by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The Jacksonville Jaguars would still very much like to relocate their practice fields from outside the south end zone to outside the north end zone. But, time will be the deciding factor whether that happens before the 2003 season or not.
“We are discussing that right now, but time is tight,” said Bill Prescott, vice president/chief financial officer for the Jaguars.
The City, too, is keen on the concept, but Chief Administrative Officer Sam Mousa said the plan is in its very early initial stages.
“We met with the Jaguars once and went over some preliminary concepts,” said Mousa. “The last time we submitted the [Jaguars] lease, we advised City Council that the City was interested in moving the practice fields, too.”
According to Prescott, the Jaguars need a firm decision within the next month or so. In order to have the fields fully grown in by the time mini-camps roll around this spring and training camp opens next summer, the team needs to have the proper irrigation and drainage in place by February. The three new fields would go where Wolfson Park once stood, which is north and just west of Alltel Stadium.
Moving the practice fields will allow the stadium’s Super Bowl plans to be completed; the present fields will become a “grand entrance” leading from Metro Park to the renovated South end zone.
“There will be a synergy between the (stadium and Metro Park,) but no physical ties. It will be a corporate area with many potential uses — not just for the Jaguars, but also the City’s special events, ” said Mousa, adding he expects to meet with team officials again soon. “I have some questions about the concept. We’ll meet again, talk about the concept, go over the process and talk about funding sources.”
While the project certainly won’t cost anywhere near the $40 million needed for renovations to Alltel in time for the 2005 Super Bowl, it won’t be free and someone has to pay. Mousa declined to speculate as to who may pick up the tab, but he did say that City Council would have to approve moving the fields and any City-sponsored costs, regardless of the City’s contribution.
“Everyone is in agreement that it’s the right thing to do,” said Prescott, adding if the plan isn’t approved this year, work in the South end zone won’t be affected by having the practice fields remain where they are today.
“It doesn’t affect what we are building now,” said Prescott. “Ideally, you don’t want to make the switch in the middle of the season. Everyone is marching towards being in the ground by February if we are going to do it.”