by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The $130 million arena is scheduled to be complete and turned over to the City by Nov. 17. That doesn’t give SMG general manager Bob Downey and his staff long to schedule events for the two-week grand opening ceremony that’s in the works.
City and SMG officials are working to put together a hodgepodge of concerts, sporting events and other family-oriented events to mark the opening of the Sports Complex’s third venue. The new $34 million home of the Jacksonville Suns will be finished in time for the Suns April 11 home opener and renovations to Alltel Stadium will also be complete by November.
“We’ll have a couple weeks with different activities each night,” said Downey, explaining that it’s too early to pursue landing a big act such as recent Grammy winners Norah Jones or the Dixie Chicks. “You have to wait until three or four months out and see who’s touring.”
Although Mayor John Delaney and much of his staff will no longer be in office, they are still involved in the early planning stages. Chief of Staff Audrey Moran said the mayor’s office is working with the City’s Special Events Department on activities, but especially during the day Nov. 17.
More than likely, the initial acts and events in the 14,000-seat arena will include local musical talent and sports teams. Staying local will make it easier for SMG and City officials to book activities and generate interest on a regular basis.
“We have met with the Chamber and we are going to meet with the symphony,” said Downey. “They may have some things on their schedule and we are working with them now. We have had meetings on basketball games with Jacksonville University and Mike Sullivan of the [Jacksonville Economic Development Commission’s] sports board. We could possibly have a marquee game in the arena featuring JU.”
One thing’s for sure; there will be Jacksonville Barracudas games scattered throughout the two-week period. The minor league hockey club’s season starts in October and after playing their first several games on the road — the old Coliseum is slated for demolition this summer — the team will be able to open their home schedule in the newest arena in the country.
“We will have a mix of events that will hit all segments of the population,” said Downey. “Who exactly it will be, I can’t say. But I think people will be pleased.”