Author Topic: Jacksonville on short list for NASL franchise  (Read 112238 times)

comncense

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 668
Re: Jacksonville on short list for NASL franchise
« Reply #15 on: July 08, 2013, 08:57:22 PM »
How about at Metro Park then? I just think this would be a bad thing to put at the Shipyards... just my opinion. All of this is speculation though anyway, so probably not even worth putting it to this much discussion when we don't even know IF we're getting a team at this point.

Personally I'd rather see something like Philly Live or LA Live put at the Shipyards, but that's an entirely different conversation.

copperfiend

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3596
Re: Jacksonville on short list for NASL franchise
« Reply #16 on: July 08, 2013, 09:15:45 PM »
I did hear something today about a soccer specific stadium potentially in the vicinity of JTB/9A. It could be part of a larger sprawling athletic complex with multiple fields. Something like that would take up a lot of land and would not be practical for downtown. I am just glad we're even having this conversation.

thelakelander

  • The Jaxson
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 35202
    • Modern Cities
Re: Jacksonville on short list for NASL franchise
« Reply #17 on: July 08, 2013, 09:23:44 PM »
From what I understand, you'd need around 12 acres of space.  Outside of the sports district, such an amount of space would not be practical for downtown.  Without putting too much thought into it, I'd probably lean to the idea of combining a facility with one of the local schools like EWC, JU, or UNF.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” - Muhammad Ali

Tacachale

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8352
Re: Jacksonville on short list for NASL franchise
« Reply #18 on: July 08, 2013, 09:53:44 PM »
How about at Metro Park then? I just think this would be a bad thing to put at the Shipyards... just my opinion. All of this is speculation though anyway, so probably not even worth putting it to this much discussion when we don't even know IF we're getting a team at this point.

Personally I'd rather see something like Philly Live or LA Live put at the Shipyards, but that's an entirely different conversation.

Oh yeah, there are tons of options if we're smart and creative. Though I think something like I describe may be worth investing whether or not this particular soccer team worked out. There will be other soccer teams, but we're really missing a lot of great concerts and events by not having something that size.

As for a big complex in the suburbs, I wouldn't object to that, though I wouldn't want to commit nearly the resources to it out there as the opportunity to inspire other nearby activity and development isn't there. Perhaps we could combine something with one of the parks we've already built for soccer use.
Do you believe that when the blue jay or another bird sings and the body is trembling, that is a signal that people are coming or something important is about to happen?

SPR Nole

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 21
Re: Jacksonville on short list for NASL franchise
« Reply #19 on: July 08, 2013, 10:04:22 PM »
Anybody know if Tebow ever played soccer?  LOL!

tufsu1

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11433
Re: Jacksonville on short list for NASL franchise
« Reply #20 on: July 09, 2013, 08:37:00 AM »
Personally I'd rather see something like Philly Live or LA Live put at the Shipyards, but that's an entirely different conversation.

something like that belongs close to the core of downtown....not on the far eastern edge

thelakelander

  • The Jaxson
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 35202
    • Modern Cities
Re: Jacksonville on short list for NASL franchise
« Reply #21 on: July 09, 2013, 08:49:12 AM »
We already have something like that called the Landing. It would be cheaper and easier to get it right instead of subsidizing something similar a couple of blocks away.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” - Muhammad Ali

copperfiend

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3596
Re: Jacksonville on short list for NASL franchise
« Reply #22 on: July 09, 2013, 09:26:43 AM »
Agree. It is what the Landing should be. But at this point, I don't know if we can ever expect it to be though.

Tacachale

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8352
Re: Jacksonville on short list for NASL franchise
« Reply #23 on: July 09, 2013, 09:34:27 AM »
Quote

Bid for NASL soccer team has city's backing


Jacksonville’s chase for a North American Soccer League franchise has another potential victor: City Hall.

The NASL’s selection of Jacksonville as an expansion candidate might mark a new milestone in the city’s efforts to attract sports enterprises.

“Bringing an NASL franchise would be super, and the city and the mayor really support that,” said Alan Verlander, executive director of the Jacksonville Sports and Entertainment Office.

Although the city’s involvement in the process is indirect, NASL Commissioner Bill Peterson said that the favorable relationship between the franchise and local leaders contributed to the bid’s strength.

“We’re working very closely with Sunshine Soccer Group to put everything together from Jacksonville’s standpoint to sell our city,” Verlander said.

...


From Clayton Freeman at jacksonville.com

http://jacksonville.com/sports/other-sports/2013-07-08/story/bid-nasl-soccer-team-has-citys-backing#ixzz2YYS8e9bf
Do you believe that when the blue jay or another bird sings and the body is trembling, that is a signal that people are coming or something important is about to happen?

Captain Zissou

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4300
Re: Jacksonville on short list for NASL franchise
« Reply #24 on: July 09, 2013, 10:24:42 AM »
If we put it near commodore point, I say we put it on an existing stadium parking lot and build a parking deck to make up for the lost spaces.  It would also fit nicely on the tailgater's lot. It would be nice to put a retail/hotel component over there when this opened, but programming still won't support that. We could put it the pepsi dun zone and leave apace on the southern part of lot J for mixed use/retail when the shipyards come online. I think the pepsi area is underutilized and is a waste of space.

In regards to the tebow comment.... I know that he has plans for something that actually could work with a space like this. It's not that crazy an idea.....

CityLife

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2198
Re: Jacksonville on short list for NASL franchise
« Reply #25 on: July 09, 2013, 10:45:03 AM »
Location of the stadium is tricky here. The backbone of the fan base will likely be people who grew up playing soccer or families of kids that currently play, as well as hipster types (this is why soccer is so big in Seattle and Portland). Of course there will be plenty of other fans, but I'd bet that >50% of the above types will make up attendance. Soccer families are suburban...hipsters usually in the core or beach. There is also the potential to draw people regionally to games. I grew up playing soccer locally, but my team was in a statewide Premier League, so I have a pretty good idea where soccer is big. Regionally soccer is big at the beach, southern suburbs (Clay and St. Johns), and southern parts of the city. Outside of the metro area places like Flagler County, Ormond Beach, and Gainesville are other hotbeds. There is virtually nothing north of downtown (including the suburbs). Which in this case means that the geographic center of potential fans is somewhere on the Southside. I'd go so far as to guess that >85% of fans will come from south of downtown.

I think an MLS team would be marquee enough to draw people from an hour away to Downtown for games, but no so sure about an NASL team. Of course having the stadium would be a great thing for downtown and I'm a downtown advocate....but I'm not so sure if its the best move for a NASL franchise.

Tacachale

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8352
Re: Jacksonville on short list for NASL franchise
« Reply #26 on: July 09, 2013, 10:54:08 AM »
^No matter where it is, I don't think we should build an entire stadium based on the needs of NASL soccer. Whether we're building a suburban complex that can be expanded, or a multi-use project to create activity downtown, there needs to be much more to it to make it worthwhile.
Do you believe that when the blue jay or another bird sings and the body is trembling, that is a signal that people are coming or something important is about to happen?

CityLife

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2198
Re: Jacksonville on short list for NASL franchise
« Reply #27 on: July 09, 2013, 10:58:49 AM »
Totally agree. If Downtown, I'd love to see a part amphitheater/part stadium with river views for both games and concerts. Might even be a way to mitigate some of the noise concerns of the St. Nicholas folks too.

Captain Zissou

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4300
Re: Jacksonville on short list for NASL franchise
« Reply #28 on: July 09, 2013, 11:02:14 AM »
^No matter where it is, I don't think we should build an entire stadium based on the needs of NASL soccer. Whether we're building a suburban complex that can be expanded, or a multi-use project to create activity downtown, there needs to be much more to it to make it worthwhile.

Agreed.  This should be built in a way that makes it work well for other sporting events and just general event space. Personally I see that being easier to accomplish DT where it can share parking facilities with the other huge complexes nearby. I think the mandarin kids will still drive up for a match if it's in DT. A practice facility could double as flex space or staging for events in the area.

fieldafm

  • Editor
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4681
Re: Jacksonville on short list for NASL franchise
« Reply #29 on: July 09, 2013, 11:12:37 AM »
Or Mark could send a very welcomed check to JU and host his new team's games amongst the picturesque and pristine oaks on campus :)




I don't think anyone in their right mind would build a brand new soccer stadium out of pocket for an NASL team.  Everbank Field is simply too big for crowds of 4-5k people.  The more likely scenario is using UNF's existing stadium or MUCH BETTER YET JU's new stadium which could be up and running in time for league play with a helpful donation from the Frisch family  :)