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An Overview of the Series
Part 1 – How Jacksonville became an NFL city
Part 2 – NFL Economics: What’s changed since 1995?
Part 3 – Jaguars on the Field: How do we compare?
Part 4 – Jacksonville and College Football
Part 5 – Jacksonville vs. Other Small Markets
Part 6 – NFL Relocations and the LA Stadium Plan
Part 7 – What does the future hold?
How Small is the Jacksonville Market?
Below is a table of the Neilsen rankings of TV Households for the past year. These numbers are arguably more important to the NFL than simple population, as TV revenue is one of the top sources of income for the league. Those funds are then split equally among the 32 NFL teams.
| Rank | Designated Market Area | TV Households | Team |
| 1 | New York | 7,433,820 | Giants/Jets |
| 2 | Los Angles | 5,654,260 | |
| 3 | Chicago | 3,492,850 | Bears |
| 4 | Philadelphia | 2,950,220 | Eagles |
| 5 | Dallas-Ft. Worth | 2,489,970 | Cowboys |
| 6 | San Francisco | 2,476,450 | 49ers/Raiders |
| 7 | Boston | 2,409,080 | Patriots |
| 8 | Atlanta | 2,369,780 | Falcons |
| 9 | Washington, DC | 2,321,610 | Redskins |
| 10 | Houston | 2,106,210 | Texans |
| 11 | Detroit | 1,926,970 | Lions |
| 12 | Phoenix | 1,855,930 | Cardinals |
| 13 | Tampa-St. Petersburg | 1,822,160 | Buccaneers |
| 14 | Seattle-Tacoma | 1,819,970 | Seahawks |
| 15 | Minneapolis-St. Paul | 1,730,530 | Vikings |
| 16 | Miami-Ft. Lauderdale | 1,546,920 | Dolphins |
| 17 | Cleveland | 1,524,930 | Browns |
| 18 | Denver | 1,524,210 | Broncos |
| 19 | Orlando | 1,466,420 | |
| 20 | Sacramento | 1,399,520 | |
| 21 | St. Louis | 1,249,820 | Rams |
| 22 | Portland | 1,175,100 | |
| 23 | Pittsburgh | 1,156,460 | Steelers |
| 24 | Charlotte | 1,122,860 | Panthers |
| 25 | Indianapolis | 1,114,970 | Colts |
| 26 | Baltimore | 1,102,080 | Ravens |
| 27 | Raleigh-Durham | 1,080,680 | |
| 28 | San Diego | 1,066,680 | Chargers |
| 29 | Nashville | 1,016,290 | Titans |
| 30 | Hartford/New Haven | 1,014,990 | |
| 31 | Kansas City | 937,970 | Chiefs |
| 32 | Columbus | 925,840 | |
| 33 | Salt Lake City | 919,390 | |
| 34 | Cincinnati | 915,570 | Bengals |
| 35 | Milwaukee | 905,350 | |
| 36 | Greenville | 858,050 | |
| 37 | San Antonio | 818,560 | |
| 38 | West Palm Beach | 779,430 | |
| 39 | Grand Rapids | 741,420 | |
| 40 | Birmingham | 739,750 | |
| 41 | Harrisburg | 738,880 | |
| 42 | Las Vegas | 728,410 | |
| 43 | NorfolK | 718,020 | |
| 44 | Albuquerque-Santa Fe | 689,120 | |
| 45 | Oklahoma | 687,300 | |
| 46 | Greensboro | 685,110 | |
| 47 | Jacksonville | 674,860 | Jaguars |
| 48 | Memphis | 673,770 | |
| 49 | Austin | 667,670 | |
| 50 | Louisville | 667,230 | |
| 51 | Buffalo | 631,120 | Bills |
| 52 | Providence | 622,580 | |
| 53 | New Orleans | 602,740 | Saints |
| 54 | Wilkes Barre-Scranton | 594,570 | |
| 55 | Fresno-Visalia | 574,900 | |
| 56 | Little Rock | 567,060 | |
| 57 | Albany | 556,750 | |
| 58 | Richmond | 550,240 | |
| 59 | Knoxville | 547,930 | |
| 60 | Mobile-Pensacola | 537,810 | |
| 61 | Tulsa | 529,540 | |
| 62 | Ft. Myers | 509,530 | |
| 63 | Lexington | 503,260 | |
| 64 | Dayton | 483,790 | |
| 65 | Charleston | 479,750 | |
| 66 | Flint-Saginaw-Bay City | 465,790 | |
| 67 | Roanoke-Lynchburg | 461,420 | |
| 68 | Tucson | 456,030 | |
| 69 | Wichita-Hutchinson | 450,930 | |
| 70 | Green Bay | 444,210 | Packers |
As you can see while Jacksoville is small, it isn't the smallest. Our focus will be on the seven closest markets: Green Bay, New Orleans, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Nashville and San Diego. Each market has some similarities and some differences, but most importantly, all have some things that we can learn from.
Green Bay
Originally known as City Stadium, the Packers home was renamed in honor of Curly Lambeau, the Packers' first coach, in 1965.
Team: Packers
Year Established: 1919
Championships: 12 (1929, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1939, 1944, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1996)
Metro Population: 226,778
City Population 1920: 31,643
Owned By: Public Ownership
Stadium: Lambeau Field (Capacity 72,928)
Similarities:
Frankly, not many. One is that Green Bay is an extremely small market, and it is the only major sports team in the city. Jacksonville is similar in that both cities have a much larger city about two hours down the road (Jacksonville has Orlando and Green Bay has Milwaukee) However, this is where the similarities end.
Differences:
The Packers have existed since 1919, which has created a strong, multigenerational fan base. They have sold out every home game since 1960. Their season ticket waiting list is about 75,000 people strong. If you put your name on the waiting list today, it is estimated that you would get the opportunity to purchase season tickets for the 3074 season (that's not a typo - about 70 people give up their seats every year, do the math).
What Can We Learn
In 1995, the Green Bay Packers played all eight home games in Green Bay for the first time since 1956. In the years prior, they played at least one game in Milwaukee. This contributed significantly to the team building popularity in Milwaukee. That can be a model for Jacksonville to follow, assuming Orlando can put together an NFL-caliber facility in the next few years.
New Orleans
Built in 1975, the Louisiana SuperDome serves as the home for the New Orleans Saints, the Tulane Green Wave and the Sugar Bowl.
Team: Saints
Year Established: 1967
Championships: 0
Metro Population: 1,134,029
Metro Population 1960: 987,695
Owned By: Tom Benson
Stadium: Louisiana Superdome (Capacity 72,968)
Similarities:
Both the Jaguars and Saints have had some down years, both on the field and at the turnstiles. In fact, before Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Saints TV blackouts were fairly commonplace. In fact, before the hurricane (and in the weeks immediately following the hurricane), there were stong rumors that the team would relocate to Los Angeles or San Antonio.
Differences:
The most glaring difference has to do with the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath of the disaster. After Hurricane Katrina came shortly before the start of the 2005 season, the Saints played their entire "home" schedule on the road, with one game at Giants Stadium (where the Giants were the away team in their own stadium), three at LSU's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, and four at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. When the Saints returned to New Orleans for 2006, they sold out the entire stadium on a season ticket basis for the first time in franchise history. That streak has continued to this day. Also, the Saints Owner (Tom Benson) is not nearly as well liked as Jaguars Owner Wayne Weaver, which stems mainly from relocation talks. Finally, while Downtown New Orleans is not regarded as the cleanest downtown in America, it is very vibrant in terms of restaraunts and nightlife establishments, which creates great energy on gamedays.
What Can We Learn
First of all, we should learn that relocation rumors are just that - rumors. Many were convinced that after Katrina, the Saints would never return to New Orleans, yet they are back and more popular than ever. If there is anything that we can learn, it's that a vibrant Downtown can contribute positively to the popularity of the football team. However, the New Orleans situation overall is very different than any of the small markets that we are discussing.
Buffalo
Ralph Wilson Stadium, the home of the Buffalo Bills, is one of the few NFL facilities that has permanently reduced stadium capacity. Originally accomodating just over 80,000, the stadium now holds just under 74,000.
Team: Bills
Year Established: 1959
Championships: 2 AFL Championships (1964, 1965)
Metro Population: 1,124,309
Metro Population 1960: 1,306,957
Owned By: Ralph Wilson
Stadium: Ralph Wilson Stadium (Capacity 73,967)
Similarities:
Both the Jaguars and Bills have similar sized markets, and both have a larger market within a two-hour drive (Jacksonville has Orlando, Buffalo has Toronto). Both markets also have owners who are older (Wilson is 91, the Jaguars Wayne Weaver is 73), and don't have a next of kin to pass the team to (so both teams will be in precarious ownership situations once their owner passes away).
Differences:
The most glaring difference is in the growth of the cities (or lack thereof). The Jacksonville market is one of the fastest growing large metro areas in America; the Buffalo market has been losing population at a higher pace than any major city except for Nor Orleans. With that said, Buffalo has the advantage of a multigenerational fan base, meaning that the percentage of fans of other teams is extremely small when compared to Jacksonville.
What Can We Learn
The main thing that we can learn from Buffalo is to watch the effects from their Toronto series. Each year, the Bills play one "home" game in Toronto, at the Rogers Centre (formerly know as SkyDome). The goal is to generate more of a regional fan base to help sustain the team in the future. This is similar to the proposal that Wayne Weaver announced with the Jaguars in Orlando. However, it will continue to be a proposal unless Orlando builds an NFL-Caliber venue (the Rogers Centre is a more than suitable NFL venue).
Cincinnati
Cincinnati's downtown and the stadiums (Paul Brown Stadium for the Bengals and Great America Ballpark for the Reds) are able to feed off of each other, despite the I-71 Barrier. The green lines indicate the proposed streetcar line through Downtown Cincinnati.
Team: Bengals
Year Established: 1968
Championships: 0
Metro Population: 2,155,137
Metro Population 1960: 1,520,222
Owned By: Mike Brown
Stadium: Paul Brown Stadium (Capacity 65,790)
Similarities:
Jacksonville and Cincinnati have a few similarities. Both are river cities, both stadiums are more or less on the river, and both stadiums are cut off by the river (Jacksonville's more so than Cincinnati). However, the most glaring similarity between the markets (particularly this year) is the struggle with ticket sales. Jacksonville's is more severe, however Cincinnati, despite leading their division from wire to wire, was in danger of blacking out nearly every home game this year. However, between corporate support, fans rallying and Wide Receiver Chad Ochocinco (who bought a few thousand tickets himself), they were able to avoid any blackouts this year.
Differences:
One thing that is different about the Cincinnati market is the difference between number of TV households and population (915,570 to 2,155,137). Cincinnati is also unique in that it is a growing rust belt city (considered by some to be an oxymoron). The team also has strong, multigenerational rivals (with the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens, who are the former Cleveland Browns). Finally, for the casual football fan, the stadium (and neighboring Great American Ballpark, home of the Reds Baseball Team), can feed off the vibrancy of Downtown Cincinnati and the convention center area (which is centrally located Downtown).
What Can We Learn
Connectivity to downtown is a huge advantage that Jacksonville needs to leverage. This should be a major point of discussion when it comes to the Shipyards property that is certain to be given back to the city in the coming months.
Kansas City
Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium, home of the Cheifs and Royals respectively, were built together as part of the Truman Sports Complex which was completed in 1972 (Chiefs) and 1973 (Royals).
Team: Chiefs
Year Established: 1960 as Dallas Texans (Moved to Kansas City in 1963)
Championships: 2 AFL (1962, 1966), 1 Super Bowl (1969)
Metro Population: 2,053,928
Metro Population 1960: 1,213,890
Owned By: Hunt Family
Stadium: Arrowhead Stadium (Capacity 77,000)
Similarities:
Jacksonville and Kansas City both serve as second fiddle cities in their state (Kansas City has St. Louis, Jacksonville has Miami, Tampa and Orlando). Like many of the other franchises on this list, both team owners (Weaver and the late Lamar Hunt have been staunch advocates of small market revenue sharing.
Differences:
Quite a few. Kansas City has a suburban stadium location on the beltway of Kansas City (think Jaguars stadium at I-95 and I-295 on the Northside). The Hunt famiilty has built up decades of traditon (something the Weavers are working towards in Jacksonville). Kansas City also is a metropolitan area frankly, in the middle of nowhere. Other than St Louis (who spent 8 years without a pro football team themselves), the nearest cities with pro football teams are Chicago, Indianapolis, Nashville and Dallas. Finally, the bottom line is that the Kansas City region has supported their team year in and year out. In fact, despite their perrenial losing records of late, the Chiefs just suffered their first TV blackout in 20 years this season.
What Can We Learn
We can see that college sports and pro sports can mix. Being on the border of Kansas and Missouri, there are nearby fans of multiple schools all around the region. This may be something that Jacksonville could study to learn how they work in harmony.
Nashville
LP field, home of the Titans, can be seen on your right, while Downtown Nashville is on the left. The two are connected via the pedestrian only Shelby St bridge (second from bottom)
Team: Titans
Year Established: 1960 as Houston Oilers (Moved to Nashville in 1997, but played their 1997 season in Memphis)
Championships: 2 AFL (1960, 1961 in Houston)
Metro Population: 1,550,733
Metro Population 2000: 1,311,789
Owned By: Bud Adams
Stadium: LP Field (Capacity 68,798)
Similarities:
The Titans are the market most similar to Jacksonville. It's population is similar to Jacksonville's, the team is about the same age and their records are similar over their history (Titans 112-80, Jaguars 118-106)
Differences
Let's start with ownership. Wayne Weaver is almost universally loved. Bud Adams is almost universally hated. Despite bringing a pro football franchise to Nashville, the handling of the move landed some egg on his face. He also is considered far from charitable. However, the largest difference is with attendance. The Titans season ticket waiting list is at 22,000, while the Jaguars have plenty of seats available. There is not one universal theory as to why there is such a dramatic descrepancy (especially since the 1997 and 1998 seasons were attendance disasters). However, here are a few theories:
- Supply and Demand: Frankly, the Titans managed this well, the Jaguars did not. LP field is about 9,000 seats less than Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, which caused an instant season ticket waiting list, whereas the Jaguars have only had a wait list in 2006. With the Titans early success, the waiting list built very quickly, and now, most people are in the position to have to keep their tickets, or risk never getting them back.
- PSLs: Permanent Seat Licenses are one time payments that season ticket holders make to obtain the right to purchase their seats. Once they make their payment, they must renew their season tickets each year, or risk losing the money they paid for a PSL. The money usually goes to paying the bill for the stadium, and ongoing maintenance on the facility. Proponents say that if the Jaguars did PSL's, then they wouldn't be in the position they are in because people wouldn't give up their tickets as easily. However, opponents say that in order to make the PSL have any effect (generally for a $600 annual ticket, a PSL would be in the $2000 range), it would be cost prohibitive to the Jacksonville market.
- Stadium Experience: The gameday experience in Nashville is dramatically different than one in Jacksonville, and it mainly has to do with the location of the stadium in relation to Downtown, and the vibrancy of Downtowin in general. The stadium is separated from Downtown by the Cumberland River (much narrower than the St. Johns), and is connected with a pedestrian bridge to vibrant Downtown Nashville.
What Can we Learn
See Above
San Diego
Qualcomm Stadium (above) was built for the San Diego Chargers and the San Diego Padres in the middle of a sea of Southern California freeways. The Padres moved to their own facility (Petco Park, below) in 2004, built at the foot of Downtown's Gaslamp District. The Western Supply Metal Company building in Left Field is a 100-year old building that was saved and incorporated into the design of the stadium.
Team: Chargers
Year Established: 1960 as Los Angeles Chargers (Moved to San Diego in 1961)
Championships: 1 AFL (1963)
Metro Population: 3,001,072
Metro Population 1960: 1,033,011
Owned By: Alex Spanos
Stadium: Qualcomm Stadium (71,294)
Similarities:
Jacksonville and San Diego are both Navy towns with large transient populations. Both teams are having ticket office issues (with a playoff game nearly blacked out a couple of years back), and both teams have been rumored to be moving to Los Angeles.
Differences:
Stadium condition is the most major. Qualcomm Stadium is dated, and lacks the revenue drivers that modern stadiums (like Jacksonville Municipal Stadium a.k.a. "The Jack") have. The Chargers are pushing for a new stadium, but given the disaster that the budget situation is in California, it will most likely have to be privately funded, and with the privately funded Los Angeles stadium deal, that seems unlikely.
What Can We Learn
We can see that it could be worse. San Diego is having attendance issues (however not nearly as severe as the Jags), AND have a poor stadium. The biggest thing to learn is that fan support in some cases is not enough, however in our case, it most likely would be.
Conclusion
The most important thing to take from this is that small markets in pro sports can succeed. Above are seven examples of how other cities make their pro sports work. The bottom line in all of this, the healthy franchises all support their teams, even when they are not successful.
Article by Steve Congro
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fsu813
January 05, 2010, 09:17:00 AM"Up to this point, the Jaguars have yet to even be close to selling out any of their home games, and most likely will not for the rest of the year."
- sold out one, were relatively close to selling out another =P
BridgeTroll
January 05, 2010, 09:46:41 AMGreat article Steve...
Wacca Pilatka
January 05, 2010, 09:48:39 AMI've heard some chatter that the Jaguars are following the Chiefs as a model for establishing a steady season ticket base. KC had horrible ticket sales problems at times in the 80s--for one game in '83, announced attendance was just over 11,000--but started selling out in '89 (the year the team first showed signs of becoming a serious contender again) and have maintained that even through the team's down cycles.
heights unknown
January 05, 2010, 10:35:29 AMGreat "studies" and "lessons learned" in these articles; super job. Hope the Weavers or some of their camp have read this and could maybe incorporate some of these studies and lessons learned toward the improvement of fan attendance and other issues relative to the Jaguars.
"HU"
Wacca Pilatka
January 05, 2010, 11:23:56 AMWe can also take some lessons from the Saints, Colts, and even larger market teams like the Broncos in regional marketing. We don't draw very much attention, much less attendance, from secondary markets like coastal Georgia, the Daytona area, or Orlando, and our radio footprint has decreased over time along with our regional marketing efforts. Some of the other small-market teams do much more work in regional marketing and team identification. If the Saints can be Jackson and Shreveport and Lafayette's team, we can be Savannah and Charleston and Daytona's team.
The Colts' story is similar to ours. After getting loads of attention and full houses in their first few years after moving to Indianapolis, they struggled to sell tickets when the team struggled. Even after Peyton Manning came to town there were occasional blackouts--two or three as late as 2003, and that was with a 56,000 seat crackerbox stadium. Not until 2004 did the team begin to sell out on a regular basis. Much credit went to the Colts' concerted effort to market regionally, sending ticket sales caravans, promotional appearances, etc. to Fort Wayne and South Bend and Evansville and so on. It took a few years for their efforts to take root but it eventually paid off.
The Broncos faced a similar situation in the late 1960s when it appeared the team was bound to move to San Antonio, Birmingham, or Chicago. The team had good attendance despite a consistently subpar team, but had a small revenue base due to a small stadium (below the capacity the pending AFL-NFL merger mandated). Denver aggressively marketed itself to surrounding states to furnish not only grass-roots support but the funding to expand the stadium.
I grew up a Bronco fan before the Jaguars came into existence and there are some interesting parallels to our current situation to the Broncos' in the 1970s. 15-year old team, market of about 1.3 million people undergoing growth but still facing the sneers of larger markets, still working on building a winning tradition and an identity. The Broncos obviously were successful in rendering themselves a local as well as a regional institution under the circumstances. We must do the same.
The Jaguars had extraordinary success on many occasions in selling tickets almost exclusively within the Jacksonville metro area, but that's an enormous burden for just the fans of the immediate area to bear on a year-to-year basis.
finehoe
January 05, 2010, 03:33:39 PM"Downtown New Orleans...is very vibrant in terms of restaraunts and nightlife establishments"
I think you are confusing downtown New Orleans with the French Quarter. They are not one and the same. Downtown NOLA is a dump, even more devoid of life than downtown Jacksonville.
outofhere
January 05, 2010, 04:33:29 PMIs there a reason the Jags don't sell tickets to home games on game day?
Wacca Pilatka
January 05, 2010, 04:58:17 PMThey do sell tickets on game day.
thelakelander
January 05, 2010, 05:00:56 PMI think you are confusing downtown New Orleans with the French Quarter. They are not one and the same. Downtown NOLA is a dump, even more devoid of life than downtown Jacksonville.
Disagree. Its got a ton of more foot traffic than DT Jax on a regular day. For example, none of our streets have the amount of foot traffic Poydras Street recieves on a regular basis. With that said, it does help that New Orleans has buildings to occupy (we have parking lots) and is well integrated with other districts like the French Quarter (our DT is isolated from its neighbors by late 20th century design).
stjr
January 06, 2010, 02:55:00 AMCould you imagine Jax saving a 100 year old building and incorporating it in to anything?! LOL. It's amazing how much other cities respect their history over us.
Maybe historic preservation also feeds into loyalty and commitment to a team by sending the messages of permanence and city character and uniqueness to the populace. Being unappreciative of history just contributes to the transitory sensibilities of our community depreciating the desire for one to invest in it.
Maybe we could learn this lesson too.
CS Foltz
January 06, 2010, 08:45:41 AMstjr...........you have to remember just what Administration you are talking about! Current COJ Administration would be lucky to find its own butt in a phone booth! I do agree with your take on "Historic Preservation" but if the GOB Network can't make money off of it.......won't happen! Time for a change in the administration across the board!
mtraininjax
January 07, 2010, 01:18:16 AMI'll have to remember that in 1995 and the early years, the Jags sold out seats based on the historic preservation efforts. The River City Renaissance was the driving factor behind a sellout each and every week. So we are just missing a tag line or catch phrase to get us more fans, this time around. Can't use BJP because its almost over, we can use Revive the Pride, only we have no historical structures being revived, unless someone can save FS 5 from the wrecking ball.
Jags are a business, surely someone, Precott or someone else with business savvy sees that the market for their product is bigger than just Jacksonville. I was just in the Florida keys and saw on TV messages to Visit Jacksonville, so if our city leaders see it, surely Wayne sees it and works on it a little every year. Mike Bianchi is an idiot and he does not count for the fans in Orlando, or the I-4 belt. Heck the Jags had a better year than Tampa Bay did, I'd like to see their attendance next year.
Keith-N-Jax
January 07, 2010, 01:26:27 AMJags have a better home schedule than last. I know that should matter, but it does here. Sure it means visiting fans will be loud like they were in the MIA game, but I dont see our attendance problems being fixed anytime soon.
mtraininjax
January 07, 2010, 01:29:09 AMDepending on the draft, and Weaver being more vocal and the Revive the pride parties, I think we can get back to 55,000, easily, if not 60,000 by next fall. Not sellouts, but much closer and provided we get a better schedule, which the TU said we would play much tougher teams next year (said we only played 5 playoff teams this year), we should see more in attendance, from other teams.
stjr
January 07, 2010, 01:40:55 AMOne local newscast said the Jags-Redskins game that should be played here next season will almost surely be rescheduled to London and that it was possible the Jags could even be forced to play a second "home" game there as well!
Wonder how that would effect ticket sales. Two less games increasing demand for the balance or two less games and loyal fans become less loyal?
mtraininjax
January 07, 2010, 01:48:08 AMIf the Jags/Skins game is preaseason anyway, what would it matter?
Keith-N-Jax
January 07, 2010, 01:54:20 AMJags play the NFC east this season.
stjr
January 07, 2010, 01:58:19 AMIf the Jags/Skins game is preseason anyway, what would it matter?
Jags/Skins is a regular season game. We play the NFC East division next year. Other home game in that division is supposed to be the Eagles.
Here is full regular season schedule:
Home: Houston, Indianapolis, Tennessee, Denver, Oakland, Philadelphia, Washington and Cleveland.
Away: Houston, Indianapolis, Tennessee, Kansas City, San Diego, Dallas, Giants and Buffalo.
Ocklawaha
January 07, 2010, 02:03:22 AMWonder how that would effect ticket sales. Two less games increasing demand for the balance or two less games and loyal fans become less loyal?
Weaver is a Southron, Ain't no way in HELL the pressure from the "Yankee" media is going to move him to do anymore then dig in his heels. Weaver is also a business man, and won't let a bunch of Yahoo Sportscasters make his decisions based on some anti-Jacksonville bias. The WEAVERS live here! Besides any business is going to locate where the money is... Oh think that's funny because we are a small market? Just a few years ago, St. Louis, Atlanta Proper, Detroit, Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Oakland and San Diego were bigger, MUCH bigger then Jacksonville... Guess who is bigger now? ...and it's not all because we moved the city limits, when we Consolidated we peaked at just over 500,000! Today you would need add nearly 1,000,000 more people to that equation. The same cannot be said of BUFFALO, OAKLAND, CLEVELAND, DETROIT...etc. These old rust belt cities are in a state of rapid decline, and WEAVER and the LEAGUE know where those people, businesses and dollars are going.
THINK JACKSONVILLE! What was the City just named by a leading national business magazine as being the "BEST POSITIONED TO MAKE A RAPID COMEBACK?" Yeah, well if you don't know, open your window and smell the Maxwell House Coffee.
Sports Illustrated is based in the North, and if you ever find yourself wondering why the St. Johns River Flows in that direction? BECAUSE SI and the NATIONAL SPORTS MEDIA SUCKS!
OCKLAWAHA
Someday I'll tell you how I really feel
Keith-N-Jax
January 07, 2010, 02:12:19 AMWell if the Jags do play in London I say good time to get the passport stamped!!!
Steve
January 07, 2010, 08:38:12 AMI think the London game would help significantly, because it would lower prices, even if not dramatically. More than one I see unlikely, as I can't see the NFL making then cross the pond twice
mtraininjax
January 09, 2010, 06:00:04 AMWas there a regular season game in London this year? If so, how was the revenue split for the Home team? NFL is a business, if a sellout in London is worth more than it is here, and the pound is stronger versus the dollar, go for it.
It is a great way to destroy a fan base though, especially after an 0-4 finish.
02roadking
January 10, 2010, 10:28:35 PMTicket prices stay low
The Jaguars, meanwhile, are doing their best to entice the fans. They sent out an e-mail to their season ticket holders last week announcing that they’ll be no increase in general bowl tickets for the third year in a row.
They have tickets as low as $300 or $30 a game. And the $580 tickets are being reduced to $480.
And fans can lock in these rates through 2012 if they sign up by March 31.
They’re even reducing prices on some of their club seats from $2100 to $1800 and $2400 to $2100.
This means the Jaguars will again have some of the lowest ticket prices in the league.
Touchdown Jacksonville, the civic group trying to sell tickets, will have what it calls the Team Teal Kickoff drive at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Fans are invited to attend.
By contrast, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who charges up to $239 a ticket in the regular season, hiked the price to $500 for Saturday’s playoff game against the Eagles with parking up to $75.
Jones did have a $35 ticket, but that is for standing room that didn’t guarantee a view of the field.
And you could buy a Kobe beef burger for just $13.
Jacksonville fans don’t understand how good they have it.
http://jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2010-01-10/story/nfl_confidential_hot_air_coming_from_la
Also this...
http://www.bigcatcountry.com/2010/1/8/1240861/2010-season-tickets-email-from-jags