Sources told the Channel 4 newsroom Tuesday that the mayor's office has submitted a proposal to the University of Florida and the University of Georgia that would keep the annual football game between the two schools in Jacksonville until at least 2010. The current contract with the city expires after the 2006 season, but city leaders hope the new proposal will keep both sides happy.

Recent rumblings by Georgia officials to play the games at alternating home venues, as was the case during the 1994 and 1995 seasons when the Gator Bowl was being renovated for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, prompted the mayor's office to expedite the contract renewal.

"I definitely want it to stay here," said one Georgia fan. "The whole fun of Georgia-Florida for Georgia fans is being able to get all your friends and pile in cars and have road trips down to Jacksonville."

Many Florida fans also would like to see the game stay in Jacksonville, where it has been played since 1933.

"It seems like we have more of an advantage when the game is here," said one Florida fan, whose team has won 13 of the past 15 meetings. "It?s the home team advantage. We always win."

That's exactly why Georgia athletic director Damon Evans proposed returning the game to a home-and-home series, where the teams would alternate between Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.

Jacksonville Landing business owners and executives don't want to see that happen. They believe a four-year extension is vital for the continued success of the downtown outdoor mall, which is the focal point of "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party."

"It's no secret how lucrative that weekend is for the Landing," spokeswoman Rachel Kaltenbach said. "I mean, for 18 years it's been a really good weekend for us. All of our merchants look forward to it."

Last year's post-game party at the Landing had a slightly different feel when Bulldog fans celebrated their team's 31-24 victory over the Gators, Georgia's first since 1997. Spirits were high for Joe Lee as well, but not because of the outcome of the game.

Lee is the owner of Koja's Sushi, located on the second-floor food court at the Landing. He wasn't a fan of either team, but was glad there were fans to keep business thriving.

"I would have had to made a real hard decision if the Florida-Georgia (game) was moved somewhere else," Lee said. "Do I wait for the condos to be built and for the downtown to grow, or do I take my business somewhere else? Luckily, I don't have to worry about that now."

The Florida-Georgia game has been a Jacksonville tradition for 72 years. City officials hope to have an extension signed before the Oct. 29 meeting at Alltel Stadium.