We end 2017 with a countdown of the 10 biggest stories of the year on Football Stadium Digest, as chosen by editors and partially based on page views. Today, #9: The Jacksonville Jaguars open Daily’s Place at Everbank Field.
The past six months have been wildly successful for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The football team is doing pretty well, too.
While the focus in Jacksonville since September has been on the playoff-bound team, one of the Jaguars’ biggest victories came in late May, when their 5,500-seat amphitheater, Daily’s Place, opened its doors for the first time.
The amphitheater and indoor practice facility for the Jaguars were part of a $90 million renovation plan for Everbank Field.
With Daily’s Place, the Jaguars expected to increase overall revenue for the organization and fan-traffic to the arena surrounding EverBank Field, giving the Jaguars an entertainment space similar to other NFL stadiums, like Patriot Place in Foxboro, MA, and Titletown at Lambeau Field, the latter of which also opened in 2017. Daily’s Place opened on May 27 with a concert by the Tedeschi Trucks Band.
“It’s been a long 237 days [since groundbreaking],” Jaguars president Mark Lamping told Jaguars.com shortly after Daily’s Place’s grand opening. “But at least from the initial response from the first couple of shows, it’s a really unique and a very, very popular facility.”
Fans are able to view Jaguars’ practice at the “flex field” practice facility, but the amphitheater, which had over 20 shows booked through the fall, should remain the top attraction — other than Sunday afternoons.
Jacksonville mayor Lenny Curry told Jaguars.com that the project was a leading example of the partnership between the Jaguars and the city.
“When we decide to do something in partnership, we’re going to do it and we’re going to do it well,” Curry said. “I know it’s sending a message about our city.”
Lamping said early feedback from concert attendees was positive, as well as from the bands, who praised the overall acoustics.
“The other thing that makes us feel very optimistic about the future is our partners at Live Nation have given us really, really high marks for a facility that just opened,” Lamping said. “Bands that have been here – whether it’s the performers or their management – have been very, very positive about their experience here.”
The Jaguars have been so pleased with the first few months of Daily’s Place that they and SMG, the firm that operates the complex’s facilities, formally pitched hosting the NFL Draft in 2019 or ‘20 ,according to News4Jax.com.
“I do like our chances. I think we have a city that can mobilize unlike any other,” Chad Johnson, senior vice president of sales and service for the Jaguars and Bold Events, told News4Jax.com. “We have beautiful weather in the end of April. I know what we do here is we execute. Jaguars games are one of the top fan experiences in the country, and I feel real confident.
RELATED STORIES: Daily’s Place Opening Marks New for Jaguars, EverBank Field
Previously in our Top Ten Stories of 2017 List: