UNF Football?

[Ken_FSU]

With college football back, and all the excitement that comes with it, anyone else feel strongly that UNF should be getting the ball rolling on a football program? There are certainly arguments against it (high startup costs, elevated tuition/fees for students, lower student population), but the city is rapidly growing and I find it impossible to believe that UNF isn't at a competitive disadvantage against major universities in Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Tallahassee, and Gainesville by not offering that traditional piece of the college experience.

I'm also riding a rare CFB high as well after the best Florida State start since 2016, so maybe I'm overly high on the idea as well.

Question for you guys:

1) Do you believe that a college football program would be a net positive for UNF (e.g. make it a more desirable, competitive university with a richer student culture) or would it hurt the school and become a financial anvil around its neck? 

2) If a football program did happen one day, would you rather see the team use existing city facilities or build a smaller stadium on or near campus?

3) With UNF having a smaller student body than most other state universities, do you think the broader Jacksonville population would come out and throw their support behind UNF Football? How many tickets do you think they could sell for an average game?

4) Would you be ok with city tax dollars being used to help get a program off the ground?

To me, in a perfect world, UNF would spend the next five years prepping the program, and would launch their inaugural season around 2027/2028 to coincide with the opening of the new/heavily upgraded Jags stadium. There's going to be a really strong appetite to attend events at the new stadium, and I think piggybacking off that excitement would be the absolute best way to build up a fanbase fast. Next-door to the stadium, we've got an NFL-caliber city-owned practice facility at Daily's Place that will soon be available when the Jags move across the street to their new performance center. I doubt they would be many objections with turning it over to UNF.

In such a football crazy city, and with decades of uncertainty about the long-term future of the Jags and Florida/Georgia, I also think that having a major collegiate football program of our own in Jacksonville at the city's largest public university gives us something permanent to build on for decades to come, regardless of what happens with these other entities.

[marcuscnelson]

Personally, I can't say I find it an appealing prospect. JU just got rid of their football program three years ago. It's an incredibly expensive pursuit that is hard, especially these days, to stay competitive in. Plus, Gainesville is close enough, with the added bonus of the FL-GA game already being in Jacksonville, that it'd be reasonable to argue that we are well within their college football "market".

But to answer your questions:

1) Absolutely a financial anvil. Unless you have donors like Heavener at UF who are willing to donate tens of millions to support developing competitive football facilities, or you're going to be so good at football that you can build a popular brand, it's likely going to be a waste of time that sucks funds away from other programs. Wichita State examined rebooting their football program a few years ago and priced the startup at $75 million. Odds are it'd cost more now.

2) I think the school would much rather build a facility on-campus. It's doubtful that making much of campus have to traverse half of town for football games, especially knowing the things that happen when people are at/going to football games, could be considered a good idea. The last thing anyone wants is drunken college students having to make a ten mile drive home after games.

3) I imagine there'd be some effort, but it'd be tough with how much of the market is already consumed by UF, FSU, and other state schools with well-funded football programs. Ticket sales would depend on ticket prices.

4) If there was evidence that it would be a successful program, I can't imagine city funding would hurt. But I don't think it would be a successful program.

I think UNF is much better served investing in its other sports, building student life with other cost-effective options, and perhaps developing more of an appealing downtown campus that students can enjoy urban living in. One of the actual best things about going to a school like UF or FSU was being in walking distance of a downtown with things to do when I wasn't in class. The design of UNF's campus makes that appeal nonexistent.

[thelakelander]

With college football back, and all the excitement that comes with it, anyone else feel strongly that UNF should be getting the ball rolling on a football program? There are certainly arguments against it (high startup costs, elevated tuition/fees for students, lower student population), but the city is rapidly growing and I find it impossible to believe that UNF isn't at a competitive disadvantage against major universities in Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Tallahassee, and Gainesville by not offering that traditional piece of the college experience.

I'm also riding a rare CFB high as well after the best Florida State start since 2016, so maybe I'm overly high on the idea as well.

Don't worry. That feeling won't last long ;-)

However, its hard to believe that FSU had started five straight seasons with a loss before the LSU game.

Question for you guys:

1) Do you believe that a college football program would be a net positive for UNF (e.g. make it a more desirable, competitive university with a richer student culture) or would it hurt the school and become a financial anvil around its neck?

For me, it's hard to say. EWU and JU have football programs. I'm not sure those programs have resulted in either scenario at this point.  - EDIT: I wasn't aware that JU's football program had already died.

2) If a football program did happen one day, would you rather see the team use existing city facilities or build a smaller stadium on or near campus?

For a college program, I'd recommend an on-campus facility. The new EWU stadium is a good example. It adds a component to that campus and neighborhood that seems to be very beneficial to Mid-West Jacksonville in the long run. However, that campus is also an urban one. So the context may not be apples to apples.

3) With UNF having a smaller student body than most other state universities, do you think the broader Jacksonville population would come out and throw their support behind UNF Football? How many tickets do you think they could sell for an average game?

No, I do not think Jacksonville as a whole would support a program at UNF anymore than it supports to existing college football programs in town. Maybe over time after some tradition has been built, but definitely not in the immediate short term.

4) Would you be ok with city tax dollars being used to help get a program off the ground?

In general, I'd rather some of my tax dollars go to something like this than another random roadway widening project or the U2C. However, the devil is likely in the details.

To me, in a perfect world, UNF would spend the next five years prepping the program, and would launch their inaugural season around 2027/2028 to coincide with the opening of the new/heavily upgraded Jags stadium. There's going to be a really strong appetite to attend events at the new stadium, and I think piggybacking off that excitement would be the absolute best way to build up a fanbase fast. Next-door to the stadium, we've got an NFL-caliber city-owned practice facility at Daily's Place that will soon be available when the Jags move across the street to their new performance center. I doubt they would be many objections with turning it over to UNF.

In such a football crazy city, and with decades of uncertainty about the long-term future of the Jags and Florida/Georgia, I also think that having a major collegiate football program of our own in Jacksonville at the city's largest public university gives us something permanent to build on for decades to come, regardless of what happens with these other entities.

I'll admit, I haven't put too much thought into the idea. However, I do wonder how it would be beneficial to UNF to play in the Sports & Entertainment District as opposed to their own campus? With this in mind, how have things turned out for USF, UCF, FAU and FIU so far?

[jaxlongtimer]

With the Power 5 conferences and their TV contracts, NIL fees, conference realignments and, now, playoff expansion, I think all but the major college football programs will be fading into the background, if not completely.  College football has become nothing more than a professional development league for the NFL.

Additionally, I feel sports, in general, has oversaturated the market (see TV ratings declines).

As such, football at UNF would be a huge climb up to something sustainable in the current world.  I would rather see such dollars put into building world class academic programs and/or expanding their graduate level professional schools.

The only advantage of football for UNF is to build student "loyalty"/identity with the school.  But, being a football patsy isn't going to help that very much.  They would be better off to build up the existing basketball or baseball programs at far lower costs as other "non-football" schools have done.  (JU is still living off its Artis Gilmore & Co. accomplishments 50 years later.)

[landfall]

Probably need to add another 10k students. Even then you're probably playing out of the Bank in front of about 10k as theres no viable stadium on campus. Its a suburban commuter school which does not help in the slightest as far as school spirit goes.

[ProjectMaximus]

With this in mind, how have things turned out for USF, UCF, FAU and FIU so far?

UCF has managed very well. They've parlayed their success into consistent growth and their future looks bright. They've positioned themselves well enough to have a shot at becoming a legacy brand like FSU, UF, Miami in the next few decades.

The rest, very much TBD but probably not going to be anything special (on the field or financially).

[Captain Zissou]

They've positioned themselves well enough to have a shot at becoming a legacy brand like FSU, UF, Miami in the next few decades.

UCF students and alum already think they are a legacy brand, but they still have a long way to go.