BUY JAGS TICKETS!!!!!!!!!!!

[DavidWilliams]

A bit of a random thought. I was listening to Frank Frangie and Cole Pepper earlier (1010xl for those not familiar with sports talk radio) and it actually turned into a fairly relevant and substantive conversation. Pepper contended that if the Jaguars leave we are essentially Mobile, AL (ie no identity nationally). Frangie countered all of the good aspects of northeast Florida (beaches, river, golf etc). Frangie also mentioned that we had a constant growth rate well before the Jags (which is true).

Enough rambling....question of my own for everyone. Have the Jaguars increased growth (corporate and otherwise) or was the city destined to grow simply from our geographic location, low cost of living, no state income tax etc.

Additionally, the city (we) spent a great deal on Super Bowl here a few years ago. Can anyone track a business or any direct positive that was directly (still) connected to that event as we were led to believe. If anything the city took a beating from national talking heads (unjustified).

I am a sports fan and more importantly a fan of this city. Any thoughts?

 

 

[ac]

I think there is a degree of prestige and notoriety that comes from having the team here, regardless of how they are doing right now.

I'm not qualified to cite concrete examples of their economic impact or state anything other than opinion, but it would certainly negatively affect businesses that sprung up in direct support of the team, and those whose daily business dealings center around the franchise being in this city.  What about all the businesses that sprung up with "Jaguar" in the name?  What about the businesses that make money from having these 10 events downtown, e.g. Transportation companies, vendors, etc? 

What about a stadium that falls into disrepair, and we end up losing FL/GA?  Does anyone really think we'll pony up the cash to keep a facility in world-class condition for two games a year?  What about still paying SMG their same cut year-round to manage a facility in use only 3-4 times a year?

Beyond that, it's my opinion that it will be a huge black eye from the standpoint that the promised support for the franchise wasn't there.  Whatever the economic impact or lack thereof, losing the Jaguars will hardly be a positive thing, and to claim there will be zero impact is disingenuous.

Maybe Steeler/Gator fan Frank Frangie will be unaffected because he can free up time to cover things he really cares about; but if he genuinely cared, he might sing another tune.  I think the bee in his bonnet is that JDR advised David Garrard not to do his weekly show on 1010xl anymore, and Frank is having a shit-fit.  

Perception is reality, and the perception is and will be that we, as a city, are incapable of handling the national stage and cannot operate on that grand a scale.  Losing the team will only cement that perception in the minds of the outsiders.  They'll probably break out the party hats if it happens.  Will that negatively affect businesses who may consider Jacksonville in the future or other outside investors?  It's worth considering.

[KenFSU]

From what I've found personally, Jacksonville has no national identity with or without the Jags. If the Jags stay (fingers crossed), we are a faceless C-level city who lucked into an NFL franchise. If the Jags leave, we are a faceless C-level city who once had an NFL team. The average American has probably already forgotten that the Super Bowl was actually held here. Looking at the Top 40 metros, nearly every city has some sort of national identity outside of sports, even the smaller markets. San Antonio has the Riverwalk and the Alamo. Kansas City has BBQ and the blues. Most people know the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is in Cleveland. Portland has art, bicycle culture, and progressive culture. Pittsburgh has steel and snow, etc. Jacksonville is known for nothing besides the Jags, which is nearly unfathomable considering the rich history of this city.

Putting an exciting, entertaining team on the field, getting more Sunday and Monday night games on national television, and winning a few Superbowls could give the city an image boost, but even that isn't a sure thing. Instead of worrying about the proverbial pig losing her fancy prom dress, citizens should be concerned about sprucing up the pig and accenting her best natural qualities.

[DavidWilliams]

Appreciate the thoughts AC and Ken. I think the subject is on the minds of a good deal of citizenry. Jax has its insecurity complex and esteem issues it seems. I think it deserves more conversation/debate. I probably should have made a new thread so that those who just see "Jags" (and may have no interest) in the subject line would be more inclined to weigh in.

[KenFSU]

To be clear, I do think the Jags are really important to the city long term. I just don't find it prudent to hang the city's identity on something as fleeting as a football franchise that could leave tomorrow if they really wanted to. You need more stable footing -- something that truly belongs to the city. Some great suggestions have been made here over the years. A Southern Music / Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame. A great museum dealing with the silent film industry or Civil Rights Movement in Northeast Florida. An aquarium/maritime museum. A state-of-the-art convention center. Like I said, I really want to the team to stay here, but tough questions need to be asked, and honest answers need to be given. If the team isn't sustainable here in the long run, I would hate to see tens of millions of taxpayer dollars wasted in doomed efforts to make them stay.

[ac]

I agree Ken- 

But the reality is that it's the thing that we're best known for nationally; besides murders, Waffle House, and that we used to stink like the paper mill.

However, my belief is that we can and should have the team and all that other stuff, at the expense of neither.  30 other cities do.  And it ain't the team preventing us from being like them.

And re: "wasted" taxpayer dollars-  you think we won't still be paying for the stadium upkeep?  We'd only be raising the average cost per event to keep it up to snuff, lest our next round of negotiations with UF and UGA turn out much differently.

[Keith-N-Jax]

This should probably be in another thread, but I agree the Jags/WW don't build parks, convention centers, add rail, add street cars and entertainment. It's up to the leaders of this city to accomplish things like that. Many cities mentioned in the element series don't have an NFL team, so how are they getting it done? If the Jags do leave that's ten events downtown where you don't have 30 to 60 thou people downtown. IMO its a big loss.

[grimss]

Starting this Saturday, you'll be able to buy game tickets at the Riverside Arts Market. The Jags will have a ticket booth there, which I personally think is a genius idea.

[Keith-N-Jax]

That's a good idea.

[ac]

That is a good idea.  They should also be marketing all the way out to Orlando, Gainesville, Tallahassee, and points in between, even going up into south GA.  We needed to be a regional team from the outset.

[DavidWilliams]

That is a good idea.  They should also be marketing all the way out to Orlando, Gainesville, Tallahassee, and points in between, even going up into south GA.  We needed to be a regional team from the outset.

Agree, ac. I often wondered why. In my opinion, they don't even market enough locally.

[77danj7]

Drove down to Orlando this weekend and saw SEVERAL Dolphins billboards...very surprising being it was North of Orlando...that is pretty pitiful of the Jags to be out represented!

[blizz01]

very surprising being it was North of Orlando...that is pretty pitiful of the Jags to be out represented!

I've pointed this out in other threads - while it may be pitiful, it seems even more surprising that the NFL "allows" this in another team's market! So many silly rules, but this is so blatant.

[Shwaz]

Losing the Jags wouldn't take away our national exposure immediately.... instead their would be swirling press about how behind Jacksonville really is. i.e. horrible - local job market, lack of public transportation, declining population etc. etc.

As for the stadium and FLA vs GA - both would be gone soon enough. JMS isn't the old Gator Bowl and it needs more than a bucket of paint for upkeep. This stadium has major infrastructure and without a permanent tenant JMS would be in disrepair in no time. The largest outdoor cocktail party would move to Tampa or Miami and worst of all (for some people) the monster truck show would skip right over us.

I read this morning that the Jags / WW have a special marketing plan for Orlando

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-bianchi-jacksonville-jaguars-orlando-nfl-games,0,6718447.column?page=1

Wayne Weaver, the owner of the financially strapped Jacksonville Jaguars, can envision a day not too far down the road when Orlando could become his team's second home.

We're not just talking about the current setup where Central Florida is designated as a "secondary" television market for the Jaguars. No, we're talking about the Jags actually coming to Orlando to play football games -- real live regular-season NFL games.

[mtraininjax]

As for the stadium and FLA vs GA - both would be gone soon enough. JMS isn't the old Gator Bowl and it needs more than a bucket of paint for upkeep. This stadium has major infrastructure and without a permanent tenant JMS would be in disrepair in no time. The largest outdoor cocktail party would move to Tampa or Miami and worst of all (for some people) the monster truck show would skip right over us.

Now this is the other end of the extreme. Don't see the FL/GA game being moved to Tampa, UGA would never approve that. Monster Trucks could use Lavilla and we would not even know the difference.

You quoted Bianchi? He is still chaffed that the TU did not make him editor of sports. He bad mouthes Jax every time he can. He is a small man in person and worse on paper.