Jacksonville looking to Fulham fans as next tourism opportunity

Jacksonville is making a new push to market itself overseas- through soccer fans.

“Create that kind of synergy between Jacksonville and London and really expand upon it,” says Jacksonville’s Sports and Entertainment Interim Director Joel Lamp.

Lamp has been granted $25,000 from the Tourism Development Council to get a marketing program going through Fulham FC- the English Premier League soccer team owned by Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan.

“We’ve hit a home run as far as an opportunity with the right Club, now it’s just fine tuning some of the details,” Lamp says.

Lamp had sought $200,000 from the Council, but they asked for more details and information on the specific campaign being planned. The door is still open to obtain the rest of the request if that information is finalized.

At this stage, Lamp says they’re looking at a multi-platform approach which would really kick off with the Fulham game in July. In addition to trying to bring back any fans who travel for that game, Lamp says they will also email season ticket holders, corporate sponsors and other avenues connected to the Club to show the benefits of visiting Jacksonville.

“We want to get them to realize Jacksonville is a great tourist destination,” he says.

There would also be some infrastructure, including signage at the Fulham pitch in London.

The money through the Council comes from the City’s bed tax, according to Lamp. That’s a special tax on hotels, meaning the tourism push will be funded mostly through existing visitors.