Hoa boy, some things to consider.

1.) Didn't the franchise just win "best stadium experience" in the NFL? That was like 1-2 years ago. I know the "experience" isn't a 100% reflection of the stadium itself, bu it has to be closely related. How can you be voted #1 stadium experience if your stadium was a dump? I can't see how. Shooting t-shirts into the crowd and having your mascot bungee jump from the top row can't make up for a total dumpster stadium. Yea, I understand how having a pool built into the stadium is more of a "cute" move that won't fix a bad venue on its own, but I just don't grasp how you can be voted #1 stadium experience if your stadium is terrible. It doesn't add up.

2.) Heinz Field is newer than Bank and I have not only been to both, but to both regular seats and luxury seats at both stadiums several times. It didn't seem like there was this great chasm between the two. The only major difference between the two was the level/quality of service in the food and beverage of the luxury sections of each, and that has to do with the employees, not the stadium itself. (Jags employees at the food venues were unbelievably slow and seemingly uncaring. It took my wife so long to score some food I was getting ready to go look for her, and it wasn't at halftime or some other busy period.) But, overall, the stadiums seemed quite similar, so I don't know why Bank is considered so bad while Heinz is not. However, some stadiums are terrible, like Oakland's. We are talking crumbling structures here, nothing like Bank.

3.) A much more real, legit and harder to fix element is downtown and the area of Bank. I am always somewhat stunned when I'm downtown. It's surreal. I took some friends who live near LA, downtown and as I was driving the dad said, "Is this really Jacksonville? Like, where the Jaguars play? This is the city?" He just couldn't believe it.

Downtown is.....uninspired. Sure, every city has homeless people, that alone is not an indictment. But, there is just nothing "to" downtown J-ville. It leaves you wondering were "everything" is....like you never really reach downtown. In contrast, even though Pittsburgh is a relatively "small" city, there is so very much downtown; it's concentrated, lively with tons of personality and very unique. If you ever get the chance, stay in downtown Pgh once during a home Steelers game day. You will be blown away. It's fairly indescribable. The entire downtown is abuzz with activity...you can just feel it, even if you are not a Steeler fan.

And, traveling to and fro the stadium...there are a myriad of options to get there. For one, there are a lot of hotels in walking distance, which is the best way to go if you can swing it. And then there are endless forms of mass transit that puts you right at the stadium, including boats. At no point have I ever felt in danger going to or fro a game, but while going to games in Jville, we have felt like we were in vulnerable paths. You may find yourself walking to your car in virtual darkness, with no cops to be seen, in darkness, in sketchy areas.

I have no solution for downtown Jville, but the problem is real. But, in summary, I don't know why they are bagging on the stadium itself, as they are. What's so bad about it?

---