Jacksonville's Municipal Stadium ranked 12th

[02roadking]

By The Times-Union

Forget Dallas, Denver or San Francisco. If you want to see an NFL game, Jacksonville is the best place to go.     

Or at least one of the best.

About 17,000 Sports Illustrated readers took part in a recent online survey about their game day experiences.

Lambeau Field in Green Bay was rated the best venue; Giants Stadium in New York, the worst.

Jacksonville's Municipal Stadium was ranked 12th.

That put it in the upper tier of 32 NFL facilities.

Draw an imaginary line between the Carolinas and extend it all the way to the West Coast. Jacksonville is the best place to go to a game south of that line.

So say Sports Illustrated readers. And even that good report may be skewed negatively.

First, the pluses.

Readers, according to the magazine, said Jacksonville Municipal Stadium has the best driving access in the NFL.

They cited a location near major interstates, plus an abundance of roads leading in and out of the stadium.

And, for those who really want to avoid traffic, the water taxi "takes you to and from the game with ease."

Readers said people are friendly at games here, fans have a "high football IQ" and there is a "beautiful riverwalk" near the stadium.

All seats have unobstructed views - and the stadium opens up, treating fans to "beautiful views of the [St. Johns River] water."

Also, the Jaguars have a competitive team.

The negatives?

One reader said stadium hot dogs "taste like leftovers from the 1998 season."

Another complained about the impact of church attendance on tailgating.

There isn't "a lot of trash talking." Fans are mostly "college 'rah-rah' types."

The neighborhood, while safe, is rundown, they said.

As criticisms go, those aren't particularly damning.

And, for the most part, they're about individual preferences, not amenities that affect everyone.

Jaguar games are a great NFL experience.

People from up North should fly in occasionally and watch a game. Not only could they upgrade their NFL experience, they might be able to return home with a dead-of-winter sunburn.

That would be a great conversation starter in places like Buffalo.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FAST FACTS

The top 12

NFL teams offering the best fan value experience: Packers, Steelers, Browns, Lions, Ravens, Eagles, Seahawks, Colts, Titans, Panthers, Patriots, Jaguars.


Source: Sports Illustrated.

[jbm32206]

I agree, the stadium is in a great location with very easy access...and ample parking in the area. As for the surrounding neighborhood, some of it is indeed, blighted...some nice and some industrial...so what...welcome to the real world.

[I-10east]

Well said JBM. I love going to JMS to see a Jags game, and I don't understand the BS that some people say about the Jags not having a fun gameday experience.

Sports Illustrated recently ranked JSO for the best police and security at a stadium; That's kinda ironic, because alotta locals say that they don't do a good job. IMO I think that they do a decent job, although, alotta JSO barricades seem unnecessary on some DT streets. As for the State Street "evercaution" traffic lights after the game making State St. a "pedestrian's nightmare" or whatever; I came to the conclusion that 70,000 some odd peeps that wanna go home after the game is more important than a coupla people that wanna cross State St(for whatever reason) after a football game. Maybe they can build a coupla catwalks over State St; Other than that, I'll keep it just like it is minus some barricades. 

[adamh0903]

Well said JBM. I love going to JMS to see a Jags game, and I don't understand the BS that some people say about the Jags not having a fun gameday experience.

Sports Illustrated recently ranked JSO for the best police and security at a stadium; That's kinda ironic, because alotta locals say that they don't do a good job. IMO I think that they do a decent job, although, alotta JSO barricades seem unnecessary on some DT streets. As for the State Street "evercaution" traffic lights after the game making State St. a "pedestrian's nightmare" or whatever; I came to the conclusion that 70,000 some odd peeps that wanna go home after the game is more important than a coupla people that wanna cross State St(for whatever reason) after a football game. Maybe they can build a coupla catwalks over State St; Other than that, I'll keep it just like it is minus some barricades. 

It takes me less than 5 minutes to go from my parking lot (Z) to US-1 to head north to Callahan, I understand it limits to downtown access but it sure is nice for people like me who want to back to suburbia  I also agree that THE JACK is a great place to watch a game.

[thelakelander]

Imo, game day would be a lot better if there were sports bars and similar sports related entertainment in the area.  Hopefully in the future, that element will become a stronger part of the stadium district scene.

[Ocklawaha]

It must be snowing in HELL today, SI said something NICE about Jacksonville? Maybe they are feeling a small economic bite as our citizens drop their subscriptions...

Nice work SI! It will have to be a COLD winter in Hell before I ever buy another one.

Ocklawaha

[Jason]

That was a very nice article.  Very accurate as well.

The Jaguars' stadium was THE EXAMPLE when it was completed.  Now that there are many teams out there getting new stadiums (using Jax as an example) they have stepped things up and inproved on a great concept.  Dallas' new billion dollar stadium (open next season) takes the best of every stadium in the NFL and throws it all into one.  Dallas will soon become the example for the stadiums of the future as Jax once was.

[raheem942]

well i think its time to put a roof on ours it would definetly increase revune

[adamh0903]

a roof? I dont know about a roof, i love seeing downtown and the view of the river from the stadium, maybe a retractable (sp?) roof.  I see what you are saying though, its a warm in the early season games.

[Jason]

I agree Adam,  there are too many beautiful days in Jax to cover the stadium permanantly.  If there was a roof it would have to be retractable.

[Duke]

I agree, the stadium's got some of the best views from inside; maybe a retractable rough to keep te bad weather out wouldn't be so bad...   Speaking of the stadium, any word on naming rights?  I noticed that some of the seats were covered with advertisements from Ceva..  Not sure who they are, but was just curious if a deal went through with them, or if they're a contender.....

[adamh0903]

Ceva is the old TNT logistics, I don't think you will hear anything about naming rights until next spring, as far as Ceva being contender, I am not sure about that, but I know TNT Logistics (Ceva) also spend a lot in advertising Dollars in 2005, so there is interest with them I am sure.