JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Downtown businesses are pumped for future “transformational changes” coming to the baseball grounds.
The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp unveiled plans to put over $30 million into renovating the 121Financial Ballpark -- the first major renovation since its opening in 2003.
Owner and CEO Ken Babby, along with Mayor Donna Deegan and other area notables announced Project Next on Wednesday morning at the ballpark.
“The renovations to the ballpark will be transformational. These updates will reestablish this facility as one of the very best in the nation. They will also pave the way for all of the development on the horizon in and around the city’s sports and entertainment district,” Deegan said.
Gallery: Take a look at the changes coming to 121 Financial Ballpark
When the Jumbo Shrimp hosts opening day in several weeks, fans will notice some improvements as they walk through the gates, including a larger video board and two ribbon boards.
There will also be fans and cooling devices on the concourses for people to stay cool.
“I love it. I think we can always have a better stadium for anything. So putting that type of money and making it a bigger attraction for people and their families to come see because the Jumbo Shrimp, that is a family team a lot of people bring their kids there so the bigger the better,” Josh Dilliard said.
Those are the first of many improvements that will happen over the next year. The team plans to build a multi-level facility in right field and a center field plaza that general manager Harold Craw dubs the “front porch.” A souvenir shop and a concourse level to host special events are also in the plans.
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There will also be a home plate club that can be used year-round and could be activated before concerts, sporting events and more.
Between the improvements at the ballpark and planned renovations for the EverBank Stadium, businesses in the area are looking forward to the extra boost these developments will bring.
Corey Grows, who is the bar and event manager at Manifest Distillery, said even with the setback of the fire at Rise Doro next door, their customers are still showing up for them.
“We’ve seen a lot of people coming in just ‘hey how are you doing?’ making sure that we’re okay and wanting to support us,” Grows said.
He said the improvements to the sporting facilities and downtown are welcomed by businesses in the area.
“We have the Jaguars. We got the Jumbo Shrimp, the Icemen. Sporting events bring a lot of business to us but also to our neighbors next door, and we just want people to come out here enjoy our cocktails before and after the game, and just have a good time,” Grows said.
Babby said construction will begin soon for Project Next and that it won’t disrupt the upcoming season.