Buy a beer, help out a kid ... Thank you Jaguars

[JayBird]

So after sitting in the stands for years cheering on the Jacksonville Jaguars, buying everything from hot dogs, pretzels and pizza to water, gatorade and Bud Light. I have always been a spectator for the games, never realizing what happens behind the scenes of those vendors that gave me a chili dog and nachos with extra cheese. That all changed in mid-August with a plea from a friend, Cindy Grubbs who teaches English at Terry Parker High School, asking for people over 18 to help out at the preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons. The game was early and on a weekday, so her usual volunteers were busy working, and wouldn't be at the game or would be there after it started. I thought, "I haven't done that yet" so told her I would be glad to help out.

Her students are travelling to London and Paris in the spring of next year and because parents can't afford to write a check for $2,000 so there child may experience other cultures in the world, they needed to do some serious fundraising. Each home game at EverBank Field, the students from Terry Parker High School's English classes descend upon concession booth 442 and serve customers wanting everything from a glass of water to cool down to those feeding their family and friends and trying to get back to their seats before the TV break is over.

My day started at 3pm, arriving at the Ovations tent by Gate 2 to sign in and get my shirt and badges. Then, on to the very top seating deck of the stadium after meeting up with my "other" mother


Arriving at the stand, after an exhausting walk up many many many many many stairs (I run 8-10 miles a day ... I couldn't believe how tiring stairs can be!), we arrived in the stand and met the Ovations team member who was running our booth. He then set us about turning on warmers, getting hot dog rolls prepared, making popcorn, heating the nacho cheese, and getting ready for the COJ Health Inspector to come through. Once we were set up, health inspector pleased (they did make us get rid of someone else's food that was left in the freezer), and ready for customers, we had our group meeting to give us the lowdown on what everyone needs to do. All workers have a specific job, if you handle cash you must be over 18, and those jobs are demanding! At 4:30 we started taking customers and the flow never stopped until we shut down.

The great view from the 400 deck


The biggest sellers were Bud Light (though I was surprised by how many people paid a little more for Shock Top) and hot dogs. In my job a cashier, I got to talk to so many fans and met a lot of awesome people. By halftime we did have some "well-inebriated" customers who happily bought there two beers and waddled off, sure to return once those were done. But, being that I am used to crowds and people pushing and shoving (I work in NYC), I was very impressed with how polite everyone was. I didn't have one rude customer, every one was pleasant and happy to be enjoying an evening at game. This only made the adage "the minority ruins it for the majority" seem true because I have heard horror stories from those that have had horrible EverBank experiences. What I liked even more, just wearing a Bold City Brigade shirt or Jacksonville Jaguar shirt automatically made you "friend". How many places can you go where you can meet total strangers and immediately have a conversation filled with optimism and hope for the future?

The kids from Terry Parker did a great job, worked hard, and some aren't even going on the trip - they just wanted to help out. My faith in the next generation has been restored!


At the beginning of the fourth quarter, we began shutting down. Once the beer stops flowing the crowd suddenly doesn't want hot dogs and pretzels. Then it was time to clean everything up, put up all the food we didn't use so it could be trucked out the next day and wipe down everything. By the time all was packed up and the trash was taken out, we locked up about 15 minutes after the game ended.

After just 25 minutes from the end of the game, the stadium was emptied and I literally didn't have to stop anywhere on my way out. Refreshing after being at Giants games where we have to tailgate after the game or sit in a line of traffic for 90 minutes to get out of the parking lot.

So, the next time you go to the Jaguars game and buy a hot dog, know that you are helping out a school, a church, eagle scouts, an animal rescue, a rescue mission or even a neighborhood watch group trying to make money to buy bicycles for patrol. 

The times where I get to see people acting as a part of something greater than themselves always amazes me, this is community, this is Duval!