ. game. I think they need to move it around some, instead of same ole' Atlanta. Nashville and Jacksonville could also hold it, as well as New Orleans.

The ACC has put out as many top flight prospects as the SEC in recent years (Mario Williams, Matt Ryan, Chris Long). Unfortunately, there just aren't many schools that have the enrollment or the money to compete year in and year out like the SEC does. Look at the undergrad enrollment at Duke and Wake Forest. Duke is 6k and Wake is 4k. You just don't have the alumni base to draw from.

[JeffreyS]

The gator bowl committee who bids for games like this and others has done a great job of bringing games to our area.  They took the risks with some assurances from the city. Most of their events are successful it was just that it was Wake and GA Tech in bad weather.  We definitely risk having them be less aggressive in the future if we leave them high and dry.  I like that we have some college football games that come to town.

[JeffreyS]

I do not think the SEC should move the game around I also think the ACC should pick a city and grow the game and city as a destination.

[copperfiend]

I do not think the SEC should move the game around I also think the ACC should pick a city and grow the game and city as a destination.

Nor do I think they will ever move the game. It is wildly successful in Atlanta. The Big 12 and the ACC have moved their games around have had limited success.

[reednavy]

I seriously think different for the Big 12 games.

[Karl_Pilkington]

the only major advantage Tampa has is they are offering tickets in the upper level for $25....the cheapest seats here were $60!

guess the cheap seats didn't matter.  this was the lowest attendance of any ACC Championship game only 27k.  Great weather and cheap seats still didn't bring out any local support of this boondoggle.  Just glad that we, Jacksonville taxpayers, aren't subsidizing this fiasco again!

http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=95700&catid=8

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/article928999.ece