Report: Weaver trying to sell Jaguars

[RiversideGator]

Dont forget that Weaver's (and his partners') initial investment of about $140 million 12 years ago is now worth $700-1,000 million.  And, in most years they have turned a profit.  Also, long term trends here are clearly positive.  All we can do is buy tickets, enjoy the team, and have faith in Weaver.

[heights unknown]

I'll make one more post and this might be it for me regarding posting to this thread.

I want everyone to think, think deeply and hard about how Jax was before the Jaguars.  Mind you, Jax still has a long way to go to reach its full potential, but, compared to then, Jax has long past the yawning stage after she woke up, and is now fully awake and ready to take on the world.

I left Jax in 1995, August 1995 for Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  I have kept tabs on Jax since that time.  The Jaguars had not even played their first game when I left.  The buzz around town was the Jacksonville Jaguars; that was the only thing on the table to talk about.  No Peninsula, No San Marco Place, No pocket park, No new library, nothing was on the table, virtually nothing, regarding new developments, highways, and the population of the metro area was well under one million.

I firmly believe that one of the reasons Jacksonville began stirring was because of the Jaguars.  The nation and the world knew very little about Jacksonville before (pre) Jaguars.  The Jaguars Have provided Jacksonville with an almost free marketing and promotional campaign that has aided immensely in putting our City on the map.  Yes, I live in Sarasota-Bradenton, but I spent over two decades in Jacksonville and I know and still love MY City.  Jacksonville has grown in leaps and bounds since the Jags came on the scene, and I believe this would not have happened if it were not for the Jags.  I also believe that our metro area would not have exceeded the one million mark until probably about now (2000 I believe was when Jax metro went over one million and now we're fast growing, about 1.5 million now).

I also think back, with great fondness, of when Jax was trying to get a football team.  The media in Jax was abuzz of how we could get a franchise but our chances were slim to none; and then Jax showed the world that it was indeed the "Big City that Could, Can, and Would!"

And now, 13+ years later, with much prosperity and rewards given it, Jax has become complacent and are taking the Jaguars for granted.  "Let someone else go and support them, I'll watch them on TV;" this mentality has got to stop.  The people of Jax need to be thankful for the Jaguars and show their thankfulness in the form of physical support.  There are Cities out there that are hungry, like Jacksonville was, for a National Football League Franchise; and they would love to tear the Jaguars away from Jacksonville, change the name, and then that superbowl trophy would go to that city instead of Jax.  This is not the way that Jacksonvillians wanted it to be.  Our dream was to get an NFL Franchise, show the world who we were through that Franchise, and then bring home a Vince Lombardi Trophy to Jacksonville, Florida; and now those dreams are in peril and in jeopardy.

Some may say that Weaver won't move the team as he has stated that he won't; and that the rumors are just that, rumors; well, sometimes rumors if not found to in fact be rumors, will become fact and truth; even if the focal point of those rumors somehow dismiss them or dispell them.  Remember, sometimes rumors are started to provoke change or to provoke fear in order to induce change.  And I firmly believe this is what Wayne Weaver is doing.  He loves Jacksonville; and does not want to hurt Jacksonville; so the best way to not hurt Jax is to initiate a harmless rumor in hopes that it will induce, provoke or incite change into what he (Weaver) is desiring, and that is support of his football team from a City that he loves.

Support your team Jacksonville.  Remember the phrase, "use it or lose it?"  Well this phrase may soon prove true to Jacksonville if we don't start using the Jaguars in terms of fan support. 

Heights Unknown

[thebrokenforum]

I feel bad for WW as he was obviously upset about this ugly rumor.

“I’m frustrated. People take things out of context,” Weaver said, his voice choked with emotion. “This team is not going to California. This team is the Jacksonville Jaguars. I don’t know how I can do anything more to reaffirm my commitment. I want our fans to get as excited as I am.

Back to my original point - the national media sure knows how to push our buttons. That has to change. We need thicker skin or need to stop being so paranoid. I hope WW didn't read some of the crap that was posted on the TU message board. Yeesh. This rumor brought out a lot of animosity and frustration, which honestly, I think has less to do with the Jags than it does with everything else that is screwy right now. Anyway, Go Jags! Training camp in less than a month. 

[heights unknown]

Dont forget that Weaver's (and his partners') initial investment of about $140 million 12 years ago is now worth $700-1,000 million.  And, in most years they have turned a profit.  Also, long term trends here are clearly positive.  All we can do is buy tickets, enjoy the team, and have faith in Weaver.

True; but don't take them (Jaguars) for granted, and, don't take Wayne Weaver lightly.  He is a multi-millionaire and a Business Man.  The sum total of all of this is profit and money; he didn't invest in the Jaguars to lose money or just have a team around for everyone to enjoy without making money.  Long term trends change, they don't always remain the same.  So support your football team.

One more thing, yeah we can have faith in Weaver, but if we don't support the team and Weaver is not making profit, Weaver will lose faith in Jacksonville and may sell the team resulting in the new Owner moving the team.

Heights Unknown

[heights unknown]

I feel bad for WW as he was obviously upset about this ugly rumor.

“I’m frustrated. People take things out of context,” Weaver said, his voice choked with emotion. “This team is not going to California. This team is the Jacksonville Jaguars. I don’t know how I can do anything more to reaffirm my commitment. I want our fans to get as excited as I am.

Back to my original point - the national media sure knows how to push our buttons. That has to change. We need thicker skin or need to stop being so paranoid. I hope WW didn't read some of the crap that was posted on the TU message board. Yeesh. This rumor brought out a lot of animosity and frustration, which honestly, I think has less to do with the Jags than it does with everything else that is screwy right now. Anyway, Go Jags! Training camp in less than a month. 

His emotions were probably for real; but anyone can garner emmy award winning performances. Don't believe everything you see on TV.  Support your football team.

Heights Unknown

[BridgeTroll]

I feel bad for WW as he was obviously upset about this ugly rumor.

“I’m frustrated. People take things out of context,” Weaver said, his voice choked with emotion. “This team is not going to California. This team is the Jacksonville Jaguars. I don’t know how I can do anything more to reaffirm my commitment. I want our fans to get as excited as I am.

Back to my original point - the national media sure knows how to push our buttons. That has to change. We need thicker skin or need to stop being so paranoid. I hope WW didn't read some of the crap that was posted on the TU message board. Yeesh. This rumor brought out a lot of animosity and frustration, which honestly, I think has less to do with the Jags than it does with everything else that is screwy right now. Anyway, Go Jags! Training camp in less than a month. 

I think the reason for the paranoia is real... empty seats... TV blackouts... for a playoff contending team.  This team has been on the rise for a couple years now and fan support can be described as lackluster or luke warm.

Use it or lose it is the correct phrase...

[FBT]

I think this is a media ploy possibly orchestrated by the Jaguars leadership to:

1) Get people to buy more tickets
2) Get people to renew or increase their interest in the team and increase attendance
3) Get North Florida/South Georgia and other fans to come to Jaguar games so he won't have to sell the team
    which would probably result in a relocation or move if sold to a new owner.

Bottom line...get off your ass Jacksonville and support your football team or you're going to lose the Jaguars and lose them soon; you cried, yearned, and boo hooed for one, and now you don't support it.  If they did leave, then the Jax media, citizens and leaders would pretend to be at a loss as to why they left, pointing fingers here and pointing fingers there regarding who to blame, and of course a huge void would have to be filled; and I'll bet it wouldn't be filled very soon because the NFL is not going to put a team in a city whose track record of support is poor at best.

SUPPORT YOUR TEAM JACKSONVILLE!!!!!!!

Heights Unknown

I disagree that this is some grand conspiracy by the team to get more tickets sold.  

If that was indeed the case, the outlet breaking the story wouldn't be an online blog for the Philly Daily News.

Ticket sales aren't the issue that ails this team the most.  They are simply the most visible problem that this team has to contend with since THAT is precisely what the media likes to fixate on and use as some sort of a measuring tool for fan support.  Blackouts have nothing to do with fan passion, but that's not how the mainstream media tends to look at them.

What is truly an issue here is corporate support.  You have a stadium that has no name sponsor.  You've got luxury suites that are going unsold.  You've got club and other premium seating that would normally be bought up by corporate entities that are sitting there available.

It's good to avoid the blackouts because that removes at least one stigma from the city, but in reality it's not the real issue at all.  Fans should buy the tickets if they have the means.  But, companies that are sitting on their hands who have the resources to make block purchases or partner with the team, they need to be pressed to step up and do it.  Otherwise the Jags will relocate.  

[Eazy E]

Dont forget that Weaver's (and his partners') initial investment of about $140 million 12 years ago is now worth $700-1,000 million.  And, in most years they have turned a profit.  Also, long term trends here are clearly positive.  All we can do is buy tickets, enjoy the team, and have faith in Weaver.

True; but don't take them (Jaguars) for granted, and, don't take Wayne Weaver lightly.  He is a multi-millionaire and a Business Man.  The sum total of all of this is profit and money; he didn't invest in the Jaguars to lose money or just have a team around for everyone to enjoy without making money.  Long term trends change, they don't always remain the same.  So support your football team.

One more thing, yeah we can have faith in Weaver, but if we don't support the team and Weaver is not making profit, Weaver will lose faith in Jacksonville and may sell the team resulting in the new Owner moving the team.

Heights Unknown

The idea that he is not making a profit is such a joke I cannot believe anyone would seriously peddle it.  While year-to-year revenues may not "profitable" the overall value of the franchise has ballooned incredibly. He paid around $200M and it is now easily worth $800M or more.  quit crying for this corporate-welfare-taking POS he's making money by the boat loads, but people want to pity him because-- tearing up here-- we're not selling out the staidum every game. boo-f'ing-hoo.

[BridgeTroll]

Nobody is pitying him.  The question is do you want the team to stay or not... sounds like you do not care.  Thats OK but the community as a whole benefits from them staying.

[Eazy E]

I'll make one more post and this might be it for me regarding posting to this thread.

I want everyone to think, think deeply and hard about how Jax was before the Jaguars.  Mind you, Jax still has a long way to go to reach its full potential, but, compared to then, Jax has long past the yawning stage after she woke up, and is now fully awake and ready to take on the world.

I left Jax in 1995, August 1995 for Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  I have kept tabs on Jax since that time.  The Jaguars had not even played their first game when I left.  The buzz around town was the Jacksonville Jaguars; that was the only thing on the table to talk about.  No Peninsula, No San Marco Place, No pocket park, No new library, nothing was on the table, virtually nothing, regarding new developments, highways, and the population of the metro area was well under one million.

I firmly believe that one of the reasons Jacksonville began stirring was because of the Jaguars.  The nation and the world knew very little about Jacksonville before (pre) Jaguars.  The Jaguars Have provided Jacksonville with an almost free marketing and promotional campaign that has aided immensely in putting our City on the map.  Yes, I live in Sarasota-Bradenton, but I spent over two decades in Jacksonville and I know and still love MY City.  Jacksonville has grown in leaps and bounds since the Jags came on the scene, and I believe this would not have happened if it were not for the Jags.  I also believe that our metro area would not have exceeded the one million mark until probably about now (2000 I believe was when Jax metro went over one million and now we're fast growing, about 1.5 million now).

I also think back, with great fondness, of when Jax was trying to get a football team.  The media in Jax was abuzz of how we could get a franchise but our chances were slim to none; and then Jax showed the world that it was indeed the "Big City that Could, Can, and Would!"

And now, 13+ years later, with much prosperity and rewards given it, Jax has become complacent and are taking the Jaguars for granted.  "Let someone else go and support them, I'll watch them on TV;" this mentality has got to stop.  The people of Jax need to be thankful for the Jaguars and show their thankfulness in the form of physical support.  There are Cities out there that are hungry, like Jacksonville was, for a National Football League Franchise; and they would love to tear the Jaguars away from Jacksonville, change the name, and then that superbowl trophy would go to that city instead of Jax.  This is not the way that Jacksonvillians wanted it to be.  Our dream was to get an NFL Franchise, show the world who we were through that Franchise, and then bring home a Vince Lombardi Trophy to Jacksonville, Florida; and now those dreams are in peril and in jeopardy.

Some may say that Weaver won't move the team as he has stated that he won't; and that the rumors are just that, rumors; well, sometimes rumors if not found to in fact be rumors, will become fact and truth; even if the focal point of those rumors somehow dismiss them or dispell them.  Remember, sometimes rumors are started to provoke change or to provoke fear in order to induce change.  And I firmly believe this is what Wayne Weaver is doing.  He loves Jacksonville; and does not want to hurt Jacksonville; so the best way to not hurt Jax is to initiate a harmless rumor in hopes that it will induce, provoke or incite change into what he (Weaver) is desiring, and that is support of his football team from a City that he loves.

Support your team Jacksonville.  Remember the phrase, "use it or lose it?"  Well this phrase may soon prove true to Jacksonville if we don't start using the Jaguars in terms of fan support. 

Heights Unknown

Wow, that is some BS.
Jackosnville wouldn't have progressed without the Jags? ARE YOU CRAZY?
This really shows how the NFL has brainwashed everyone into thinking pro sports have some huge, demonstrable effect, economically, on an area, when, in fact, quite the opposite is true when you read research papers on the topic (as I had to in grad school).
Everything in that posting was an unsubstantiated assertion asserted as fact.
I mean, wow, you are drinking some Jags Kool-Aid, friend.

[Eazy E]

Nobody is pitying him.  The question is do you want the team to stay or not... sounds like you do not care.  Thats OK but the community as a whole benefits from them staying.

Really? The community as a WHOLE benefits?
That's awesome, because, though I love football, I am sure the hundreds of thousands who literally don't care at all, but still have their tax dollars spent to pay the Jags' rent, would have something quite different to say to that.

[BridgeTroll]

I think this is a media ploy possibly orchestrated by the Jaguars leadership to:

1) Get people to buy more tickets
2) Get people to renew or increase their interest in the team and increase attendance
3) Get North Florida/South Georgia and other fans to come to Jaguar games so he won't have to sell the team
    which would probably result in a relocation or move if sold to a new owner.

Bottom line...get off your ass Jacksonville and support your football team or you're going to lose the Jaguars and lose them soon; you cried, yearned, and boo hooed for one, and now you don't support it.  If they did leave, then the Jax media, citizens and leaders would pretend to be at a loss as to why they left, pointing fingers here and pointing fingers there regarding who to blame, and of course a huge void would have to be filled; and I'll bet it wouldn't be filled very soon because the NFL is not going to put a team in a city whose track record of support is poor at best.

SUPPORT YOUR TEAM JACKSONVILLE!!!!!!!

Heights Unknown

I disagree that this is some grand conspiracy by the team to get more tickets sold.  

If that was indeed the case, the outlet breaking the story wouldn't be an online blog for the Philly Daily News.

Ticket sales aren't the issue that ails this team the most.  They are simply the most visible problem that this team has to contend with since THAT is precisely what the media likes to fixate on and use as some sort of a measuring tool for fan support.  Blackouts have nothing to do with fan passion, but that's not how the mainstream media tends to look at them.

What is truly an issue here is corporate support.  You have a stadium that has no name sponsor.  You've got luxury suites that are going unsold.  You've got club and other premium seating that would normally be bought up by corporate entities that are sitting there available.

It's good to avoid the blackouts because that removes at least one stigma from the city, but in reality it's not the real issue at all.  Fans should buy the tickets if they have the means.  But, companies that are sitting on their hands who have the resources to make block purchases or partner with the team, they need to be pressed to step up and do it.  Otherwise the Jags will relocate.  

I agree... and disagree.  I dont buy the conspiracy theory but empty seats and blackouts DO say something about fan passion.  Not so much the ones in the stands but the ones NOT in the stands.  I would think CSX would be a great name for the stadium...

[RiversideGator]

Leave it to Easy E to (1) make a comment laced with profanity that (2) demonstrates hostility to those who are financially more successful than him.   

[BridgeTroll]

Nobody is pitying him.  The question is do you want the team to stay or not... sounds like you do not care.  Thats OK but the community as a whole benefits from them staying.

Really? The community as a WHOLE benefits?
That's awesome, because, though I love football, I am sure the hundreds of thousands who literally don't care at all, but still have their tax dollars spent to pay the Jags' rent, would have something quite different to say to that.

The same could be said for the Symphony, the zoo, the parks, etc...  There are many amenities that WE all pay for the WE all do not use...

[Jason]

Really? The community as a WHOLE benefits?
That's awesome, because, though I love football, I am sure the hundreds of thousands who literally don't care at all, but still have their tax dollars spent to pay the Jags' rent, would have something quite different to say to that.

The Jaguars franchise is a very charitable orginization.  Not to mention the charities that the players themselves contribute to and participate in.  Just because you yourself have not been a direct beneficiary of the Jags doesn't mean that the community doesn't benefit.