People across the First Coast and NFL fans around the country are still talking this morning about Saturday night's "Mega Event" at EverBank Field.The evening featured a soccer match between Fulham FC and DC United, a concert by country superstar Carrie Underwood, and the long awaited unveiling of two giant new video scoreboards — the biggest in the league and, according to Jaguars management, among the largest of their type in the world.
The 60-foot high scoreboards stretch more than 100 yards. Jaguars owner Shad Khan says the $60 million stadium upgrades — which include new swimming pools — will be money well spent if it pays off in attendance and buzz for both the Jaguars and Jacksonville.
Fans were dazzled by the show and that’s the idea, say sports economists. In an age of luxurious home entertainment systems, professional sports has to pull out all the stops to get fans off their couches and into the stadiums.
Victor Matheson, economics professor and sports economics expert at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. joined Melissa Ross via telephone to discuss the economics of EverBank Field.
You can follow Melissa Ross on Twitter @MelissainJax.
