by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Jacksonville’s electric and water provider is considering building a solar-powered building near Alltel Stadium.
Last week, officials from JEA, the City, SMG and the Jacksonville Jaguars met to discuss the feasibility of such a structure, and preliminary plans call for a 45 feet by 200 feet, single-story building. The open-air facility would be topped with solar panels, providing some solar energy to Alltel Stadium. Initial talks have centered on building the structure just west of the stadium, near the Jaguar statue.
“We have an initiative that by the year 2015, seven and a half percent of our power will come from reusable sources,” said Phil Mattox of JEA’s communications department. “Part of that solar array [a collection of solar panels] will be at schools. Right now, the most visible array is on top of the Chamber of Commerce building.”
Sam Mousa, the City’s chief administrative officer, said the idea is appealing to him.
“We are always looking to save money. We are cooperating and consulting with JEA,” said Mousa, who will serve as COO under Mayor-elect John Peyton. “It’s definitely something I’m interested in pursuing.”
In fact, everyone involved seems to favor the proposal. Jaguars vice president/CFO Bill Prescott said the organization has no opposition to the structure as long as it looks good and can be built either before or long after the upcoming season.
“I saw the conceptual drawings last week and I think it’s interesting,” said Prescott. “It definitely has applications for SMG. I don’t see much application for us. If it can be done before the season, it will be nice shade for our Pepsi Zone.”
Prescott said the team intends to build a new perimeter wall at least 100 feet from the stadium. The wall will be made of wrought iron and brick and will closely resemble the look of the new Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville and the new arena.
“This year we will do the east and west sides,” said Prescott. “When we finish the entertainment zone [on the south side of the stadium] we’ll go all the way around. It will be an opportunity to marry the stadium with the new ball park and the arena.”
The main drawback to that perimeter wall will be SMG’s ability to sell walk-up tickets. Downey believes the new structure — which will be entirely funded by JEA — could alleviate that problem.
“Our concern is how to distribute tickets on non-game [Jaguars] days,” said Downey. “Many of the ticket windows will be behind the wall. For example, when we have a monster truck show, half the crowd hasn’t bought their tickets before the event. They need to be able to buy them before. Right now, we use the Coliseum and the ticket windows around the stadium.
“We have been looking for ways to build an auxiliary box office.”
The Coliseum is slated for implosion June 26 and, while SMG will have ticket windows at the new arena, it’s location west of the baseball park makes it inconvenient for ticket-buyers attending an event at the stadium.