JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — What's next? The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp posed that question during a press conference Tuesday where renovations to their home field, 121 Financial Ballpark, were announced.
The plan for the renovations is a joint collaboration between the Jumbo Shrimp, the city of Jacksonville and ASM Global, as the team says their vision for the ballpark is to be "a focal point for activity in Downtown Jacksonville."
The Jumbo Shrimp say the renovation plan called 'Project Next,' aims to meet Major League Baseball (MLB) standards and "reinvent the fan experience." Renovations at the ballpark that will take place over the next 6-12 months, includes a new video board that's "nearly 20% larger and at a higher resolution than ever before," new ribbon boards, new concourse stands, creation of an enhanced club space behind home plate, and a multi-level building that'll make the Jumbo Shrimp team store accessible on the street level.
"We are excited to usher in this next chapter for this remarkable facility to meet the demands of both baseball fans and our community," Jumbo Shrimp owner/CEO Ken Babby said during the press conference.
Babby said the city has committed an initial $31.8 million in capital improvements to the renovation project. The Jumbo Shrimp's major league affiliate, the Miami Marlins, are also involved in Project Next and are "thrilled" about upgrades coming soon, according to Babby.
Ballpark attendees will have the chance at seeing the new video and ribbon board that has already been installed at the facility, on March 23 for movie night.
Although Babby said that renovations will begin soon, he emphasized that it won't affect the Jumbo Shrimp as the season nears. He said the "most notable and truly momentous" piece of work as part of the project will be a new rightfield, multi-level building. The building will provide special field view access, amenities, climate control spaces, and face the interior of the ballpark. Additionally, the building will have a view facing outward towards EverBank Stadium.
"We want this building to be something that all of Jacksonville can celebrate, not just the Jumbo Shrimp," Babby said. "The space will feature a street level souvenir store, something our fans have told us they've wanted since the very beginning. The concourse level of the building will feature what we now will recognize as a climate control space that will be used for special events, gameday experiences, weddings, banquets, board meetings and the like."
The upgrades coming soon to the ballpark that's leased through March 2043, are being referred to as "transformational," according to Mayor Donna Deegan.
Jumbo Shrimp General Manager and Executive Vice President Harold Craw said in the press conference that the ballpark will be "the onset to creating life-lasting memories."
With the Jumbo Shrimp's opening day approaching on March 29, the team is inviting 'Crustacean Nation' to a virtual town hall on Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m., to share the team's upgrades and developments on several fan experiences that are ready to be rolled out for the 2024 season. The town hall will give fans the opportunity to hear firsthand from the Jumbo Shrimp on several topics, including 121 Financial Ballpark investments and upgrades and updates to the club's ticketing and food & beverage experiences. Panelists for the town hall include Babby, Craw, Director of Food & Beverage Guillermo Vega and Director of Ticket Operations Peter Ercey. Fans will have the opportunity to ask questions to each of the panelists.