The Jaguars -- What's Your Suggestion?

[JaxBorn1962]

Lets just face it, Jacksonville isn't a good NFL market and built a stadium that was too big for it's own good.

We had to build the Stadium bigger that was the only way to get the Jaguars. Green Bay is smaller then Jacksonville Its 2006 estimated census was 100,353 per wiki.  jacksonville has a Population (2008)[1]
- City 807,815 (13th)
- Density 1,061.6/sq mi (409.89/km2)
- Urban 913,125
- Metro 1,313,228

[TPC]

Thanks for the info JaxBorn1962.

[ProjectMaximus]

We are DOOMED if most of are Fan base are Gator Fans (We’re a bunch of spoiled fans,” said Don Eshelman, a Gators season-ticket holder who gave up his Jaguars tickets after the 2000 season. “We can go down the road and see a winning team.”

I don't think that many people are going to Gainesville for Gator games instead of Jaguar games.

I think you're wrong.  I know several die-hard Gator fans that go to G'ville for every home game and don't attend Jaguars home games.

Yeah. I'd say I've known at least a dozen who don't miss a game at the swamp but have never been to a Jags game. Same with the Noles. When I was in high school I had some friends whose families had season tix in Tally but not for the Jags. That said, I'm not sure these people would go see the Jags play even if they didn't go to their college games. So maybe it's not drawing them away...

[ProjectMaximus]

Lets just face it, Jacksonville isn't a good NFL market and built a stadium that was too big for it's own good.

We had to build the Stadium bigger that was the only way to get the Jaguars. Green Bay is smaller then Jacksonville Its 2006 estimated census was 100,353 per wiki.  jacksonville has a Population (2008)[1]
- City 807,815 (13th)
- Density 1,061.6/sq mi (409.89/km2)
- Urban 913,125
- Metro 1,313,228

Milwaukee metro is bigger than Jax though. And, really, the whole state of Wisconsin is Packer-country. Not making excuses for Jacksonville, but to compare to Green Bay is apples and oranges.

[copperfiend]

Yeah. I'd say I've known at least a dozen who don't miss a game at the swamp but have never been to a Jags game. Same with the Noles. When I was in high school I had some friends whose families had season tix in Tally but not for the Jags. That said, I'm not sure these people would go see the Jags play even if they didn't go to their college games. So maybe it's not drawing them away...

That is what I am getting at. It's not like they would be going to Jaguar games anyway.

[JaxBorn1962]

Owner(s) Green Bay Packers, Inc. (111,967 stockholders) Jaguars Owner(s) Wayne Weaver

[JaxBorn1962]

Yeah. I'd say I've known at least a dozen who don't miss a game at the swamp but have never been to a Jags game. Same with the Noles. When I was in high school I had some friends whose families had season tix in Tally but not for the Jags. That said, I'm not sure these people would go see the Jags play even if they didn't go to their college games. So maybe it's not drawing them away...

Tallahassee is three hours away Gatorland an Hour and a Half IT'S THE GATOR FANS that are screwing the jaguars

That is what I am getting at. It's not like they would be going to Jaguar games anyway.

Jacksonville has had its Fun it may be time for us to go back like we were before. That city no one loves.

[David]

Lets just face it, Jacksonville isn't a good NFL market and built a stadium that was too big for it's own good.

I'm not quite ready to face it (whether you're right or not we'll see) I think this is a good wake up call that we need to do more to support them. This city is only going to get bigger. The metro area will only keep growing... Plus, the franchise is just now at a point where young fans who went to those games back in the 90's are coming of age and bringing their kids etc.

Because of our smaller size more effort has to be made, that's all. We're the NFL's "the lil engine that could"

[Wacca Pilatka]

If the cost of going to a game were the mere price of a ticket that'd be great, but the extras add up quickly. I know the Jags can't give away 20,000 tickets, but maybe offering temporary discounts on food, beverages and parking is one suggestion to fill the seats for those two specific games mentioned above.

Perhaps a special event with reasonably priced concessions before the game somewhere near the stadium to drum up support & pump up the fans. Met Park maybe?

I know ticket prices are low compared to the rest of the league, but lack of income has kept me from attending games so far this year. I've solved that problem for now and look forward to attending at least 3-4 games later in the season

Oh yeah, and winning would help too


The Jaguars are offering a lot of food and beverage discounts this year.  There are meal deals at various concession stands every game, and when I ordered my tickets I got two vouchers for a free hot dog, popcorn, or Coke good at the Stadium Classics stands on the main concourse.

You can avoid the high cost of parking by taking one of the stadium shuttle buses or the water taxi, which cost significantly less than a parking pass.

[David]

Thanks Wacca, that's good to know. I wasn't aware.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Thanks Wacca, that's good to know. I wasn't aware.

They usually send out a Gameday newsletter on the Thursday before home games, if you happen to buy tickets that far in advance or are a STH, that includes a list of the meal deals for that game.  Not sure if it's also available on jaguars.com.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Yeah. I'd say I've known at least a dozen who don't miss a game at the swamp but have never been to a Jags game. Same with the Noles. When I was in high school I had some friends whose families had season tix in Tally but not for the Jags. That said, I'm not sure these people would go see the Jags play even if they didn't go to their college games. So maybe it's not drawing them away...

Tallahassee is three hours away Gatorland an Hour and a Half IT'S THE GATOR FANS that are screwing the jaguars

That is what I am getting at. It's not like they would be going to Jaguar games anyway.

Jacksonville has had its Fun it may be time for us to go back like we were before. That city no one loves.

I love Jacksonville, with or without the Jaguars, and I'm getting kind of tired of the self-immolation.

[fsujax]

I was in Nashville this weekend and watched the game on tv up there. While it was 55 degrees and raining there, they were showing pictures of the beach, kids boogie boarding in the surf and boats going up and down the river all during the game here in Jacksonville. How can we ever beat that kind of free advertising just for having an NFL team. I really do not think people in this city realize how important the exposure of Jacksonville to the nation is. The Jaguars help us to get that. I will be at a few games this year including the Indy game on December 17th! Go Jags.

[Adam Hollingsworth]

There's some good stuff in this thread.  Look for some Chamber of Commerce efforts, including a sales campaign among area councils.

Also, I agree with those that say the economy is making ticket sales tough.  The target is not those struggling to make ends meet.  The target is businesses who could use the investment for employee reward and recognition or sales and marketing purposes.  The target is also the Jaguars' fans that are used to watching the games on TV, but have the means to buy tickets.  The flex-pack is a great price for those with some disposable income...and we need to move the folks from the couch to the stands.

We can thrive as an NFL city, despite our smaller market.  It takes 50,000 seats sold in the general bowl to lift the blackout.  That's 50,000 seats in a region with 1.3 million people.  We were selling 70,000+ seats in the mid-1990s when we only had 1.0 million people in our region. 

We saw great football yesterday...and the crowd was on fire!  Imagine the energy with the place sold out.

Give me more ideas to convert sales...this is an important part of Jacksonville's national image and community pride.

(NOTE to Stephen: Ennis is right...focus will be on Metro Park, Friendship Fountain and the Riverwalk...much like what we've discussed before.  However, goal is Metro is simply a simpler, cleaner park.  At Friendship, the only thing we want to do to the fountain is get it operational again... no design changes to the fountain!  And we'll want to green the areas around the fountain to make the environment less harsh and more conducive to picnics, etc.  The Riverwalk is obvious: better connections along the river on the north and south banks.)

[stjr]

Adam, when can one take the Northbank Riverwalk from Downtown all the way to Metro Park and the Stadium?  Imagine this on a nice game day packed with people parking downtown and walking all the way to the stadium like when we had the Super Bowl?  Food and other vendors (selling Jax souvenirs?)  and some street performers could set up stands along the Riverwalk making it a full fledged experience, again, like Bay Street was during the weekend of the SB.  Cross connecting to the Southbank Riverwalk with the River Taxis and a closed lane for pedestrians on the Main Street bridge would expand the impact and possibilities.

Creating that experience might get people in Downtown for several hours before and after the game.  Opening the Riverside Arts Market on game days also might add to the fun.  Maybe add a mini-local Jacksonville Downtown Jazz festival in the early PM or AM from UNF or River City Band or feature other cultural groups on a Riverwalk stage in front of the T_U Center or in the Landing Courtyard, or both!  A fireworks show over the river an hour after the end of a late game might keep people in the downtown area also.

This would make for a complete game day experience beyond three hours in the stadium and make coming and going to the game a fun part of the day, not just a chore.  It would also disperse some of the traffic to Downtown, the Southbank, and Riverside which can't hurt either.  Of course, the economic and tourist aspects would be significant as well.

Add a new FEC Jax-Miami link with downtown Amtrak station, and the Jags could more easily funnel in surrounding region fans to such a game day celebration/extravaganza.

This same model could be used for the Gator Bowl, Florida-Georgia, NFL playoffs, FSU vs ?, the Senior Bowl, and so on.  What are we waiting for?