The Jaguars - NFL Relocations and the LA Stadium Plan
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/717152458_HBQdG-M.jpg)
It's one of the most talked about topics at the water cooler - the Jaguars - and their ticket sales woes. Up to this point, the Jaguars have yet to even be close to selling out any of their home games, and most likely will not for the rest of the year. It seems every national media outlet has had at least one writer take a shot at Jacksonville for the lack of ticket sales. Today, Metro Jacksonville continues its seven part series discussing the Jaguars and the Jacksonville Market, and how they compare to other NFL cities.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-jan-the-jaguars-nfl-relocations-and-the-la-stadium-plan
Man, I feel like I repeat myself on every forum post online about the Jags moving to LA.
But here it is again.
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In 2002, the Jaguars and the City of Jacksonville extended the stadium lease to 2030.
There is a performance clause written into that lease that states that ALL home games be played in the stadium until 2030. This prevents Jacksonville from losing a home game to go play in London. If/when they do go, it will be as a visitor.
For the Jaguars (regardless of ownership) to break that lease requires:
1. The NFL to change its written policy for a team to break a stadium lease to move to a new city.
2. The Jags would have to open their books and prove to the city that they lost money for three straight years. (good luck with that, the NFLPA would have a field day knowing what an org makes/loses)
3. Pay back the City of Jacksonville the remainder of the lease agreement (around 50 million) in one lump check immediately upon termination of the lease.
4. Reimburse the city for lost parking revenue, ticket surcharges, and other things. This could total 200 million as well.
Wayne Weaver wrote that lease with the city in order to keep the Jaguars there. It was his idea to include the clauses for breaking the lease.
They can only get out of the money if they have a local judge say that the stadium has poor maintenance. (not likely, it just had a 33 million dollar update to get the SuperBowl a few years back)
If Wayne Weaver were to sell the team, (worth around 800 million, the new owner could move them, after paying another 250+ million in fees and broken contracts. Then spend what, another billion or so on a new stadium?
Quote from: Metro Jacksonville on January 29, 2010, 04:11:42 AM
It's one of the most talked about topics at the water cooler - the Jaguars - and their ticket sales woes. Up to this point, the Jaguars have yet to even be close to selling out any of their home games, and most likely will not for the rest of the year.
You might want to update this part.
Jandar - Good information, Ask Lake or one of the Admins to put your info at the top of every Jags post for possible move.
It still makes me want to spit bullets what Art *bleeping* Modell did to my Browns, and the city as a whole. The man deserves every single bit of bile that comes his way, and then some. There's not a single Browns fan anywhere that doesn't believe he has a special room in Hell reserved for him.
If the voters are ever dumb enough to put him in the Hall of Fame (which thankfully is becoming less and less likely with each passing year), induction day will be a riot like you've never seen - remember, the HoF is about an hour south of Cleveland, and still in Browns fan territory.
"All of the teams above have stadium issues except the Bills and Jaguars (the Bills are having revenue issues in a city losing people, and the Jaguars aren’t filling the stadium)."
This assertion regarding the Bills' stadium is not exactly true. I recently attended a Bills game in Buffalo, NY, and Rich Stadium is a decaying facility. It is severely out dated.
Quote from: Clem1029 on January 29, 2010, 09:24:17 AM
It still makes me want to spit bullets what Art *bleeping* Modell did to my Browns, and the city as a whole. The man deserves every since bit of bile that comes his way, and then some. There's not a single Browns fan anywhere that doesn't believe he has a special room in Hell reserved for him.
If the voters are ever dumb enough to put him in the Hall of Fame (which thankfully is becoming less and less likely with each passing year), induction day will be a riot like you've never seen - remember, the HoF is about an hour south of Cleveland, and still in Browns fan territory.
the folks in baltimore like him quite a bit though!
Quote from: tufsu1 on January 29, 2010, 10:58:39 AM
the folks in baltimore like him quite a bit though!
Which is why many people tend to shrug off all the hand-wringing that is associated with that "Mayflower truck in the snow" picture posted in the article. ;)
Just a little background, the Bidwells and the St. Louis Cardinals were driven out of St. Louis. Once the Bidwells/Cardinals left town, it took the St. Louis a brief period to plan, fund and construct the Edward Jones Dome (half the time it took the Arizona Cardinals to build a facility in that AZ) and entice the Rams out of LA. The Cardinals would still be in St. Louis and the Rams would still be in LA if it were not for Bill Bidwell's selfish, 15 year attempt to hold St. Louis hostage for a new stadium.
^Mostly true. However, St Louis build the Edward Jones Dome thinking that they would be a shoe-in for the expansion team, but were denied. The Rams thing only happened because LA couldn't put together a stadium plan.
Quote from: aaapolito on January 29, 2010, 10:57:43 AM
This assertion regarding the Bills' stadium is not exactly true. I recently attended a Bills game in Buffalo, NY, and Rich Stadium is a decaying facility. It is severely out dated.
Yes, but the stadium is not their largest concern. The biggest issue is the population loss. Even if you built a state of the art facility with all the bells and whistles, you need people to spend money at those places. With the loss of companies and population, there is less of a draw for that each year.
Quote from: jandar on January 29, 2010, 07:49:42 AM
1. The NFL to change its written policy for a team to break a stadium lease to move to a new city.
2. The Jags would have to open their books and prove to the city that they lost money for three straight years. (good luck with that, the NFLPA would have a field day knowing what an org makes/loses)
3. Pay back the City of Jacksonville the remainder of the lease agreement (around 50 million) in one lump check immediately upon termination of the lease.
4. Reimburse the city for lost parking revenue, ticket surcharges, and other things. This could total 200 million as well.
Here's my thought:
Point 1 - Not hard to do, espeically if that relocation is surrounding LA and the TV contracts.
Point 2 - If they have 2 more years like this past year, it may be worth it to open the books.
Point 3 - Agreed, this might be tough, but it's around 50 million today. It goes down each year. It may become worth it if we have some more years like last year.
Point 4 - Again, this goes down over time.
Quote from: jandar on January 29, 2010, 07:49:42 AM
Wayne Weaver wrote that lease with the city in order to keep the Jaguars there. It was his idea to include the clauses for breaking the lease.
They can only get out of the money if they have a local judge say that the stadium has poor maintenance. (not likely, it just had a 33 million dollar update to get the SuperBowl a few years back)
If Wayne Weaver were to sell the team, (worth around 800 million, the new owner could move them, after paying another 250+ million in fees and broken contracts. Then spend what, another billion or so on a new stadium?
Keep this in mind - I believe Wayne Weaver completely when he says he doesn't want to move the team. My concern is that he will be 75 this year, and Ed Roski seems to have a decent plan for an LA stadium. While it would be expensive, so is losing millions each year.
The Jaguars are not, I repeat, NOT going anywhere anytime soon!
Not sure if anyone has seen the update on Jaguars.com about tickets, but things are looking much better. In the previous two years the jaguars sold 13 new season tickets and 0 new season tickets in Jan. Compare that to the 1300 season tickets sold this Jan. with the hopes of reaching 2000 and it seems the community is rallying. Of course, the big test will be the renewal rate of previous season ticket holders, but I am plenty optimistic with news like this.
And just to add my personal situation, I will be sitting in a block in section #205 with 13 other friends, six of us were renewals and the other 8 are friends who either once had season tickets and renewed or are new season ticket holders.
http://www.jaguars.com/news/article.aspx?id=8695 (http://www.jaguars.com/news/article.aspx?id=8695)
Also, like their idea of keeping a constant update on our ticket stauts, kind of like a counter I hope. Anyways, just felt like passing along some good news to other Jag fans.
So three teams - the Chargers, Raiders and Rams - all moved to LA, couldn't take LA-LA-Land, and moved out again. LOL
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....
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...
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.
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"
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).
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.
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.
Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on January 29, 2010, 10:19:21 PM
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.
Quote from: Debbie Thompson on January 29, 2010, 02:07:56 PM
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
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.
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?
It's been a year and the Cowboys stadium is nameless.
Quote from: arthardie on February 02, 2010, 09:18:01 AM
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.
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.
Great start for Boselli and his crew.
Quote...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.
Ock, I agree, some of these cities have demographic issues coming down the pike. But, I am not sure all of them do.
Buffalo and Detroit seem to me to be the worst, anecdotally. Don't know much about Green Bay other than it is the smallest NFL market. That the local citizens own the team may keep them there almost forever.
Cleveland may be a toss up but I wouldn't write them off so quickly. After all, they managed to attract the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame not too many years ago. Cincy looks to me to still have a pulse.
Philly and New York, when you take in their suburbs, come across as very much alive and well. I wouldn't think twice of putting them on this list.
The Packers are extremely unlikely to ever be sold or moved. There is no profit in doing so...
QuoteBased on the original "Articles of Incorporation for the (then) Green Bay Football Corporation" put into place in 1923, if the Packers franchise were to have been sold, after the payment of all expenses, any remaining money would go to the Sullivan Post of the American Legion in order to build "a proper soldier's memorial." This stipulation was enacted to ensure the club remained in Green Bay and that there could never be any financial enhancement for the shareholders. At the November 1997 annual meeting, shareholders voted to change the beneficiary from the Sullivan-Wallen Post to the Green Bay Packers Foundation, which makes donations to many charities and institutions throughout Wisconsin.
This is a very interesting read BTW...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Bay_Packers
As of today, per Jaguars.com, we have sold a little over 3,000 new season tickets so far. Keep it up!!!!
Rams definitely to Inglewood (Stan Kroenke's stadium proposal). Chargers have option to join them. Raiders to stay in Oakland.
I feel for St. Louis fans.....
Thanks for bring up this archaic abomination from the dead, when we are already have more appropriate recent threads...
I think the Rams returning to LA is a good thing. In a perfect world, the Raiders would have moved to LA and the Rams would have stayed in STL but that was not going to happen with the Davis family being looked upon as so inept these days. The Chargers need to stay in San Diego. Everyone keeps acting as if LA has an appetite for two teams but I don't believe it. The corporate community does and that is what the NFL is after but not the fans. The only way LA should get a second team is if its the Raiders since they already have a fan base in SoCal.
After LA, I think the Raiders could end up in 1) San Antonio 2) Portland 3) STL 4) Las Vegas 5) OKC
I do think STL is a danger to Jax in the next several years with Khan's ties to the area. Other than the pie in the sky London move, STL is the first place I would worry about since a move to STL would not throw off the current allignment either considering STL is close enough to the South and very close to Indy and Nashville.
But again, I think the NFL was very strategic in putting a team here because we are a growing area and the city has been very committed to the team. Everbank is a great facility.
In the end, I think the Chargers stay home or join in Inglewood. The Raiders go to LA, or attempt to go to San Antonio with a plot of land in the suburbs closer to Austin. Jerry Jones will try to block that move (since he owns that area currently). If he is successful, the Raiders would seriously look at STL and Las Vegas, maybe San Diego if the Chargers move.
Quote from: FlaBoy on January 13, 2016, 08:47:10 AM
I think the Rams returning to LA is a good thing. In a perfect world, the Raiders would have moved to LA and the Rams would have stayed in STL but that was not going to happen with the Davis family being looked upon as so inept these days. The Chargers need to stay in San Diego. Everyone keeps acting as if LA has an appetite for two teams but I don't believe it. The corporate community does and that is what the NFL is after but not the fans. The only way LA should get a second team is if its the Raiders since they already have a fan base in SoCal.
After LA, I think the Raiders could end up in 1) San Antonio 2) Portland 3) STL 4) Las Vegas 5) OKC
I do think STL is a danger to Jax in the next several years with Khan's ties to the area. Other than the pie in the sky London move, STL is the first place I would worry about since a move to STL would not throw off the current allignment either considering STL is close enough to the South and very close to Indy and Nashville.
But again, I think the NFL was very strategic in putting a team here because we are a growing area and the city has been very committed to the team. Everbank is a great facility.
In the end, I think the Chargers stay home or join in Inglewood. The Raiders go to LA, or attempt to go to San Antonio with a plot of land in the suburbs closer to Austin. Jerry Jones will try to block that move (since he owns that area currently). If he is successful, the Raiders would seriously look at STL and Las Vegas, maybe San Diego if the Chargers move.
Oakland has backed out of the LA deal. As part of backing out, the NFL will give them an additional $200 Million to build a new stadium in Oakland. They aren't moving.
Also part of the deal of the Inglewood deal, I believe San Diego is blocked from getting a team for a long time. Don't want to create a 2 team market in LA and then add another So. Cal team to eat into it.
There's no guarantee the Raiders will be staying in Oakland.
http://www.csnbayarea.com/raiders/davis-wont-commit-raiders-playing-oakland-next-season
Quote from: FlaBoy on January 13, 2016, 08:47:10 AM
I think the Rams returning to LA is a good thing. In a perfect world, the Raiders would have moved to LA and the Rams would have stayed in STL but that was not going to happen with the Davis family being looked upon as so inept these days. The Chargers need to stay in San Diego. Everyone keeps acting as if LA has an appetite for two teams but I don't believe it. The corporate community does and that is what the NFL is after but not the fans. The only way LA should get a second team is if its the Raiders since they already have a fan base in SoCal.
After LA, I think the Raiders could end up in 1) San Antonio 2) Portland 3) STL 4) Las Vegas 5) OKC
I do think STL is a danger to Jax in the next several years with Khan's ties to the area. Other than the pie in the sky London move, STL is the first place I would worry about since a move to STL would not throw off the current allignment either considering STL is close enough to the South and very close to Indy and Nashville.
But again, I think the NFL was very strategic in putting a team here because we are a growing area and the city has been very committed to the team. Everbank is a great facility.
In the end, I think the Chargers stay home or join in Inglewood. The Raiders go to LA, or attempt to go to San Antonio with a plot of land in the suburbs closer to Austin. Jerry Jones will try to block that move (since he owns that area currently). If he is successful, the Raiders would seriously look at STL and Las Vegas, maybe San Diego if the Chargers move.
Khan was already asked about this very theory by the St. Louis media last night and said he has no interest. I think St. Louis may be out of the discussion for a while. They've now lost two teams in the last 30 years. From a business perspective, that's very unnerving for any potential franchisee who wants to relocate to that market.
Agreed. St. Louis is damaged goods now. Also, for Khan, there is an advantage to being the only show in town here. The corporate base is split between the Cards and Blues currently in STL.
A lot can happen down the road, but STL's mayor pretty much said "F*ck the NFL, we're done with them."
Quote from: E_Dubya on January 13, 2016, 10:36:06 AM
Quote from: FlaBoy on January 13, 2016, 08:47:10 AM
I think the Rams returning to LA is a good thing. In a perfect world, the Raiders would have moved to LA and the Rams would have stayed in STL but that was not going to happen with the Davis family being looked upon as so inept these days. The Chargers need to stay in San Diego. Everyone keeps acting as if LA has an appetite for two teams but I don't believe it. The corporate community does and that is what the NFL is after but not the fans. The only way LA should get a second team is if its the Raiders since they already have a fan base in SoCal.
After LA, I think the Raiders could end up in 1) San Antonio 2) Portland 3) STL 4) Las Vegas 5) OKC
I do think STL is a danger to Jax in the next several years with Khan's ties to the area. Other than the pie in the sky London move, STL is the first place I would worry about since a move to STL would not throw off the current allignment either considering STL is close enough to the South and very close to Indy and Nashville.
But again, I think the NFL was very strategic in putting a team here because we are a growing area and the city has been very committed to the team. Everbank is a great facility.
In the end, I think the Chargers stay home or join in Inglewood. The Raiders go to LA, or attempt to go to San Antonio with a plot of land in the suburbs closer to Austin. Jerry Jones will try to block that move (since he owns that area currently). If he is successful, the Raiders would seriously look at STL and Las Vegas, maybe San Diego if the Chargers move.
Khan was already asked about this very theory by the St. Louis media last night and said he has no interest. I think St. Louis may be out of the discussion for a while. They've now lost two teams in the last 30 years. From a business perspective, that's very unnerving for any potential franchisee who wants to relocate to that market.
Jags have doubled in value since Khan took over. They aren't going anywhere. More here:
Shad Khan: Jaguars moving to St. Louis isn't a possibilityhttp://espn.go.com/blog/jacksonville-jaguars/post/_/id/16532/shad-khan-jaguars-moving-to-st-louis-isnt-a-possibility
Quote from: KenFSU on January 13, 2016, 02:13:34 PM
A lot can happen down the road, but STL's mayor pretty much said "F*ck the NFL, we're done with them."
I think worse for St. Louis, two separate ownership groups have said "To hell with St. Louis, we're done with them." That's a pretty damning action for the city. Football will always stand third in line behind baseball and hockey there, and certainly doesn't help their case.
Quote from: E_Dubya on January 13, 2016, 02:28:06 PM
Quote from: KenFSU on January 13, 2016, 02:13:34 PM
A lot can happen down the road, but STL's mayor pretty much said "F*ck the NFL, we're done with them."
I think worse for St. Louis, two separate ownership groups have said "To hell with St. Louis, we're done with them." That's a pretty damning action for the city. Football will always stand third in line behind baseball and hockey there, and certainly doesn't help their case.
Not to mention the NFL was so underwhelmed by St.Louis during the 1993 expansion process they practically begged Jacksonville to resubmit their bid.
Khan's "ties to St. Louis" are vastly overrated. He lives and has his business in Illinois a couple of hours from St. Louis, but that's it. He's tied to St. Louis no more than a Jacksonville resident is tied to Savannah. His son lives in Jacksonville. He tried to purchase the Rams because they were for sale, not because of a special affinity or personal bond with St. Louis.
No ill will toward St. Louis intended in that comment. Just getting annoying how sportswriters are now trying to stir this pot after their Jaguars to Los Angeles delusions died out.
As for Portland, Las Vegas, and OKC,
- Portland has ideal NFL market size but nothing resembling an NFL stadium, and I would imagine, no desire to build one (witness the recent brouhaha in Portland over building an MLS stadium). It also has two pro sports franchises, many of its residents follow the Seahawks, and showed virtually no interest in its one fling with pro football (the USFL Portland Breakers)
- Las Vegas also has the requisite size and no team in town, but it doesn't have an NFL grade stadium, and goodness knows there are other issues that have kept pro sports from touching Las Vegas
- OKC is only about the size of Jacksonville and already has a pro team. Its only venue that's NFL sized (the Sooners' stadium in Norman) is not NFL grade and is well south of the center of population and growth for the area
Quote from: Bridges on January 13, 2016, 08:58:30 AM
Quote from: FlaBoy on January 13, 2016, 08:47:10 AM
I think the Rams returning to LA is a good thing. In a perfect world, the Raiders would have moved to LA and the Rams would have stayed in STL but that was not going to happen with the Davis family being looked upon as so inept these days. The Chargers need to stay in San Diego. Everyone keeps acting as if LA has an appetite for two teams but I don't believe it. The corporate community does and that is what the NFL is after but not the fans. The only way LA should get a second team is if its the Raiders since they already have a fan base in SoCal.
After LA, I think the Raiders could end up in 1) San Antonio 2) Portland 3) STL 4) Las Vegas 5) OKC
I do think STL is a danger to Jax in the next several years with Khan's ties to the area. Other than the pie in the sky London move, STL is the first place I would worry about since a move to STL would not throw off the current allignment either considering STL is close enough to the South and very close to Indy and Nashville.
But again, I think the NFL was very strategic in putting a team here because we are a growing area and the city has been very committed to the team. Everbank is a great facility.
In the end, I think the Chargers stay home or join in Inglewood. The Raiders go to LA, or attempt to go to San Antonio with a plot of land in the suburbs closer to Austin. Jerry Jones will try to block that move (since he owns that area currently). If he is successful, the Raiders would seriously look at STL and Las Vegas, maybe San Diego if the Chargers move.
Oakland has backed out of the LA deal. As part of backing out, the NFL will give them an additional $200 Million to build a new stadium in Oakland. They aren't moving.
Also part of the deal of the Inglewood deal, I believe San Diego is blocked from getting a team for a long time. Don't want to create a 2 team market in LA and then add another So. Cal team to eat into it.
Oakland is just next in line if the Chargers balk at the LA deal. Can you provide a source on the language concerning SD being blocked? Is this in legal documents or a gentleman's agreement? It kind of doesn't matter anyway since 24 owners can make anything happen unless the NFL contractually binds itself, which I doubt.
Also, Jacksonville is a growing city in the fastest growing state in the country. The Jags need a few winning seasons again to really expand the fan base, but areas like Daytona Beach/Ormond Beach and even into the northeastern parts of the Orlando Metro are accessible to fan growth. Jacksonville will be between the 35th and 38th largest metro in 20 years and that has been the slow play of the NFL since the beginning. They knew Jax was small when they gave the city the Jags, but they also knew the city would keep growing. In 30 years, there will be little difference between the size of the metros of Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Nashville. We will be larger than Cleveland, Buffalo, Milwaukee (always included with Green Bay), and New Orleans.