by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
“When kids come in my office, their eyes get as big as coffee cups. I call it my Romper Room or Happy Land,” said Angie Green, manager of the EverBank Arena Club at Veterans Memorial Arena.
Overt the past five years, Green has amassed an impressive collection of souvenirs, memorabilia and collectibles from every entertainer and sports event that has been held at the Arena.
Green said she has been in the sports and entertainment promotion business since the days when she worked for Larry Csonka and the Jacksonville Bulls football franchise of the old USFL. Then Green spent a few years in the marketing department at the Rouse Company’s regional office when Rouse managed the Landing.
When the Better Jacksonville Plan replaced the old Coliseum with the new state-of-the-art Arena, Green joined the SMG management team and began promoting Club Seats and suites before the building ever opened.
Since Elton John performed the first show in the new venue, Green has seen a steady stream of musicians, sports events and other special events set up their shows in the Arena. She has also collected a reminder of just about every event that has come through the doors.
“It’s never boring,” said Green. “A lot of people think we do the same thing every year when a show like ‘Disney on Ice’ comes to the Arena but there are different people working on the crews every year. We also get to handle a lot of special requests from entertainers like the specific size flowers we had to get for in front of Elton John’s piano.”
Green added she thinks she has the best job in the world.
“I just love what I do. We work hard, but it’s so much fun.”
Photos by Max Marbut