Jacksonville has long been regarded as a country music hotbed.
On June 14-15, it will be the center of the country music world when it hosts the Florida Country Superfest, featuring artists Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Florida Georgia Line and several others.
The lineup was announced Thursday, with producer and director Quint Davis saying he'd like to see the event become the "World's Second Largest Cocktail Party," an ode to the tagline associated with the annual Florida-Georgia game.
"These events don't grow on trees. There aren't many in America," said Davis, CEO of New Orleans-based Festival Productions Inc.
Davis has produced and directed the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and will do the same for the fifth Bayou Country Superfest in Baton Rouge. That three-day show is May 23-25 and includes many of Jacksonville's acts, plus country legends George Strait and Reba McEntire.
Davis said a national and international advertising campaign will happen over the next six months, encouraging people to come to Jacksonville for the event.
Economic development officials are hoping the dollar impact exceeds that of the annual college game.
Alan Verlander, city sports and entertainment director, said the estimated economic impact of the recent Florida-Georgia game is up to $24 million — and the country music festival could top that.
City Council President Bill Gulliford called it an iconic, potentially huge regular event that can draw both fans and other top entertainment acts.
"I think that we probably haven't even grasped the potential of what this ends up being," Gulliford said.
In July, the Duval County Tourist Development Council approved a $200,000 grant for the event's first year. Event officials will have to come back to the tourism council for the remaining two years promoters have committed to have the concert in Jacksonville.
The show will convert the stadium into a concert venue, complete with a stage 220 feet wide and 65 feet tall in the north end of the stadium and seating on the field, lower bowls and upper deck.
The recently approved $63 million in EverBank Field improvements, which include new scoreboards and a revamped north end zone platform, will not be completed in time for the show and will be covered.
Tickets will be on sale at 10 a.m. Thursday at ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations.
Prices for the two-day package range from $80-$500, with single-day tickets on sale later.
The lineup
Saturday, June 14
Jason Aldean
Eric Church
Little Big Town
Big & Rich + Cowboy Troy
Colt Ford
Sunday, June 15
Luke Bryan
Miranda Lambert
Florida Georgia Line
Easton Corbin
Joe Nichols
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