JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A highly public dispute between the Jaguars and the city over the terms of the lease of Alltel Stadium ended when Mayor John Peyton and team owner Wayne Weaver worked out a deal Wednesday night..
Modifications to the lease agreement reduced the stadium rental for the next three years and settled a dispute over revenue from electronic advertising during non-NFL events.
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The Jaguars agreed to allow the city to use ribbon signs the team installed in the stadium for six events, including the Florida-Georgia game, the ACC championship game and the Gator Bowl. In return, the city is giving the Jaguars a $8.6 million reduction in stadium rental over three years.
The city is also going to pay about $1 million to enlarge the electronic signage, which both sides agree will bring in more money.
The city also agreed to turn over concession stands to the team. They will pay the cost of running concessions, but will also keep the revenue.
Weaver and Peyton left the meeting smiling about the deal, which both parties said gives the team enough revenue to stay in Jacksonville.
After crunching the numbers, Channel 4's Jim Piggott said the deal will end up costing the city $4.5 million, not counting the revenue the city will lose from concessions.
The Jaguars say that if they can sell more tickets and get more money from the NFL, they won't have to ask the city for any more concessions.
"This was the first step in making sure we can survive in a small NFL market until we grow in size. It gives us those number of years in order to do that," Weaver said.
The mayor's office said largest number of comments to the city were in favor of doing whatever was necessary to keep the Jaguars in town. But some residents told Channel 4 they don't feel it's appropriate for the taxpayers to continuing to subsidize a professional sports franchise.
"We spent a lot of tax dollars on the stadium, and I think it's unfair of them to keep asking for more and more," taxpayer Ross Lewis said.
City leaders say this is a good deal for everyone.
"We are able to use the stadium better, more often and in a way that will allow everybody to generate revenue," mayoral aid Susie Wiles said Thursday.
The agreement also calls for the team to get an exemption from the sign ordinance. That provision, and the rest of the lease agreement, will need approval of City Council.
Previous Stories:
- November 2, 2005: Mayor, Jaguars Owner Settle Stadium Dispute
- October 28, 2005: City's Negotiator With Jaguars Resigns; Mayor To Meet With Weaver
- October 27, 2005: Jaguars Increase Rhetoric Over Alltel Advertising
- October 14, 2005: Jaguars Say City Has 'Thrown Down Gauntlet'
- September 13, 2005: Jaguars, City Close To Stadium Lease Renegotiations
- July 21, 2005: Jaguars Looking For Lease Concession To Deal With Losses