Metro Jacksonville

Living in Jacksonville => Sports => Topic started by: stjr on February 05, 2010, 12:53:12 PM

Title: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: stjr on February 05, 2010, 12:53:12 PM
QuoteGoodell hopes for better numbers in Jacksonville

The Associated Press
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Attendance at Jacksonville Jaguars' home games continues to be a concern for the NFL.

Commissioner Roger Goodell says he's had several talks with Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver about the ongoing issue. The Jaguars often played before a half-filled stadium this season, and Goodell says with attendance around 40,000 per game, "you can't continue to have an NFL franchise."

About 17,000 Jacksonville fans opted not to renew their season tickets this year, many citing the economic climate.

Goodell says the NFL is aware of what's happening in the game's marketplace and the challenges fans and the league's business partners are facing.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/breaking-news/story/1464817.html
Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: Dapperdan on February 05, 2010, 01:07:13 PM
The stadium was never half full. Our capacity is not 80,000. It is around 60,000 so it was more like 1/3 empty.
Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: ac on February 05, 2010, 01:07:56 PM
He's not saying anything untrue, but he also mentioned that the team has made progress in selling tickets.

The Herald's comment about the 17k non-renewals should apply to last year.  Renewal notices for this year (2010) just went out last week.

The Jaguars reported over 1800 new season ticket sales for the month of January (They sold only 13 in January the previous two years combined).  The year-to-date number was up to 2200 as of this week, per a Champion's Club member.

It's a drop in the bucket, but it shows progress.
Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: Basstacular on February 05, 2010, 01:10:33 PM
Not to ignore the ticket issues in Jax, but Oakland averaged 5K less than us in attendance last year.  I think the citizens of Jax will step up this year and show their support.  My group alone consists of 14 ticket holders for 2010, 6 of us are renewals and the other 8 are people who were previous ticket holders or opened new accounts.
Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: copperfiend on February 05, 2010, 01:12:25 PM
Progress is being made. He wasn't saying anything that was not already known although I am waiting for the national media to jump on it. Just give it a few hours.
Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: Shwaz on February 05, 2010, 01:17:42 PM
Quote from: Basstacular on February 05, 2010, 01:10:33 PM
Not to ignore the ticket issues in Jax, but Oakland averaged 5K less than us in attendance last year.  I think the citizens of Jax will step up this year and show their support.  My group alone consists of 14 ticket holders for 2010, 6 of us are renewals and the other 8 are people who were previous ticket holders or opened new accounts.

I love posts like this : D
Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: BridgeTroll on February 05, 2010, 01:23:36 PM
Mr Goodell needs to direct more of his attention to the coming labor dispute.  I saw some of the NFLPA press conference yesterday and things look pretty grim.  Of course there is plenty of time but the longer each side entrenches the worse it could become.
Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: Basstacular on February 05, 2010, 01:25:10 PM
Quote from: BridgeTroll on February 05, 2010, 01:23:36 PM
Mr Goodell needs to direct more of his attention to the coming labor dispute.  I saw some of the NFLPA press conference yesterday and things look pretty grim.  Of course there is plenty of time but the longer each side entrenches the worse it could become.

Player rep De Smith when asked what he thought the chances of a lock out would be on a scale of 1 to 10, he answered 14.
Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: buckethead on February 05, 2010, 01:27:04 PM
Better to focus on ticket sales in Jax.

"Mr Goodell! Why hasn't the labor dispute been settled? It's 1 week from the opening of training camp and still no deal!"

* "Primarily because ticket sales in our small markets aren't up to snuff. In fact, Jacksonville is the root cause of worldwide hunger."
Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: BridgeTroll on February 05, 2010, 01:28:15 PM
Yeah... some of their talking points...

Owners want the NFLPA to take a 18% pay cut...

Owners negotiated the latest TV contract to include a clause that in the event of a strike... they get paid regardless.  The NFLPA calls this "Strike insurance".

Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: avonjax on February 05, 2010, 04:07:23 PM
The NFL and the national sports media has made a "whipping boy," out of the Jaguars. According to what I have read several teams in the NFL had major attendance problems last year, including San Diego who made the playoffs. I wish they would SHUT THE "BLANK" UP!!!!
If my facts are incorrect please correct.
Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: Coolyfett on February 05, 2010, 06:19:16 PM
Ill say it til my face is blue! America does not want Jacksonville to have that team. The Media does not want Jax to have that team. I really wish Jacksonville would see the big picture and understand it is Jax against the nation. Many teams have went through what Jax went through in 2009......but none have been picked on like Jacksonvillle has been picked.  this is coming from the Miami area, of course they want the Jags gone.
Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: ac on February 05, 2010, 07:09:25 PM
Tweet this evening from Jaguars CFO Bill Prescott (@wrpjag):

QuoteAs of today 2,300 new season tickets sold in the general bowl vs. 2,200 for all of last year. Excellent start but a long way to go
Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: Keith-N-Jax on February 05, 2010, 07:32:33 PM
It's positive news.
Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: ac on February 05, 2010, 07:39:44 PM
Yep.  Gotta keep combating perception with reality.
Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: heights unknown on February 05, 2010, 11:42:13 PM
Always picking on Jacksonville; what about Green Bay, Oakland, San Diego?  Oh, let's talk about Jacksonville in order to divert attention away from the problems with the NFLPA.

He's also probably trying to justify moving the Jaguars to LA; LA wasn't successful either when they did have a football team.

"HU"
Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: mtraininjax on February 06, 2010, 10:21:42 AM
QuoteThe NFL and the national sports media has made a "whipping boy," out of the Jaguars. According to what I have read several teams in the NFL had major attendance problems last year, including San Diego who made the playoffs. I wish they would SHUT THE "BLANK" UP!!!!

Amen. South Florida is just directing flack about needing a 1 Billion dollar stadium like Dallas or Indy, to keep up with having more super bowls. Commish already said Joe Robbie, at age 20, is looking tired and old.

If the SB was in California, it would not be an issue in Jax. But we get Miami to host it and all of a sudden Jax is a black eye. Did anyone know that California asked the Feds for 21 BILLION to bail out the state? As bad as things are in FL, they are worse in CA. The Commish lives in fantasyland, who said the NFL owners would vote to move a franchise? Don't they belong to the owners?

We will see 20,000 new tickets sold for this year, and next year will be a non-issue. Smith will bring in some new talent for the draft, we'll go 9-7 or 10-6 and be thankful we have an average coach.
Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: Wacca Pilatka on February 06, 2010, 11:30:58 AM
Already at 2,300 new season tickets sold for 2010 per Bill Prescott as of yesterday.
Title: Re: NFL Commissioner Concerned About Jax
Post by: Seraphs on February 07, 2010, 09:15:37 PM
Quote from: Coolyfett on February 05, 2010, 06:19:16 PM
Ill say it til my face is blue! America does not want Jacksonville to have that team. The Media does not want Jax to have that team. I really wish Jacksonville would see the big picture and understand it is Jax against the nation. Many teams have went through what Jax went through in 2009......but none have been picked on like Jacksonvillle has been picked.  this is coming from the Miami area, of course they want the Jags gone.

What you're saying is so true.  I'm mad as hell.  I get sick and tired of hearing this bulls__t!  I can remember awhile back when Atlanta played NFL games before less than half of their stadium capacity.  This happened many times I never heard all the hoopla of taking their team.  Tampa Bay struggled for years so did many others.  We have one down year and all of a sudden we're the armpit of the NFL.  Which like you said they don't want us to have a team.

Truly, the people of this community better wake up quickly.  We don't need to give them any leverage.  Let's keep the Jags.  Go Jaguars!!!  The hell with the bitter SOB's.