Jaguars behind in ticket sales, blackouts loom

Wacca Pilatka · June 19, 2009, 12:36:00 PM

Anyone reading this who loves Jacksonville and has the means, please consider purchasing tickets. Whether you care about football or this team or not, the Jaguars are a critical part of Jacksonville's national image and are a positive economic contributor to the city. Although Wayne Weaver--who, I might add, has been a tremendous benefactor to the area--has shown a great commitment to Jacksonville, this team is not going to be in his family forever and we almost certainly need strong ticket sales or a future owner is likely to move the team. There are a number of sportswriters and reporters who clearly have it in for Jacksonville (possibly due to their dismissive attitude of the expansion and Super Bowl hosting efforts, as well as regional bias) and have heavily marketed the meme that Jacksonville doesn't care about its team and that it should be moved elsewhere. I know this is not accurate, that the passion is there but the passion for seeing live football isn't necessarily all the way there yet, and the economy is difficult. If you don't care to attend games, please consider buying and donating tickets. Worthwhile community organizations like the USO, Historical Society, Boys & Girls Club, and Jaguars Foundation (which provides tickets to underprivileged families) will accept ticket donations and provide you with the proper tax documentation. The Jaguar ticket office is very helpful in assisting with this. Not to mention that there are many in the community who would love the opportunity to attend a game but do not have the means. I live in Virginia but donate tickets because I love Jacksonville and never want to see this city embarrassed with the loss of a pro franchise. I will never forget how hard the city fought for so many years to obtain a team, against the ridicule of many outsiders, and it would be an image disaster and a financial hit to lose this team.

blizz01 · July 16, 2009, 02:18:35 PM

Preface: I love the Jags. So now they've gone ahead & mailed it in. Blacking out the preseason. I swear the back office decisions are so haphazard. THEY JUST CHANGED UNIFORMS IN AN EFFORT TO FOSTOR SOME EXCITEMENT! I mean, EVERYONE knows that preseason NFL football is a bad bad product - it's without question, the biggest ripoff in professional sports - charging full price for exhibition games & keeping your starters off of the field for 85% of the "contest". None of the pageantry of the "game day" experience is evident - be it the game itself, the broadcast, lack of half time entertainment, the field partially painted, no flyovers, etc. It is garbage - Keep frisbee dog at home & out of the heat - we'll be fine.....Make some money: The 2 preseason "Home" games should immediately move to Orlando and/or Tallahassee - better yet, London or Mexico City.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/2009-07-16/story/jaguars_preseason_home_games_will_be_blacked_out

Tripoli1711 · July 16, 2009, 02:46:24 PM

The games shouldn't be moved and they should not be televised either. I believe the article states the same blackout rules apply to preseason games as apply to regular season games. Why should the Jaguars or someone else buy up all the tickets for the terrible product you cite? Why should they lose money to put it on tv? I think its a good thing. I have decided I don't care about the blackouts in a negative context anymore (of course, I don't live in Jax at the moment and so I have access... but if I did live there I'd have season tix, so I still dont care). I think blackouts are just what we need. If the Jaguars do create some excitement by winning a few early games, people will really be chomping at the bit to see them. The blackouts will work. If the Jaguars are 3-2 or 4-1 somehow when St. Louis comes to town, will it be a sellout? No. And people won't get to see it. It will be blacked out. This will cause people to be upset they couldn't see the Jags and maybe some of them will actually get off their rear and buy a ticket.

copperfiend · July 16, 2009, 02:55:51 PM

It makes me sad that this decision has been made. Blackouts will not be a rare thing in the NFL this year. St. Louis, Minnesota, Miami, Tampa, Seattle, Minnesota, San Diego, Oakland, Buffalo will all struggle also. But blackouts are one thing. This decision to not even produce a preseason broadcast is disheartening. I was in high school when the Jaguars started playing. I remember kids used to brag when they got tickets and were able to go to a game. Even a preseason game. Now, for some games, you cannot give tickets away.

Tripoli1711 · July 16, 2009, 03:07:27 PM

Exactly. The new wore off and people got lazy. If they can't see the game from the couch, maybe just maybe they will buy tickets. The away games will still be broadcast, just not the home games.

copperfiend · July 16, 2009, 03:11:00 PM

It seems unless it is Kenny Chesney or Toby Keith that nothing sells out in this town.

fsujax · July 16, 2009, 03:16:03 PM

^^Don't forget the Florida Gators! maybe the Jags should stack the team with ex-Gator players I bet that would fill the stadium!

copperfiend · July 16, 2009, 03:18:06 PM

The Georgia Bulldogs sell out the stadium every year too.

Shwaz · July 16, 2009, 03:21:41 PM

The Jags just need to win there games and people will get off there buns.

fsujax · July 16, 2009, 03:32:04 PM

well, i am going to buy tickets this year...win or lose.

ac · July 16, 2009, 03:32:33 PM

They simply want everyone to know they mean what they've been saying all offseason. People around town still think this year will be like years past, when the Jags filed extensions and ate unsold tickets to get the games on TV.

For years, Mr. Weaver has allowed the non-sellout preseason games to be broadcast, so maybe fans get excited and buy tickets. It hasn't worked. They're getting the word out early and often that this year won't be like years past.

The onus is on the folks in this city to buy tickets if they want to be guaranteed a chance to see the game.

copperfiend · July 16, 2009, 03:41:19 PM

Quote from: Shwaz on July 16, 2009, 03:21:41 PM
The Jags just need to win there games and people will get off there buns.

They have won in the past and not sold out. The first year that ticket sales was an issue was 1998. After two straight playoff appearances. They had a game in 2004 where they were 8-6 and had a shot at the playoffs and less than 50k showed up. I go to as many games as possible and I love the team but people in this town have excuse after excuse for why they don't go. I have heard people say they didn't go because Leftwich was the QB or because they didn't have cupholders. After both were no longer an issue, all I saw was more excuses.

Steve · July 16, 2009, 03:43:38 PM

^Agreed - this is a business. The other 31 markets are in a recession as well, and are dealing wtih the same economics. Bottom line - we need to put asses in the seats.\

The key is that we need to be able to put butts in the seats in a losing season. Yes, it's tough to explain losing to a bunch of college football fans (where 4 losses is a terrible season), but the NFL is a league of parity, unlike college.

Tripoli1711 · July 16, 2009, 04:05:22 PM

You guys are exactly right. I was at that Houston game. If there were more than 35k people there I am the King of Prussia. Nobody on Earth is more of a Jaguars fan than I am.. and I applaud the way they are handling themselves relative to the ticket issue. It's time everyone stepped up and actually gave active support to the team, other than cussing at Del Rio from the couch and calling Prisco to whine and moan.

Shwaz · July 16, 2009, 05:29:24 PM

I agree we've had troubled sales even during winning times but I still believe a strong season or 2 will help ticket sales most.

I was at that Houston game too and boy was that miserable! It was litterally the coldest day I'd ever experienced in Jax. I remember drinking brandy to try and defrost my bones. I believe we were shut out and lost some thing like 7-0.