JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Nearly a year after Jaguars owner Shad Khan’s development company bought the land next to the Sports Complex, the Jacksonville community is invited to speak Tuesday night at the City Council meeting in support of or opposition to a proposal to relocate the Jacksonville Fairgrounds from its current location to the Westside on Normandy Boulevard.
The goal of the move is to add parking and roadway improvements to the site as well as build an amphitheater and seating area for shows and create up to 32 recreational vehicle parking spaces with water, sewer and electrical hookups.
The new fairgrounds would be next to the Equestrian Center, which is more than 15 miles away from its location downtown.
Part of Iguana Investments’ purchase agreement is to move the fairgrounds to the Westside by 2025.
The fairgrounds are a big part of the Georgia-Florida tailgating experience, serving as the backdrop for pre-game parties.
If the City Council approves the move, the fairgrounds would receive a major upgrade.
The Fair Association would lease approximately 82.37 acres of city property for $200 per year for an initial term of 40 years. There’s also a three-time, 10-year renewal option for an additional 60 acres, if there’s a need to expand.
The association also plans to build an 80,000-square-foot facility.
Renovation plans also include building a 40,000-square-foot exhibition hall, office space for the association, maintenance facilities, meeting rooms, conference space, concession areas, dressing rooms, and support areas.
The city would handle the infrastructure improvements.
The relocation is expected to cost about $27 million.