Despite a deficit of more than $700,000 from the first Navy-Marine Corps Classic, the City's Sports and Entertainment Board was informed Tuesday that the City will pursue a similar event this year.
City Sports and Entertainment Director Alan Verlander told the board at its regular meeting Tuesday the City planned to submit a formal request to the Navy to host the basketball game in 2013. The first game featured the University of Florida against Georgetown University in November and was held on the deck of the USS Bataan in Mayport. It was canceled at halftime because of condensation on the court.
"Our goal in the next few weeks is to make a recommendation to the mayor," said Verlander.
He said the proposal has not yet been sent to the Navy, but must be done to form a partnership.
The Sports and Entertainment staff is reviewing options for the venue and Verlander said he wasn't sure if a ship would be available. Other options are available, including a hangar bay that "takes a lot of the risk out," he said.
Verlander also discussed playing the game at Veterans Memorial Arena, an idea supported by board member Carl Cannon.
"We could have put on this game in the Arena with SMG from the standpoint of a pure basketball game and been pretty successful. You take all the risk out. You take the insurance risk out, the consultant out, take the management out and we would have had a good basketball game," Cannon said.
He also said he wasn't comfortable with the Sports and Entertainment Board bearing the brunt of the blame for the financial losses the first event incurred.
"It's apparent to me that the game was about 25 percent of (The Week of Valor celebration), it's about 75 percent military and yet this board takes 100 percent of the responsibility for the loss," Cannon said.
That risk reduced the Sports and Entertainment Board Trust Fund from about $700,000 to $17,000-$20,000, but Verlander said he expected the total to rise with the deposit of proceeds from the March 26 baseball game between the University of Florida and Florida State University at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.
Board Chair Ron Salem asked Verlander to explain how the Navy-Marine Corps Classic resulted in an operating loss.
"You must have sensed that in those weeks before the event that these expenses were occurring that weren't considered beforehand," said Salem.
Verlander said the original plan involved a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that would have accommodated 8,000 people on its deck.
Mayor Alvin Brown announced July 24 the Classic would instead be played on the USS Bataan, an amphibious assault carrier, which would have room for 3,500 spectators.
The loss of space reduced projected revenue, but securing a title sponsor for the event was a way to cover those losses, said Verlander.
"We were still hopeful that even up to the last week before the game that we would have a title sponsor. We even engaged a national sales company to help us with that," said Verlander.
He said a title sponsor wasn't found and the event also was cut short, which reduced concessions and merchandise sales.
Verlander said the game could have been better and he accepted responsibility on behalf of the staff.
"You put a major college basketball game on an aircraft carrier and you are probably going to make some mistakes," he said.
He provided the board with a list of three lessons learned from the event.
• The City can successfully execute an event of the Classic's size and magnitude with proper planning and processes in place.
• There needs to be an event team in place that encompasses all departments involved, such as the Office of General Counsel, mayor's office and others.
• The Sports and Entertainment Board must have a clearer oversight role of such an event as it relates to what accounts will be used.
Verlander was appointed by Brown just over a year ago to "increase Jacksonville's ability to attract major sporting events and host activities that will boost the economy and make the city a more vibrant destination," according to a press release.
Velander said the basketball game and Florida-Georgia football game were learning experiences as he and his staff simultaneously worked on the events shortly after joining the mayor's office.
"There were some things I wasn't used to, including the procurement process. I didn't know we had to put out a (Request for Proposals) for businesses to supply basketballs for the game," said Verlander.
Thirty-six basketballs were purchased for the Classic that displayed the Classic logo at a cost of $1,737.
Thirteen of the basketballs remain with the City and Verlander plans to use them at the next basketball game.
The Sports and Entertainment Board serves an advisory role to stimulate and promote sports and entertainment events and activities.
There are three openings on the board.
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