(01-11-2019, 10:17 AM)NYC4jags Wrote:

(01-11-2019, 09:49 AM)MikePete54 Wrote: Since I have never been in Jacksonville, can you guys tell me whats wrong with Jax doxntown or around the stadium ? Thanks

Nothing.

Fearful suburbanites just make up reasons not to go there. 
Because Jax is so spread out - there are many communities that are 40 minutes or more from downtown, so those folks have a convenience factor to deal with as well. 

It could be a thriving downtown if it didn't have some preposterous stigma and folks had the cojones to venture out from the safety of their far-flung cul-de-sacs and stripmalls. 

Metro Jax is about as far flung as a city can be and it doesn't really have an "urban core."   The newer residential buildings along the waterfront downtown are half empty. People don't want to live there and the dozen or so bars and restaurants seem to have just enough clientele to survive. I make a point to eat and drink downtown at least once a month and I always enjoy it. It's really strange the way folks stay away though.  There's no degree of homelessness or crime that is disproportionate to a city of this size. And the way the river winds through downtown makes it seem even more inviting. I don't understand why folks are so anti-downtown. Makes no sense to me.

Speaking only for myself, it's not fear that keeps me away, I just hate downtown anywhere. Here in Tampa, I'd pass scores of equal or better dining and entertainment establishments to get downtown. My reward for that is hunting for a parking spot and perhaps paying for it depending on the time of the day.

And I always thought it to be absurd to place sporting venues in any downtown area. Downtown areas are typically congested with limited parking. Cramming more vehicles into that area in a small time frame always seems like a bad idea. I'd probably catch some Tampa Bay Lightning games if the arena wasn't downtown. I even avoid concerts that are there. Conversely, I've always liked the location of Raymond James Stadium. I can get in and out of that place with ease.

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