by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
The press box is the perch from which the media sits to follow the teams and events that visit Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, and that perch was pretty full when the Jaguars hosted the Indianapolis Colts Dec. 17.
The Jaguars issued press box credentials to its largest group of media and non-media personnel this season for the AFC showdown, and it will probably see a similar situation when West Virginia and Florida State Universities come to town to compete in Friday’s Konica Minolta Gator Bowl. Though it may seem like it would be a lot of fun to have a seat in the press box — which is sandwiched between the lower and upper bowls on the west side of the stadium — there is a lot of work going on in this area prior to, during and after kick off.
The Jaguars staff prepares the press box by distributing rosters, injury updates and programs to most of the 258 seats in the unique work area. This information is reviewed by media from television, radio, newspapers, magazines and Internet. Reporters from well-known publications like the Los Angeles Times and New York Times were on hand to cover the game, as well as those not so well known, such as the Kyodo News, a Tokyo-based news gathering service with a U.S. subsidiary in New York.
Reporters weren’t the only people working in the press box Dec. 17. Scouts from the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots requested credentials for the game. Colts President Bill Polian and son, and GM, Chris Polian were also guests seated in the press box.
“The option is available to team owners or executives who prefer to sit in the press box,” said Alisa Abbott, executive assistant to vice president of communications and media for the Jaguars Dan Edwards.
The press box provides three tiers of seating in a stadium style, which allows a view of the field from every chair. The entire press box is glassed in to keep the noise and weather out. Those sitting in the area are also cautioned about loud noises.
“This is a working press area and cheering is prohibited,” stated Joel Lamp, press box announcer, as part of the pre-game announcements. Lamp is the Associate Athletics Director/Media Relations for Jacksonville University who keeps the press informed about game stats and injury updates through the press box public address system.
Another source of information is the Jaguars stats crew. About 10 people compile stats throughout the game and print and distribute them to the working media at the end of each quarter.
The press box has also become a place to recognize excellence in media in Jacksonville. Plaques hang on the wall at the back of the press box to honor some of the members of the media who advanced sports coverage in the area including Matt Cooney, Walter Dunbar, Rex Edmondson, Bill Kastelz, Jay Solomon and Dick Stratton.
“I was at the old Mile-High Stadium in Denver and saw a couple of pictures on the wall of some of the media guys in Denver and thought it would be nice to start a tradition like that in Jacksonville,” said Sam Kouvaris, sports director for Ch. 4. “These were the guys that saw Jacksonville go from an outpost to a city that attracts people to come to events like the Gator Bowl and Jaguars games.”
The plaques were hung in 2005 with assistance from the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, SMG and the Jaguars.
“Money is tight right now for projects like these,” said Kouvaris, “But I’d like to see Joe Livingston up there to make it complete and the Jaguars have pledged support. We’ll see what happens in the new year.”
Livingston held editor positions at the Jacksonville Journal, including sports editor.
The plaques can be seen by guests in the press box as they walk toward the elevator at the end of the game to get to the locker room for post game interviews. Reporters can either seek out players in the locker rooms or listen to coaches and team captains at press conferences after the game.
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