by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
The City is asking the Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament to play extra innings in Jacksonville.
With the City’s term as host of the tournament drawing to a close, the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission has already bid for another two years and offered the conference a chance to extend for an additional two years. That would keep the tournament in Jacksonville through at least 2010.
The City expects a response from the ACC by May. But the ACC has already hinted that Jacksonville will keep the tournament for 2007 and 2008. Mike Sullivan, the director of the JEDC’s Sports and Entertainment Division, said he was told by conference officials to keep the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville available for the 2007 tournament. The ballpark will host this year’s tournament May 24-28.
But Sullivan is trying to make the case that staying in Jacksonville beyond 2008 would be good for the ACC. An extended contract would allow the City to enhance tournament week, said Mike Bouda, sports and entertainment coordinator for the JEDC.
With the tournament established in Jacksonville, the JEDC could host a fan festival and a hall of fame banquet similar to the events surrounding the Toyota Gator Bowl and the Florida-Georgia game, said Bouda.
“It would really let us make plans to take the tournament to the next level,” said Bouda.
A more permanent home would likely also lead to increased ticket sales, he said. That would mean more money for the ACC and the City.
The City’s current contract guarantees the ACC $75,000 and pays the league the first $75,000 in ticket revenue. The City takes the next $75,000 to pay expenses. Bouda said the City’s current bid includes a bit more money for the ACC. The conference’s take would escalate the longer it wants to stay in Jacksonville.
Extending in Jacksonville would help brand the City as the tournament’s home, similar to the way Omaha, Neb. is linked to the College World Series, said Sullivan. Fans could make travel plans years in advance. Sullivan thinks that will lead to increased attendance at games and increased tourism dollars for the City.
“When people think of the tournament, they would think ‘Jacksonville’ and we think that benefits us and the ACC,” said Sullivan. “That’s what we’ve expressed in our bid.”