Jacksonville, Fla., played an important role in hosting this spring’s premier events: The 2017 NFL Consumer Products Summit and the NFL Equipment Managers Meeting. Occurring in late March, the events brought 1,000 guests to EverBank Field, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, plus nearly 150 exhibitors that showcased their licensed NFL wares to general retailers and buyers. Jacksonville was selected to host this exclusive event from a short list of candidates—Chicago, Indianapolis and Minneapolis.
Combined, the events had an estimated $1,129,163 economic impact with 1,900 room nights booked at the host hotels, the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront and the Omni Jacksonville, plus the main events at EverBank and several events at offsite venues including Intuition Ale Works and Epping Forest.
Previously, the NFL Consumer Products Summit was held in Charlotte in 2016 and Nashville in 2015. This year, the event utilized EverBank Field, including all three levels of the newly renovated East and West US Assure Club, which boasts more than 200,000 square feet of both indoor and patio space overlooking the field.
The east main concourse featured expo booths and 10 luxury suites on both the east and west sides and were used as private meeting spaces for exhibitors. The equipment managers utilized The Jaguars official team meeting room. The Bud Light Party Zone, an indoor/outdoor area sports bar in the south end zone of the stadium, was also available. On-site meals included two breakfasts, two lunches, refreshments and an evening reception. Following the reception, guests toured EverBank Field from the perspective of a Jaguars player, including a route through their private locker room, weight room and along the PROWL, the team’s official entrance on game day. On the field, guests experienced the world’s largest video boards from field level, just like the players.
The event was planned by Bold Events, LLC, a sister company of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Bold Events is responsible for attracting and planning events at EverBank Field and the upcoming Daily’s Place, opening May 2017. Daily’s Place—featuring 5,500 seats, open air amphitheater, and a 94,000-square-foot flex facility—sits adjacent to the south end zone of EverBank Field. The flex facility will serve as both an indoor, climate-controlled practice facility for the Jacksonville Jaguars and space for various events.
There are plenty of options for off-site event space as well. The new Intuition Ale Works taproom located in the Sport Complex across from EverBank Field has two floors of event space, including a rooftop patio; Manifest Distillery, located next to Intuition, crafts its own vodka and Epping Forest, a yacht and country club positioned on the banks of St. Johns River and its historic gardens, is a suitable venue for smaller events.
