Quote:As stated, the funding is coming out of the hotel bed tax. That tax has to be used on 'tourist' type features. It by law can't be used for infrastructure, firefighters, schools, libraries, etc...

 

I'm not even from Jacksonville and I've seen it explained so many times that local people should know by second nature.

 

Unless I'm missing something the lodging tax (hotel bed tax) net $15.4 million in 2013. Of that, only 1/3 can be used for upgrades to the sports complex. Which mean they would need to increase the loan used to initially finance the stadium and which has been increased to fund any prior upgrades to the facility. 1/3 of the tax is used to pay back the loan. 

 

I get that bringing events can bring money, but do you really think they will get all those events that people are talking about Jacksonville. Wasn't part of the issue with the Superbowl the fact that there were not enough Hotels in the region, much less near downtown?

 

Yes that was 10 years ago, but has this city's infrastructure really improved to host that level of event? We are talking about a city that closed a major highway/bridge to downtown the weekend of hosting NCAA tournament games. One that has no public transportation and not enough taxi's for a mass visitors.

 

You could argue events like One Spark have helped this city prepare, but that is comparing 260,000 downtown visitors who are a majority of a younger generation (teens to young adults) who can get by without all the niceties. The 2015 Superbowl had estimates of 1 million people visiting Scottsdale. That is 4 times of the people, now with a higher percentage of the families and fans of all ages. You really need the Shipyards development done. 

 

Don't get me wrong. I agree with having a vision and for Jacksonville to strive for that goal.

 

I'm just not sure this plan gets us those level events, will solve the major issue for this city not netting those events, and erase any of the general media and Northeastern based corporate conglomerates current opinion that Jacksonville won't simply repeat what happened in 2005.

 

http://jax.s3.amazonaws.com/4601/jackson...n_2014.pdf

http://www.coj.net/city-council/tourist-...uncil.aspx

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sto...uperblog/3 (I know. I hate Simmons too, you can take your pick of articles about that Superbowl being one of the worst, and he actually gives credit where it is due in this blog.)

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/loca.../70980462/

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