Print ArticleParts of Jacksonville would look completely different if the opposite decisions were made on these ten missed opportunities.
3. Who Needs $50 million For A Convention Center? We Don't!
Prime Osborn image courtesy of APA Florida.
In 2010 alone, Jacksonville lost 11 conventions, representing an estimated loss of $12.5 million in total economic impact for our city. According to the reasons cited by groups who booked elsewhere, our convention center was too small, too expensive, had no proximity to hotels and entertainment, and our community in general didn't have any brand awareness as a destination. This isn't anything new; locally, we've known for years that our convention center needs help to compete in a highly competitive market and if it could, downtown would economically benefit. The problem is no one has any money to address its needs.
However, it wasn't always that way. In 2000, Mayor John Delaney offered the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) $50 million of Better Jacksonville Plan money to expand the Prime Osborn. However, the CVB declined the offer in factor of a more ambitious and expensive dream to relocate to a new unfunded facility along the St. Johns River. Some times dreams don't come true. 14 years later, there's still no plan, answers, or finances set aside to deal with Jacksonville's convention center dilemma. Perhaps the CVB should have taken the money and developed a plan B.
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