It's not your same old Gator Bowl
Written: Sep 24 '02 (Updated Aug 25 '03)
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Pros: Excellent views from all seats. New south endzone enclosed seating.
Cons: The ramps are endless. Now enhanced with escalators!
The Bottom Line: The addition of escalators has enhanced gameday pleasure. Still needed: more parking and a competent video crew, but otherwise a sports centerpiece any city would envy.
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| The_Director's Full Review: Alltel Stadium |
To talk about Alltel Stadium without talking about the Jaguars NFL team that made it possible is difficult. Here, however, I'm going to relate more specific information about the facility with some perspective on it's past for good measure. To really understand anything you have to know a little about the roots from which it grew.
I grew up with the Gator Bowl. This classic stadium was a fixture on the Northside/east of downtown Jacksonville in the predominantly industrial section of the riverfront near the shipyards. A great place for a seldom used municipal structure.
At least twice a year, the facility would fill to overflowing. The bench seating swelling to capacity while college teams fought pitched battles on the gridiron. There were a handful of important high school rivalries decided in the old classic municipal stadium as well. Oh, and each October the farm animals would occupy the shade under the bleachers during the Agricultural Fair.
In more recent years, the Gator Bowl hosted a brief attempt at a USFL team, the Bulls. Still gaining national attention twice a year for the namesake "Gator Bowl" and the more regional, but more important to the local folks, Florida - Georgia game, the Gator Bowl facility slowly grew into a vintage arena in need of a facelift. In fact, most of the section of town surrounding the Gator Bowl was, and in some parts still is, in need of a facelift.
Along came Wayne and Delores Weaver and their "shoes" full of dollars. Combined with a city eager to revitalize that section of Jacksonville and bring a jumpstart to the economy of a city poised for growth and you get a valid sales pitch to the NFL. Jacksonville - historically a crossroads and not a destination - was finally ready to enter the world arena. But we needed an arena!
Architects, engineers, contractors, councilpersons, and many many dollars from the people of Jacksonville later and the Gator Bowl was reborn into Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Later to be christened "Alltel" stadium with the holy water of more millions, the facility was finally ready to be host to a world class NFL team.
Physically, the new stadium was originally a horseshoe with minimal seating under an open gap allowing a beautiful view of the St. John's River. That gap has now been enclosed by additions to boost seating for the much anticipated Superbowl Sunday from Jacksonville in 2005. The seating progressively slopes more steeply the higher you go, allowing for every seat to have a relatively close view. Visibility is outstanding from most parts of the stadium unless you happen to be on the front row of some areas with barrier walls to the next lower section. These seats seem to have a partially obscured view of some of the field and many patrons end up peeking through the gap between the handrail on top and the wall below. The next row up is a better choice in these sections.
Seats are foldup plastic (teal, of course) and not too uncomfortable for a 4 hour stretch. Be advised that seat cushions are now prohibited and will be seized at the gates as a security measure in post 9/11 league regulations. Noteworthy also is that ladies handbags must be no larger than necessary (whatever size that is) and backpacks or even cases for binoculars must stay at home. Now as a season ticket holder for Jaguar games since a year before we had a team... I'm here to testify that cushions are a good thing. Also, I've never heard of anyone at any NFL event using a seat cushion to threaten bodily harm to any fellow attendee. Still, the NFL knows best.
Amenities at the stadium are outstanding, and somewhat expensive. There are plenty of concessions for everything from pretzels to ice cream. 2002 even has concessions hosted by Outback Steakhouse! However, plan to bring lots of cash. Bubba Burgers (cheese is standard equipment) are $$5 to 6, Hot dogs (footlong) are $4 to $5 and a fair sized cup of soda will set you back $4. Other snacks available are chicken strips and fries, popcorn and peanuts, chicken sandwiches, pizza, and the aforementioned Outback for the really hungry in the crowd.
Beer is plentiful, but again, pricey. One of the best deals in the stadium is a promotional put on by Budweiser in the form of certificates for designated drivers. At customer service booths you fill out a form used in the drawing for a game ball or other piece of autographed merchandise and receive a certificate redeemable for a bottle of O'Douls non-alcoholic beer. You can also redeem the certificate for a water or in some cases a soft drink if you ask the right concession stand operator. Thank you, Budweiser, for being a responsible promoter of your products.
Another feature that is much appreciated at all of the permanent concession areas is the mounted TV monitor with the same feed as the jumbotron - mounted high and to the side so you never miss a play while waiting in the occasional long lines for snacks.
Restrooms are conveniently located, large, usually well equipped and men's and women's both come with baby changing tables in more recent years. First aid stations are also convenient and staffed with city EMT (Paramedics) during most events. During the hot humid summer games and concerts the first aid stations are havens for folks less able to stand the heat, offering water and air conditioning for as long as you need to regain your composure.
In the colder winter evening games, sometimes nearing freezing here in North Florida, there is coffee and occasionally hot chocolate available, at a reasonable price, to take the edge off.
Wheelchair access is outstanding for every amenity that I can find at the stadium with only one criticism. There are only two elevators at each "Touchdown Club" at the 50 yard line entrance on either side of the facility. One is used exclusively for shuttling the "elite" to their sky boxes. And only one elevator on each side of the field is used for handicapped access. Come early if you need this resource. At almost every game if you arrive at the handicapped entrance within 30 minutes of the start of the game - you will miss kickoff because of the enormous line that is backed up waiting for that single elevator. Simply an inadequate design plan on the part of the architect or the city planner who cut cost by eliminating the other two elevators needed on each side of the field. NOTE: This shortcoming has been rectified by the addition of escalators for the 2003 season and beyond. Read on...
The only benefit to waiting in the occasionally long lines for elevators is the sight of the nicely decorated Stadium Club interior, the live musicians entertaining before Jaguar games, and the fact that the central area where they are located is air conditioned.
Other than the minor sight-line problems created by walls and railings that block the front seats nearest them, the elevators are really the only detractor to one of the NFL's newest and most functional facilities. The ramps are long but the slope is gentle enough for most patrons to tackle with some moderate effort.
UPDATE for 2003 Season!: Covered exterior escalators have been added at convenient locations around the entire stadium. This appears to have eliminated the lines at the elevators for those who truly need the lift. The new south endzone enclosed seating complete with over 70 plasma screen monitors and excellent cuisine is a great deal for the corporate types who can afford it and don't want the bill for their own skybox. This 14,000 square feet of space has added a lot to the "fully enclosed" aesthetic of the stadium. The cost, besides the millions of dollars to taxpayers, is a lot of the view of the St. John's River from all but the highest level seats has been closed off. Not all that important when the game is exciting and interesting. There are, however, lots of moments in an NFL game for sightseeing around the action and that avenue of vision is now greenish glass instead of bluish river water. Gone also with this addition is the air that would circulate from the river and keep us cool on those hot early season games. Progress...
Note: Elevator use was reserved for handicapped persons AND only if a pass was obtained from the ticket office prior to gameday. With 2003, elevators are available for anyone who needs to use them, but the escalators are still the preferred means of getting "up" in the stadium world. Also take note that smoking is ONLY permitted on the ramps and not anywhere else in the stadium. 3 cheers for that! Now if someone would just enforce it.
Parking is extremely limited in the vicinity of the stadium. Unlike the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California where cars must park on the surrounding golf course fairways because of the lack of parking... Alltel Stadium is just too landlocked. There is also the problem of roads leading to the facility that haven't been widened since the 1940s. Traffic would be terrible indeed if everyone attending a game were to drive. So - the City of Jacksonville decided to run special city bus shuttles from satellite parking lots all around town to reduce traffic and at the same time make some revenue. Lots of revenue. At $6 to $8 per round trip per person multiplied by the tens of thousands of patrons using the service each game... the City of Jacksonville makes millions each football season on the bus service alone.
Aesthetically, Alltel is a pretty stadium situated near the banks of the only north-flowing river in North America (one of only two that I know of in the world). The breeze from the river, as mentioned above, once cooled most of the hottest days and made for outstanding cityscapes and sunsets as day turns to evening. The upper level seats are a little cramped but manageable for all but the most robust patron. Lower level seating is more roomy and features cup holders. Interior amenities and decoration at the Club seat levels is simply outstanding and holds it's own with the finest stadiums in the league. The exterior of the stadium is decorated in recent years in Jaguar banners adding a much needed touch of color to the basic drab shade of cement.
As sports facilities go, it is one of the nicer ones and destined to become even fancier with the renovations leading up to hosting the Superbowl in 2005. More skyboxes, more corporate money, more crowds fighting for limited parking, more overflow on the handicapped elevators, more expensive bus passes, and more... well... excitement.
Let's face it; when you experience civic growth and want more of everything... you have to take some bad with all that good.
Alltel is a nice stadium with lots of upscale amenities and prices to match. It isn't the old Gator Bowl; it's the new sports venue for the New Jacksonville. Alltel has a lot to offer the city, and the world, as we approach Superbowl Sunday from the River City. Now let's just hope they keep the mustard and relish cups full between now and then.
Recommended:
Yes
Parking Availability: Better Get There Early
Seat Location: Mid Level
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Epinions.com ID:
The_Director
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Member: A. Clayton Vandiver, Jr.
Location: Jacksonville, Florida, USA
Reviews written: 32
Trusted by: 13 members
About Me:
Director, Writer, Producer, Videographer, Editor, Voice and Camera Talent, 3D Animator and P.R. Consultant.
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