The Jaguars - NFL Economics: What's changed since 1995?

[JaxNeedsHelp]

Tripoli, I agree!! Your math that a winning team equals ticket sales is pretty understated. My point is since they HAVE NOT put together a consistent team then they may want to try something else in the mean time. And I didn't say Brady Quinn was a team-saver...it was an example. Not to mention who we took instead...not to mention because barely anyone remembers.

[Steve]

Gene Smith can have a collection of total no-names.  No sex appeal is necessary.  If he builds a consistent winner that spends the 2010s going to a few AFC Championship games, wins the divison 7  of 10 years and wins a Super Bowl... kids in Indiana will start wearing teal.. and it won't have squat to do with whether the quarterback has sex appeal.

Amen - name someone on the 2004 New England Patriots championship team besides Tom Brady.  It doesn't have to be a Cowboys Dynasty like the 1990's

[ac]

Tripoli, I agree!! Your math that a winning team equals ticket sales is pretty understated. My point is since they HAVE NOT put together a consistent team then they may want to try something else in the mean time. And I didn't say Brady Quinn was a team-saver...it was an example. Not to mention who we took instead...not to mention because barely anyone remembers.

It was Reggie Nelson.  Love or hate him, pretty much every fan knows who he is.  I understand your point though. 

The thing to keep in mind is that the Jaguars have a different draft philosophy that they did in '07.  If Gene Smith is true to his stated philosophy, he won't let the best available player go by to meet a need, as Shack Harris did with Quinn (although in hindsight, that pick would still be a mess).  It still may not be the "sexy" pick, but it will more likely be someone who can play, and well.

[JaxNeedsHelp]

Certainly doesn't have to be a Cowboys dynasty. And I agree 100%...if the team is winning, you don't need to know all the names. I revert back to the point that...they...aren't. They are not a consistently winning franchise. So, in the mean time, does it hurt to actively market attractive seats, deals, etc. in the marketplace until they are a winning franchise and the seats sell themselves? Why not try something like partner with the Hyatt for a very cheap hotel stay Saturday night and four tickets at a bundled price (within NFL guidelines) and advertise it in Orlando? Daytona? With a creative, strategic approach they don't simply have to slash seat prices (like their billboards do now) and further devalue the idea of attending the game.

[Wacca Pilatka]

I think the Hyatt already has some kind of partnership with the Jaguars too, because it advertises packages in the season ticket holder newsletters.  That would tie in really nicely with the expanded marketing footprint the team is hopefully pursuing.

[ac]

RE: Winning-

This year, the team have won 75% of their home games so far, have won 5 of their last 7 games, and are competing for a playoff spot, playing meaning full games in November and hopefully December.  All this with 13 rookies either starting or contributing.  They have overachieved.

They had a losing year last year.  

Before that, they were 11-5 (could have been 12-4 had they not pulled starters in the last game) and were two dropped passes away from giving the undefeated Pats a game in the playoffs.  It still didn't sell tickets in '08.

You can say they were inconsistent, and I won't disagree.  Again I cite poor drafting. That has changed and will continue to change.   I don't realistically expect perception to change in one season, but how much more time will it take for people to take the leap again? 2 seasons? 3? 4? We may not have that kind of time.   The barbarians are at the gate already.

[cdb]

It's not the Jags fault.... Their marketing is not the greatest in the world, but it is not the Jags fault. The blame is on the citizens of Jacksonville and surrounding areas. Thats all it comes down to. You don't realize what you have, you take it for granted. Either wake up or we will lose this team and it will be so sad to live in a city that couldn't support 10 events a year. When the Jags play, it is the BIGGEST thing going on in Jacksonville, and there is no debate there. Stop making excuses and blaming others and go buy tickets and come out and have a good time, believe me it wont hurt, you will have fun.

[JaxNeedsHelp]

I like ac's comments. Even though they have technically had a winning season, they just somehow fall into the "blah" of football. They never dominate a segment on Sportscenter, etc.

And back to the "people wearing teal in Indiana won't put butts in the seats in Jacksonville," as it was put by Tripoli: That's incorrect. Because football fans seeing their home team's jersey being worn in other markets gives them a sense of pride. We cherish the beach because it's something everyone wants. We don't get that with our football team.

Again, my Brady Quinn was just an example. But maybe if we took a player that was a risk (not in a classless terrell owens-type of way but in a this player may be great or a bust-type of way) we would at least be talked about on ESPN, et al as having swung for the fences...as having come out trying hard and ready to fight and be bold. Slowly adding players with just above-average skills will technically add wins...which is currently doing nothing for attendance or pride.

[JaxNeedsHelp]

Agree with cdb, too! I have had season tickets every single year I have lived in this market. Everyone should try to go to what they can afford, but people need convincing. It is not all the Jags fault, but if a restaurant failed because they didn't attractively advertise their burgers, I wouldn't blame it on people eating elsewhere...it's the restaurant's fault.

The only reason I get so heated about this is because I genuinely do not want to see Jacksonville lose it's team. I do believe the majority of keeping it is on the citizen's. But the major responsibility of a league is to make citizens give a damn and this league doesn't.

[Wacca Pilatka]

I like ac's comments. Even though they have technically had a winning season, they just somehow fall into the "blah" of football. They never dominate a segment on Sportscenter, etc.

And back to the "people wearing teal in Indiana won't put butts in the seats in Jacksonville," as it was put by Tripoli: That's incorrect. Because football fans seeing their home team's jersey being worn in other markets gives them a sense of pride. We cherish the beach because it's something everyone wants. We don't get that with our football team.

Again, my Brady Quinn was just an example. But maybe if we took a player that was a risk (not in a classless terrell owens-type of way but in a this player may be great or a bust-type of way) we would at least be talked about on ESPN, et al as having swung for the fences...as having come out trying hard and ready to fight and be bold. Slowly adding players with just above-average skills will technically add wins...which is currently doing nothing for attendance or pride.

I don't think it's in any way a failure of the Jaguars to not dominate a segment on SportsCenter.  That show is and ever will be fixated on certain marquee teams and players.  It is not at all uncommon for quality teams from small markets to go ignored, even to some degree belittled, on that network. 

I get what you're saying about risky players, but just going for being noticed on ESPN isn't a long-term winning strategy.  What the Bills have done the last year or two (Owens, talk of Shanahan, etc.) reeks of desperation and hasn't expanded the Bills' fan base to any degree.  And if the risky player busts, the long-term damage is much greater than the short-term gain.  Anyway, I'd say we went after a talked-about, boom-or-bust player with Matt Jones not too long ago.

And adding wins does add attendance...it just takes time.  You can even see some slight positive effects now.  The best-selling game this year has been the Tennessee game, which immediately followed a televised road win against Houston.  Buffalo is already the #2 seller and I'd guess it's going to top 50,000 at least, and that's coming off two wins.  Or just look at the steady attendance increase throughout 2007.  The late-season home games were nearly literal sellouts as the team's record improved and buzz built.

[JaxNeedsHelp]

I get what you're saying about risky players, but just going for being noticed on ESPN isn't a long-term winning strategy.  What the Bills have done the last year or two (Owens, talk of Shanahan, etc.) reeks of desperation and hasn't expanded the Bills' fan base to any degree.  And if the risky player busts, the long-term damage is much greater than the short-term gain.  Anyway, I'd say we went after a talked-about, boom-or-bust player with Matt Jones not too long ago.

And adding wins does add attendance...it just takes time.  You can even see some slight positive effects now.  The best-selling game this year has been the Tennessee game, which immediately followed a televised road win against Houston.  Buffalo is already the #2 seller and I'd guess it's going to top 50,000 at least, and that's coming off two wins.  Or just look at the steady attendance increase throughout 2007.  The late-season home games were nearly literal sellouts as the team's record improved and buzz built.

Two very good points.

[Tripoli1711]

Yeah, we certainly shouldn't hold our breath on the Sportscenter thing, but I also think you sell the Jaguars short.  I was grabbing a sub the other day at Firehouse up here and they had sportscenter on.  Mark Schlareth (h/e you spell it) was going on and on for at least 2 minutes about how he liked what he saw in us and that we were on the rise.  When we were winning more consistently we were on there a lot.  Look at how often the San Antonio Spurs are near the top of the show.  Aside from (perhaps) Tony Parker (only because of his wife), who is sexy or exciting on that team?  But they win and they are on all the time.

Wins shouldn't be needed to put butts in the seats.  That should happen because a fan base loves its team and grows accustomed to being at the stadium every week.  But if it is national buzz ye seek... trading a 1st and a 3rd for Brandon Marshall just so the ESPN anchors can kill him with a Jaguars logo next to the picture over their shoulder isn't worth it.  Just win baby.

[JaxNeedsHelp]

Tripoli, good post. I agree!

[stjr]

I think one of the smartest things the Jags can do, is "regionalize" their market.  Unlike many  metro areas, Jax doesn't have any large areas within 90+ miles of this place.  If the Jags represented Old Florida (out I-10 to Pensacola and across the middle of the State from Ocala north) along with southern and eastern Georgia and into Hilton Head, SC, the Jags not only would increase by double or more their market but greatly expand their geographical footprint creating a larger aura about the team.

The players, the ROAR, Jaxon De Ville, Coach Del Rio, and Mr. Weaver need to do promotional visits to all these cities and small towns once every year or two.  Imagine the draw and PR they would get as "celebrities" in many towns otherwise forgotten and the indelible impression it would have on kids (i.e. future ticket buyers and ticket pushers on their parents).  A few years of visits like this (don't forget to bring your ticket and souvenir sales folks along) should spur some real bonding from these markets to the team.  And, the Jags have no professional sports competition.  It's all theirs for the taking.

Even UF, FSU, and UGA coaches travel the region every year to speak and stoke their fans, even with already sold out stadiums (well, usually.  Sorry, Noles.)  It just can't help but build the fan base.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Yeah, we certainly shouldn't hold our breath on the Sportscenter thing, but I also think you sell the Jaguars short.  I was grabbing a sub the other day at Firehouse up here and they had sportscenter on.  Mark Schlareth (h/e you spell it) was going on and on for at least 2 minutes about how he liked what he saw in us and that we were on the rise.  When we were

Schlereth seemingly has a strong affinity for run-oriented, physical teams.  He was highly positive about the Jaguars in 2007, mainly for that reason, and was one of the earlier media faces to talk us up as a major contender that year.  Given the rebuilding of our lines and resurgence of our running game, I'm not surprised he's paying attention to the Jaguars again.  Unfortunately, he spends most of his time toiling for the soul-crushing "NFL Live," a show apparently predicated on the idea that there are about eight teams and 25 players in the NFL because that's all they cover.