JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Complaints that the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena is turning into a billboard were addressed Tuesday morning by a City Council committee, which said changes are necessary.
The city finance committee offered an amendment that would allow a large sign for a local law firm to remain over the entrance to the arena but would eliminate others from the building.
City Councilman Bill Bishop wanted the signs removed from the arena completely, but the committee struck a compromise.
"What this amendment does is allow signage, but it makes sure we are very careful where we put that signage," City Councilman Richard Clark said. "It's on the front of the building of the Baseball Grounds and the front of the building facing the parking lots, but the building does not behave as a billboard when people drive by."
Clark said the amendment also limits the size and scope of the signs.
"It's a reasonable middle ground and still an ability of SMG to do what we asked them to do: to bring in new revenue to our facilities to help supplement the cost to operate them," Clark said.
The signs advertise for local law firm Hunt, Green & James. The firm released a statement Tuesday about the committee's decision, saying that the firm has conducted polling that shows Jacksonville citizens favor the signs over increased ticket prices, having fewer events, cutting other city services or increasing taxes to cover the loss of revenue.
"The citizens of Jacksonville do not want the signage at Veterans Memorial Arena taken down," the statement said. "A small, politically motivated subsection of the city council does. Unfortunately, as is often the case with politically motivated individuals, a few elected officials are willing to pursue personal gains over the best interests of the city."
There are still technicalities to be worked out to determine whether the current signs would have to come down or if they could be grandfathered in until the current sponsorship contract expires.
"I am disappointed mainly because it legitimizes billboards on the side of the arena," Bishop said. "The arena is not like the stadium, not like the baseball park. It is a very well-designed, iconic structure."
The full council will take up and debate the amendment Tuesday night.