No Navy-Marine Corps Classic this year

City lost nearly $736K on basketball game between Florida, Georgetown

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville will not hold another Navy-Marine Corps Classic basketball game this year.

Last year's game between Florida and Georgetown held on the USS Bataan in November cost the city nearly $736,000.

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Some say the event was a fiscal fiasco. It was supposed to be played on an aircraft carrier, but that was changed, so there was less seating. It was also supposed to be a full game, but it had to be called at halftime because of condensation on the court. So vendors made less money.

In April, Jacksonville's sports and entertainment commission got full details of what went wrong and why money was spent without its approval to pull off what eventually took place.

The city said the game was never intended as a money maker. Officials thought they would break even, but because of the weather, the fewer seats available and other issues, they had to dig into a trust fund to pay the bills.


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Jim Piggott is the reporter to count on when it comes to city government and how it will affect the community.