The Jacksonville Jaguars

[spuwho]

Jaguars throw up billboards throughout Orlando yesterday.



Hmmm, pushing that Bortles angle pretty good.

Per the Orlando Sentinel:

Former UCF quarterback Blake Bortles and the Jacksonville Jaguars are already becoming a match made in marketing heaven.

The Jags purchased three electronic billboard advertisements in Orlando with the message "welcome to the family" and player images for their 2014 NFL draft class. There are 10 billboards in the Jacksonville area with the same image, but a different message that states "welcome to the new generation of Jags football."

Bortles is displayed front and center in his UCF uniform and he's joined by his former UCF running back Storm Johnson, who was selected in the seventh and final round of the NFL draft. Former Florida State linebacker Telvin Smith and Miami offensive guard Brandon Linder are also in the ad.

"Once those [draft] decisions are made we obviously want to introduce them to our fans and engage with our fans," said Dan Edwards, Senior Vice President of Communications. "In this case, it was a unique opportunity to embrace the Orlando fans and the UCF fans with Blake being a first round pick and Storm Johnson in the seventh round."


Edwards said this is the first time the Jags put together a marketing campaign like this following the NFL draft in Orlando. The billboards will stay up for three days.

One billboard faces west near UCF's campus on University Blvd, one faces east on State Road 50 near Alafaya Trail in the Waterford Lakes, Avalon Park and UCF communities. The final billboard faces north on State Road 436 near the Baldwin Park and Full Sail University communities.

Bortles was formally introduced as the Jaguars new quarterback prospect Friday, following a thrilling NFL Draft night in New York. He finished his UCF career with 7,598 yards, 56 touchdowns, 19 interceptions and completed 65.7 percent of his passes and will challenge Jacksonville's incumbent starter Chad Henne.

"We feel really good about this pick, and we feel like for the future of this franchise it was the right thing to do," Jags General Manager David Caldwell told reporters.

[I-10east]

Here's an awesome reaction of the Blake Bortles pick from an Oviedo (near Orlando) bar.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1PxcphSJNg

[spuwho]

Here's an awesome reaction of the Blake Bortles pick from an Oviedo (near Orlando) bar.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1PxcphSJNg

Happy for Bortles indeed.....I am thinking new Jaguar fans perhaps.

[johnnyliar]

I bought my Bortles Jersey today. I'm all in!

[blizz01]

Wow...I'd maybe consider being OK with tossing the preseason games that way & pulling back our London game(s)...

With Bortles at QB, it's time for Jaguars to play future games in Orlando
May 11, 2014|Mike Bianchi, SPORTS COMMENTARY

An open letter to Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan ...

Dear Mr. Khan: Allow us to introduce ourselves. We are Orlando — your team's biggest television market and, outside of L.A., the largest television market in America without an NFL team.

Mr. Khan, you need to re-think your own long-term strategy of playing regular-season games in London because you say you want to "globalize" the Jaguars. Wouldn't it be much better business to "regionalize" the Jaguars? If the idea is to build your fan base, wouldn't it be smarter to play a game two hours away instead of five time zones away?

Mr. Khan, the bottom line is this:

The new face of your franchise calls Orlando home.

Isn't it about time for your franchise to call Orlando its home-away-from-home?

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2014-05-11/sports/os-jaguars-orlando-blake-bortles-mike-bianchi-0511-20140511_1_wayne-weaver-blake-bortles-jacksonville

[Keith-N-Jax]

We need Jag fans not my favorite player is on your team fans. Its great to have the excitement but lets not get carried away with Orlando.

[duvaldude08]

The problem has never playing games in Orlando, it is WHERE we would play games. They don't have a NFL caliber facility. The citrus bowl is a pile of hot garbage. I remember reading that it was going to get upgraded, but it still wouldn't be to NFL standard. I agree though, after the London games are done, I wouldn't mind the preseason games being played there. Its only two hours away and practically takes very little gas for the trip. I would be down for it.  But I feel like if Orlando is serious, they need to pony up and get the citrus bowl up to standard. I must admit though, its great to finally tap into that market. No nfl team owns Orlando. I think we have an opportunity to seize control and should take advantage of every opportunity we can get.

[blizz01]

if Orlando is serious, they need to pony up and get the citrus bowl up to standard.

A $200 Million renovation is currently underway (began in January).

http://tbo.com/sports/colleges/orlando-begins-200-million-citrus-bowl-renovation-20140130/

[pierre]

Wow...I'd maybe consider being OK with tossing the preseason games that way & pulling back our London game(s)...

With Bortles at QB, it's time for Jaguars to play future games in Orlando
May 11, 2014|Mike Bianchi, SPORTS COMMENTARY

An open letter to Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan ...

Dear Mr. Khan: Allow us to introduce ourselves. We are Orlando — your team's biggest television market and, outside of L.A., the largest television market in America without an NFL team.

Mr. Khan, you need to re-think your own long-term strategy of playing regular-season games in London because you say you want to "globalize" the Jaguars. Wouldn't it be much better business to "regionalize" the Jaguars? If the idea is to build your fan base, wouldn't it be smarter to play a game two hours away instead of five time zones away?

Mr. Khan, the bottom line is this:

The new face of your franchise calls Orlando home.

Isn't it about time for your franchise to call Orlando its home-away-from-home?

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2014-05-11/sports/os-jaguars-orlando-blake-bortles-mike-bianchi-0511-20140511_1_wayne-weaver-blake-bortles-jacksonville

I get what he is saying and I understand why they would want a game in Orlando.

But I hate columnists that think they know what is better for the Jaguars than Shad Khan. Bianchi was the biggest Tebow clown in the media. And that is saying something.

I have no doubt the team has made alot more money with the one game in London than they would any game in Orlando.

Maybe we should demand an Orlando Magic regular season game? I mean, if they were smart they would do it. Right??

[duvaldude08]

if Orlando is serious, they need to pony up and get the citrus bowl up to standard.

A $200 Million renovation is currently underway (began in January).

http://tbo.com/sports/colleges/orlando-begins-200-million-citrus-bowl-renovation-20140130/

Im aware of the renovations, but will it be up to NFL Standard is the question.

[blizz01]

^ Not sure what $200 mil gets you these days - but I'd be willing to bet that it'd suffice for pre-season. 

I like the Magic game/swap idea - but pound for pound, I'd think that 1 NFL game would be worth ~ a half dozen or so NBA games in the big scheme of things.

[copperfiend]

Why do so many people in the Orlando media act like Jacksonville and the Jaguars owe them something. We don't owe them a game in Orlando. You're two hours away. If you want to watch the team play, drive up here.

[funwithteeth]

Psh, they're just hurt we never wanted an XFL game held up here.

[blizz01]

YEAH!  They can be Milwaukee, we'll be Green Bay!

[I-10east]

YEAH!  They can be Milwaukee, we'll be Green Bay!

Maybe after 3 years of this London thing, we could get 6 Magic games for 1 Jag game like you said; I'm cool with that, as it seems like a pretty fair ratio.