With the "imminent demolition of the Jacksonville Landing and ongoing negotiations for a new contract to keep the Florida/Georgia game in Jacksonville, City leaders are looking to up the stakes for the fan experience around the annual event," according to Stephanie Brown of Jacksonville-based WOKV-FM. The Jacksonville Landing has "historically brought in thousands of fans through the weekend for daytime events." However, by this year’s game on Nov. 2, that building "will be completely vacant." The city is "proposing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars more than prior years, to create a destination in the heart of the Sports Complex." Jacksonville Chief Administrative Officer Brian Hughes said that the intention is to "activate this area for several days leading up to the game for both family-friendly activities and nightlife, with everything from live music to street vendors." The budget proposal "includes an addition over last year of more than $440,000 for miscellaneous Florida/Georgia expenses." Hughes acknowledges that the effort "comes while the City is in a window to negotiate a new contract to keep the annual game in Jacksonville." The final game under this current contract is in '21, but Hughes said that all parties are having "productive talks, and he hopes to be able to work out a deal that extends the game in Jacksonville for many years to come" (WOKV.com, 8/8).
