The Jaguars - NFL Relocations and the LA Stadium Plan

[Basstacular]

Mark my words...The citizens of Jacksonville will support their team and you will see the LA Chargers in 2011.  The Chargers cannot get any help from the City to build a new stadium, Qualcomm where they currently play is falling apart and their stadium lease buyout shrinks from 53 million to 26 million after this upcoming season.

Of course I am a Jags homer and eternal optimist....

[Wacca Pilatka]

I renewed already and locked in for 3 years.  Most of the season ticket holders I know (not that I know very many, just my tailgate group) have done the same.  I think the renewal rate will be high because the group that was left this year was the broken glass Jaguar ticket buyers.

At this point I really hope no team moves to Los Angeles.  I can't in good conscience root for another team to move when I desperately want my team to stay where it is.  That'd be rooting for another group of dedicated fans to go through the same kind of agony we fear (though our would likely be greater since certain sports media personalities seemingly can't wait to do an end-zone dance over the corpse of pro football in Jacksonville).  The way the LA group is conducting itself just repulses me too--the arrogant presumptions that they can snap their fingers and lure a team, the dismissive condescension toward markets like Jacksonville and Buffalo, etc.  Not to mention the rumors that the LA group is employing a PR firm to demoralize Jacksonville fans and convince them a move is inevitable.  Uncorroborated, but it would explain some of the perpetual negativity on the jaguars.com message boards...

[9a is my backyard]

Very good article, particularly the conclusion. There's an interesting podcast on ESPN (http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/player?id=4478219) about the stadium issue in LA. The guest on the podcast said the venue could be profitable even of it was only used to host the super bowl every 3-4 years. LA has lost a number of franchises and the Jaguars, outside of their ticket sales and sub-par revenue generation from sponsorships and high-priced seats, are doing reasonably well. In reality, most teams had a tough year this season, Jacksonville was just hit particularly hard. I went to three games and the low attendance really hurt the atmosphere of the game. I went to the Rams game and the crowd seemed dead. In some ways it's a chicken-egg situation. I also went to th Colts game though, and it was a blast. I'm not even a huge football fan, but I'm considering buying season tickets as a result of the Colts game. I think (and hope) the Jags will be fine; we could even become a feel-good story if things keep improving as they appear to be.

[heights unknown]

Sorry folks, but the Jags aren't going anywhere.  We'll have a football team until America's nuked, so just relax y'all.

"HU"

[coredumped]

That last picture of our stadium is a bit unfair. It was obviously taken during the National Anthem, when a lot of people are still shuffling in, or are at the concession stands. Second, if it's from this year, it was a pre-season game. (Assuming by the few people wearing Bucs clothes).

[Keith-N-Jax]

I don't see why San Diego would risk the Charges leaving. Sure they have choked many times in the playoffs, but at least they get there consistently. As for the Jags a couple more good years of drafting and I think we will be ok. I think this season will be better.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Yes it was preseason. The other cities like picking on Jax it seems. Have you seen the articles talking about David being being voted to the pro bowl as if it were his fault the other QBs backed out.

[reednavy]

I don't see why San Diego would risk the Charges leaving. Sure they have choked many times in the playoffs, but at least they get there consistently.

However, what solution does the city have? They can't afford it at all, it just isn't looking good for the Chargers and hasn't for some time.

[Ocklawaha]

So three teams - the Chargers, Raiders and Rams - all moved to LA, couldn't take LA-LA-Land, and moved out again.  LOL

Wow debbie, I want some of whatever your smoking, it's painfully obvious my opium is no where near as powerful!!

As Jeh says, "MARK MY WORDS" (by the way, that's a quote from Oliver (Babe) Hardy, early Jax Movie Star) the teams that are going to start moving around in the next 10-20 years will nearly all be from the RUST BELT cities.
With their fortunes declining, population falling rapidly, infrastructure in shambles (making them even less attractive to teams, industry and residents) and their old "craft" professions exported to China, nobody is going to want to keep a dynamic team in CLEVELAND, DETROIT, BUFFALO, and if it weren't for some other very lucky curves, GREEN BAY, PHILADELPHIA, CINCINNATI and one NEW YORK team would be looking to bail too.

ANY businessman, in business for the long haul and big profits, regardless of industry, knows for a fact, the future is not north of the Mason Dixon Line.

LOOK AHEAD! LOOK SOUTH!

OCKLAWAHA

[arthardie]

In response to Jandar's post:

Those numbers posted (framed as formidable roadblocks to relocation) are realistically small potatoes compared to the revenue a successful NFL team can earn. Essentially, what seem like large hurdles for moving a team from its lease in Jacksonville, are barely even speed bumps. Consider that Mike Vick still has a $130 million contract. Moving the team from Jacksonville would only cost a few Mike Vicks. And when you consider that successful teams have operating incomes of between $55-100 million per year, then you see that fulfilling those monetary obligations linked to relocation are just a few seasons away from being completely reimbursed. Then consider the financial stability of the NFL, and you will see that lenders/investors would easily pony up the money to pay those relocations costs in order to realize the financial benefits of relocating a team to a more profitable environment.

So, in sum my response to Jandar is, what numbers seem big to us, are small in the eyes of businessmen seeking to maximize profits from one of the country's most valued franchise products. The stats mentioned in that above post are largely irrelevant. Ticket sales are still the most vital numbers concerning the Jaguars' future. The stadium costs mentioned at the end of that post are also a non-issue as many stadiums are government-subsidized (tax payer funded) and welcomed by citizens as general municipal improvements.

[arthardie]

And last but not least, read the quote below straight from the Times Union last year: "While the Jaguars have been unable to earn $5 million per year in naming rights, the Giants and Jets are expected to receive more than $20 million annually. The Cowboys are expected to earn close to $20 million in a deal."

Don't you think a team in L.A. could expect to also earn naming rights figures equivalent to NY and Dallas? So, now you play businessman. Where do you want your franchise? Struggling to earn anything for naming rights? Or potentially pocketing $20 million?

[copperfiend]

It's been a year and the Cowboys stadium is nameless.

[jandar]

In response to Jandar's post:

Those numbers posted (framed as formidable roadblocks to relocation) are realistically small potatoes compared to the revenue a successful NFL team can earn. Essentially, what seem like large hurdles for moving a team from its lease in Jacksonville, are barely even speed bumps. Consider that Mike Vick still has a $130 million contract. Moving the team from Jacksonville would only cost a few Mike Vicks. And when you consider that successful teams have operating incomes of between $55-100 million per year, then you see that fulfilling those monetary obligations linked to relocation are just a few seasons away from being completely reimbursed. Then consider the financial stability of the NFL, and you will see that lenders/investors would easily pony up the money to pay those relocations costs in order to realize the financial benefits of relocating a team to a more profitable environment.

So, in sum my response to Jandar is, what numbers seem big to us, are small in the eyes of businessmen seeking to maximize profits from one of the country's most valued franchise products. The stats mentioned in that above post are largely irrelevant. Ticket sales are still the most vital numbers concerning the Jaguars' future. The stadium costs mentioned at the end of that post are also a non-issue as many stadiums are government-subsidized (tax payer funded) and welcomed by citizens as general municipal improvements.

Mike Vick has returned some of that contract money, and is debt (and being sued) for the rest.

Regardless of money, if the contract was broken for whatever reason, the NFL still has a policy in place to prevent a team from breaking a contract to move cities. You say you study law in Orlando, you might want to focus on contract law. That is a bear of a subject, and the Wayne Weaver and the City of Jacksonville together wrote a good one to prevent the Jags from leaving anytime soon.

Jacksonville is being used as a smoke screen. Nothing more.

[ac]

Meanwhile, at the Team Teal function last night, the Jaguars announced over 1850 new season-ticket sales for the month of January.  Those are net new sales, not renewals.  Renewal invoices are going out right now.

Total combined January ticket sales for the previous 2 seasons? 13.

Of that 1850-plus sold, nearly a third opted for a three-year commitment.  Can't rest easy by any means, but this is an excellent start.

[copperfiend]

Great start for Boselli and his crew.