The City will propose an extension of the Gator Bowl Association’s lease for the use of EverBank Field to City Council this week.
Gator Bowl Association Inc. President and CEO Rick Catlett on Friday met with Chris Hand, Mayor Alvin Brown’s chief of staff, to discuss a renewal for the contract that allows the association to use EverBank Field for its events.
“We support the proposed lease extension and will be introducing legislation next week to bring it before the City Council,” Hand said in Friday email.
The association has asked for a 4-year extension of its lease at EverBank Field.
The current lease expires in 2016 and the additional years would match the contracts the association is developing with college football conferences to provide teams for the New Year’s Day bowl game, said Catlett.
He would not reveal the new partnerships, but did say the association this week might be able to announce its latest partnerships.
The game previously featured teams from the Southeastern and Big Ten conferences.
“I felt really comfortable with what we were able to accomplish today,” Catlett said after the Friday meeting.
It was a different tone from Catlett, who had some trouble receiving a response from the mayor’s office to address the contractual issues as recently as a week ago.
“They have just been really busy lately with the budget. What I wanted to do is let them know we have a timing issue. We did, and they got right on it. Chris Hand reached out and set up a meeting in less than a week and we got it done,” said
Catlett.
Council will review and vote on the contract extension, but Council President Bill Gulliford said he didn’t foresee any problems with it.
“The Gator Bowl has been important to this community and will be for a number of years into the future,” said Gulliford.
“Look at what they contribute to the community on the economic side and the charitable side to make this community better,” said Gulliford.
The Gator Bowl Association will present its 69th game in January. Its mission is “to provide Northeast Florida with the very best in college athletics and related activities in order to maximize positive impact on the area’s economy, national image and community pride.”
Andy Pradella, Mercury Luggage/Seward Trunk president, is the 2013 association chairman and Vince McCormack, Perdue Office Interiors president and co-owner, is president-elect.
@photojoe71
(904) 356-2466