Committee approves $3 million for UNF esports center amid debate over recaptured funds and bundled projects

The Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee on March 31 approved an amended bill that attaches a term sheet and budget providing $3 million to the University of North Florida for an on-campus esports arena and related programming.

The amendmentto bill 2025-206was described by committee staff as correcting the fiscal year of appropriation to 24-25, addressing negative cash balances in two funds as of Sept. 30, 2024, and attaching a term sheet and Exhibit 1 listing the $3,000,000 UNF grant. The committee approved the bill as amended, 5-1.

Why it matters: supporters said the arena would serve as a STEM recruitment tool and workforce pipeline while opponents warned the funding route and timing undercut the budget process.

UNF officials and council members framed the proposal as a recruitment and workforce initiative. "My name is Brian Verkamp. I'm the vice president and chief information officer, and I've been involved in the planning of this project for the last, easily 18 months," Verkamp told the committee, outlining plans to create competitions, camps and certificate programs tied to broadcasting, game development and other technology skills.

Councilmember Landon, a cosponsor, described the $3 million as a rare, deficit-neutral opportunity that would be funded from recaptured dollars rather than the citys operating reserves. "It is a rare investment opportunity in District 3," he said.

Opposition and process concerns: several members raised procedural objections to the way recaptured funds were identified and allocated. "Not a big fan of bundling things ... at the end of the year, finding the money," Councilmember Miller said. Miller and others said they preferred seeing major items routed through the regular budget process, rather than combined into a single package late in the year.

The committee also discussed how the appropriation fits with separate funding requests for Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department (JFRD). Councilmember Salem and others noted roughly $8 million in recaptured dollars was being allocated to multiple items, and raised the question of whether any replenishment would come from a proposed $40 million contribution from the Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA). Deputy chief of staff Joe Enderhase said the mayors office would work on communication with council going forward.

Councilmember Arias and other supporters argued the esports program could attract students and jobs: "Esports is just more than sports. This has to do with science, math, technology, engineering, STEM programming," Arias said, adding that professional esports careers can pay substantial salaries and that UNF would open the facility to underserved youth and nonprofit programming.

Financial terms and oversight: staff said the amendment includes a term sheet and a budget as a new exhibit that outlines business terms and program uses. The amendment also clarified that roughly $300,000$400,000 of the city funding would be personnel costs, with the balance used for development, equipment and computer systems for the esports program.

Outcome: the committee approved bill 2025-206 as amended by a 5-1 vote. The auditors office and administration representatives said the recapture calculation followed established procedures, but committee members pressed for improved communication in future budget and recapture handling.

Next steps: the bill moves to the full council. Supporters asked administration and UNF to continue clarifying program oversight, public access, and how the arena would be used for workforce development and K-12 outreach.