by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
For years, the Landing has been one of the hotbeds of activity surrounding the Florida-Georgia game. Tens of thousands of fans from both teams — as well as plenty of locals — make their way through the Landing at some point over the course of several days. Some stay for hours, some for just a short while and plenty of others who don’t have tickets to the game camp out early that Saturday and watch it on the Landing’s big screen TV.
All of this generates tremendous business for Landing tenants — and at times tremendous headaches for Landing officials.
Late last week, Landing owner Toney Sleiman sent the City his plan for the week of the game. Landing Director of Public Relations Rachel Nudge said some of the plan has been implemented in the past. Other elements are the result of looking at what worked and what didn’t the previous year.
“We tweak this every year,” said Nudge.
If you head to the Landing early during the week of the game, one of the first things you’ll notice is workers removing virtually everything from the riverfront mall’s common areas. The benches, brochure holders, games and everything else that can be moved to make room will be stored offsite in an effort to create a larger, safer area for customers.
“The overall issue is the number of people on the property and those are the areas that get the most congested. We want to make it as safe as possible,” said Nudge, adding the plan Sleiman submitted outlines things the Landing has quietly done for years. However, over the past several months, University of Florida President Bernard Machen has questioned the safety of fans at the Landing and the amount of alcohol that’s consumed over just a few days.
“There were some concerns from Florida, but this is our chance to communicate, inform and educate people about the things we have in place,” said Nudge.
One of Machen’s suggestions earlier this year was to eliminate the sale of alcoholic shooters at the Landing. While that won’t happen, Nudge said none of the tenants or vendors will be allowed to use roaming servers selling shooters. Patrons also won’t be able to walk with nearly half a gallon of draft beer in some type of souvenir container. Nudge said the largest container will hold 20 ounces of beer or a mixed drink. In past years, vendors sold drinks in cups that held up to 64 ounces.
This is also the fourth year Landing officials will tear down the stage in the courtyard and build one near the front entrance of the property near the corner of Hogan and Water streets. Nudge said this concept helps disperse the crowd and discourages them from congregating in one central area.
There will also be more law enforcement officers on hand than in previous years. Extra members of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will be assigned to specific areas of the Landing such as the four stairways in the courtyard area. Nudge said historically people like to gather on the stairs or simply stop and talk on their way up or down.
“It’s hazardous, it’s not safe and the trick is to keep people moving. That will be under JSO control,” she said. “I think that’s a big safety point.”
Earlier this year, several people who work at the Landing were arrested for selling alcohol to minors. Nudge said in addition to posting signs everywhere encouraging vendors to check IDs, the Landing will conduct two mandatory training classes for every Landing employee and tenant who will sell or handle alcohol. The classes will include an overview of the laws, the consequences of serving a minor and how to spot fake IDs. The Bureau of Alcohol, Beverage & Tobacco will also have space at the Landing to use as an offsite office.
Finally, the Landing will have a Sideline Safety Zone open Oct. 30 and 31 for anyone who needs help due to drinking too much, not eating enough or losing touch with friends.
“We met with the City Friday and will mix our plans before we send them to the schools,” said Nudge.
What to expect
Landing owner Toney and Sleiman and his staff spend weeks each year preparing for the Florida-Georgia game and the thousands of fans who will visit the Landing during the week of the game.
Each year, the plan is altered a little based on what was learned from the previous year. The following is a list of things that will be changed/moved/altered during the week. Some will be obvious, others more subtle.
Ways to create more open space
• Remove all courtyard furniture.
• Remove all second floor food court patio furniture.
• Not allow any food court furniture to be taken outside.
• Remove the main courtyard stage.
• Build a stage outside the front entrance to the Landing to encourage customers to use all of the property.
• Remove all exterior benches.
• Remove all exterior potted plants.
• Eliminate the ability of food court vendors to give out samples to increase room for traffic flow.
• Eliminate all distribution of advertising flyers on the property.
• Reduce or remove breezeway vendors to improve traffic flow.
• Remove all brochure stands, video games, gum ball machines, art displays and sign holders.
• Turn the upstairs restrooms into women’s only at a designated time to increase the safety and privacy for females.
• No standing on exterior stairways. This will be monitored by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
• Provide space for officials from Alcohol, Beverage & Tobacco ot use as an onsite administrative location.
• All alcohol stations will have a sign posted that says: HAVE ID READY
• Reduce the number of alcohol vendor locations.
• No sale of alcohol in containers larger than 20 ounces.
• No glass, cans, coolers, masks, cups, weapons or backpacks may be brought onto the property.
• No drinks may be brought onto the property.
• Alcohol vendors will not be allowed to have people walking around selling shots.
• There be a 25 percent increase of police presence in common areas.
• Emergency Medical Technicians will be at the Landing before the game.
• An onsite Student Sideline Safety Zone will be open Oct. 30 from 4 p.m.-3 a.m. and again Oct. 31 from noon-3 a.m.
356-2466