by Fred Seely
Editorial Director
Jacksonville is a near-cinch to get the two-year option on the Atlantic Coast Conference championship football game and it appears that an additional contract is the city’s to lose.
The game, which drew 72,729 in its inaugural last year at Alltel Stadium, will return this year on Dec. 2 to finish the initial two-year contract and bring up the option.
ACC Commissioner John Swofford said Tuesday that “it would take a lot of changes to see us leave Jacksonville.”
Picking up the option is almost a certainty, according to ACC officials here for the conference’s annual football media kickoff at the Sawgrass Marriott. Swofford, in his annual address to the media, stopped just short of making a commitment.
“Everything here went really, really well,” he told the 175 writers and broadcasters. “It was an extraordinary effort by the city and the (sponsoring) Gator Bowl Association. We couldn’t have been treated better and I think I speak for everyone at the ACC.”
If indeed the option is picked up, the conference will start working on the next contract immediately, said Swofford.
“We would hope to have a decision about the game on the third year (2007,)” said Swofford, “so we would be asking for bids soon after this game.” He gave no indication of other cities which might be interested; the original contract came down to Charlotte and Jacksonville, with Orlando and Tampa as also-rans.
The game’s economic impact would be approximately equal to the annual Toyota Gator Bowl’s on the New Year’s weekend. Fans from last year’s teams, Florida State and Virginia Tech, filled most local hotels.
This year’s game may be more appealing for the local hospitality industry because it’s a 1 p.m. start instead of last year’s 8 p.m. kickoff, giving visiting fans another night to party as well as pushing most into at least two hotel nights.
The ACC’s relationship with Jacksonville will continue to extend past the football game, officials said. The baseball tournament is expected to stay here except for a one-year visit to Boston, the Tournament Players Club is in line to get the golf championship at least once and the media kickoff, which brings writers and broadcasters from throughout the southeast, will return every half-dozen years or so.
“You’re in the rotation,” said ACC Assistant Commissioner Brian Morrison, who handles the event. “We like to go to resorts and this has been perfect.”
The meeting is booked elsewhere for the next three years, he said, and could return as early as 2010.
“We’ll be back,” said Morrison. “I guarantee that.”