Has anyone been paying attention to the AFL. Yes I know. Its indoor football and the players might not be up to NFL standards. But its still an exciting game thats pretty much packing the arena..and why? Because they are WINNING! Pay attention Jaguars. Thats how you fill seats. The Sharks are 7-2. Its fast paced. Its fun. The fans get to interact with the players. And the prices are reasonable. Hardly any mention on the main stream media about them even though we have a QB who has the all time Touchdown record for AFL QB's. I support the team.
Quotethe players might not be up to NFL standards.
Plenty are, have & will be though! I don't expect Dallas Baker to be with the team much longer given his performances of late - he's like a man amongst boys out there & his sound bites indicate that this is an audition. It's cheap fun & I'm glad that it's indoors during the summer months, but bring on fall! Go Sharks. Go Jags.
Went to one game and had a blast. Tailgating at the fairgrounds is pretty good. Sat in the cheap seats $15 and had a good view of everything...
Quote from: jbroadglide on June 08, 2010, 10:24:53 AM
Has anyone been paying attention to the AFL. Yes I know. Its indoor football and the players might not be up to NFL standards. But its still an exciting game thats pretty much packing the arena..and why? Because they are WINNING! Pay attention Jaguars. Thats how you fill seats. The Sharks are 7-2. Its fast paced. Its fun. The fans get to interact with the players. And the prices are reasonable. Hardly any mention on the main stream media about them even though we have a QB who has the all time Touchdown record for AFL QB's. I support the team.
What should the Jaguars be paying attention to exactly?
A winning team fills seats..Period. It doesn't matter what certain player from what certain school. The team wins. The fans support.
Dallas Baker was probably their best offensive player at the game I saw (the most recent home game). There is maybe one receiver who is better than he is. I love Sharks games and can't wait to go to the next home game.
Has any one seen any attendance numbers for the Sharks or the other teams around the league?
Quote from: stephenc on June 08, 2010, 10:56:08 AM
Has any one seen any attendance numbers for the Sharks or the other teams around the league?
Sharks are 3rd in the league in attendance... behind Tampa and Orlando(who has a losing record)
Just looked it up and according to the site I found, the Sharks are averaging 10574.
Tampa leads the league averaging 14k. After that, there is a cluster of teams averaging 8-11k a game that includes the Sharks. There are some averaging as little as 3-5k per game.
http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=yearly&histleague=3&fpage=attendance&year=2010
Imagine how they will pack the stadium in two years when Tebow is out of the NFL and playing for the Sharks (insert stirring the pot emoticon)!!
St Auggie that was laugh out loud funny! I don't care you are. that was funny right there..
Quote from: jbroadglide on June 08, 2010, 10:50:21 AM
A winning team fills seats..Period. It doesn't matter what certain player from what certain school. The team wins. The fans support.
I guess it's all in what you demand as a sports fan. I prefer to watch football being played at it's highest level. That is why I go to Jaguar games. The Sharks are entertaining but it is simply a minor league for guys not good enough to play in the NFL. There might be a guy here or there that makes it to the NFL but they will be few and far between.
I was going to say it is like comparing the Suns to the Marlins and saying you would rather watch the Suns play but at least in minor league baseball you could be watching a potential superstar like Mike Stanton.
The truth is there is nothing for the Jaguars to learn from the Sharks.
Quote from: jbroadglide on June 08, 2010, 10:50:21 AM
A winning team fills seats..Period. It doesn't matter what certain player from what certain school. The team wins. The fans support.
Dedicated fans fill the seats.. Period. I do agree with the "certain player" from a "certain school" doesn't matter though! The number of new season tickets sold this year for the Jags would sell out the Sharks game easily.
Anyways, back to the Jax Sharks. I went to the home opener.. it was fun and entertaining.. A little different, but football nonetheless.
The USFL needs to come back!
Tickets are ridiculously cheap so it makes a good night out. We purchased "season" tickets for 8 games at $117 for two people ~$7 per game = good cheap fun and gets my husband through the drought until NFL season starts
Quote from: jbroadglide on June 08, 2010, 10:24:53 AM
Has anyone been paying attention to the AFL. Yes I know. Its indoor football and the players might not be up to NFL standards. But its still an exciting game thats pretty much packing the arena..and why? Because they are WINNING! Pay attention Jaguars. Thats how you fill seats. The Sharks are 7-2. Its fast paced. Its fun. The fans get to interact with the players. And the prices are reasonable. Hardly any mention on the main stream media about them even though we have a QB who has the all time Touchdown record for AFL QB's. I support the team.
Is the implication here that the Jaguars aren't trying to win? Or that their ticket prices are in some way unreasonable compared to the rest of the NFL? I don't understand it.
Quote from: RiversideJodi on June 08, 2010, 11:47:21 AM
Tickets are ridiculously cheap so it makes a good night out. We purchased "season" tickets for 8 games at $117 for two people ~$7 per game = good cheap fun and gets my husband through the drought until NFL season starts
That's a nice void that arena football helps to fill. I wish I still had the Norfolk Nighthawks here to fall back on. Instead I end up watching every Jaguar clip on Youtube twice over.
Quote from: jbroadglide on June 08, 2010, 10:24:53 AM
Has anyone been paying attention to the AFL. Yes I know. Its indoor football and the players might not be up to NFL standards. But its still an exciting game thats pretty much packing the arena..and why? Because they are WINNING! Pay attention Jaguars. Thats how you fill seats. The Sharks are 7-2. Its fast paced. Its fun. The fans get to interact with the players. And the prices are reasonable. Hardly any mention on the main stream media about them even though we have a QB who has the all time Touchdown record for AFL QB's. I support the team.
:D You can charge $2 a ticket when the players get paid like janitors
Hey even Ray Kroc and Sam Walton started at the bottom of the ladder for low wages. Everyone has to start somewhere. For these guys, and a fellow by the name of Kurt Warner, maybe the AFL is their stepping stone. to something better. No not all of them. But who knows.
Quote from: jbroadglide on June 08, 2010, 01:49:49 PM
Hey even Ray Kroc and Sam Walton started at the bottom of the ladder for low wages. Everyone has to start somewhere. For these guys, and a fellow by the name of Kurt Warner, maybe the AFL is their stepping stone. to something better. No not all of them. But who knows.
If & when they do advance... be prepared to spend 3 x as much to go see them play :)
Considering that 99% are making $400 per game (yes, $400), I'd say that most aren't content.
I was able to catch the Sharks game on the CW on saturday night. Lots of fun to watch, despite the loss to Arizona. The crowd looked really engaged too.
The sharks game on Saturday was upsetting. The crowd was great and huge, 12,000+. I've seen us play much better, but our defense was what cost us that game.
Hey Cap, if you go to the game this saturday, I'll be down on the field with a Red Harley Davidson and a gorgeous Shark Attack cheerleader on board. Should be about 6:40pm.
I'm planning on going to the game against Tampa in a couple weeks.
I will be attending my first Sharks game this weekend. I am finally off weekends and night shift. Thank God. Anyway, I've been hearing alot about the Sharks and the fans at the arena so I am excited to be going and this game is for the division I think. Looking forward to it.
Taking my youth group to Saturday's game. Got ourselves 18 tickets.
Hello Metro Jacksonvillians!!
If you're going to the game this Saturday, make your outing a whole EXPERIENCE by stopping at City Hall Pub
We host SHARK FEST before and after EVERY Sharks game, on our patio, right next door to the arena.
We've got the ultimate LIVE ACDC tribute, kicking off at 4 p.m.
Then join the Sharks players & cheerleaders at the Official After Party at City Hall Pub after the game!
What a great game Saturday against Tampa! Back to 1st in the division and a solid shot at clinching in the next game or two.
Can't wait for the playoffs!
You aren't kidding Jason! Great game...But aren't we tied with Tampa atop the Division? If both teams win their last 2 games we would win the division because we have beaten Tampa twice.
I couldn't make it to the game this past Saturday, but I did watch it on tv. TV doesn't even come close to the experience of the game. Unlike NFL or NCAA football where the viewing of the game itself is enhanced by TV, the Sharks production quality was awful and the cameramen stunk. The commentators, on the other hand, were amazing. To the point and hilarious.
If you haven't been to a Sharks game, you need to go!! I'll be there in two weeks for sure.
Agree with you 110% Cap on the production value. Not sure if its CW17 or the Sharks that handle the production but it is awful. Hopefully next year it'll be better. I can't make the final home game but I have my season tix for next year baby!!
You can't expect much from a CW affiliate showing minor league football.
Quote from: jbroadglide on July 20, 2010, 10:00:40 AM
You aren't kidding Jason! Great game...But aren't we tied with Tampa atop the Division? If both teams win their last 2 games we would win the division because we have beaten Tampa twice.
We are leading the division because we hold the tie-breaker by having beaten Tampa twice. Sharks have one divisional game left while Tampa has two. One of which is Orlando.
Either way we are playoff bound! It would be nice if at least 1 playoff game was at SeaBest Field.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on July 20, 2010, 10:01:11 AM
I couldn't make it to the game this past Saturday, but I did watch it on tv. TV doesn't even come close to the experience of the game. Unlike NFL or NCAA football where the viewing of the game itself is enhanced by TV, the Sharks production quality was awful and the cameramen stunk. The commentators, on the other hand, were amazing. To the point and hilarious.
If you haven't been to a Sharks game, you need to go!! I'll be there in two weeks for sure.
Tom McManus is a great color man. His raido show 0600-0900 on AM 930 is pretty good as well.
Quote from: Jason on June 29, 2010, 09:53:25 AM
I was able to catch the Sharks game on the CW on Saturday night. Lots of fun to watch, despite the loss to Arizona. The crowd looked really engaged too.
That was my first Sharks game and a great one at that, especially at the end where they had to ask the crowd for a football to finish up. The jean skirt/whitey tightie flashing cross dresser (during one of the intermission crowd participation games) really added to the experience too, I think.
Tampa scared me on that last drive though, and that would’ve tied it up if it weren’t for them botching the extra point.
The only misconception I had about the sharks game is I thought they were shorter, not the 3 hours that Saturday night's game took to play. Regardless, not a bad way to spend 19 bucks!
Quote from: jbroadglide on July 20, 2010, 11:51:23 AM
Either way we are playoff bound! It would be nice if at least 1 playoff game was at SeaBest Field.
Yes, definitely clenched a playoff birth but if we win out the season there will be a home field advantage by having the top record in the conference.
It looks like there is a great chance to win against the Battle Wings but Spokane will be a challenge. Nonetheless, Tampa is likely to lose one of their last two again a divisional foe which will put the Sharks even further ahead in the division.
It was my first arena game also. We really had a good time, not just because we won.It was a totally different experience. We'll be there next home game for sure.Theres not a bad seat in the house. Cant beat an $8 dollar ticket.
Friday night's game against the National Conference leader, the Spokane Shock (13-3) was GREAT!!! The Jacksonville Sharks (12-4) smashed the Shock 64-49 in front of a consecutive sold-out crowd of over 13,000 FINactics. With that win on record, we now claim the top seed in the American Conference and claimed the South Division title... You've gotta admit, to be this team's first year in action the Sharks have accomplished a whole lot. Winning games an selling out crowds...
QuoteEither way we are playoff bound! It would be nice if at least 1 playoff game was at SeaBest Field.
Since we (the Sharks- number 2 team in the AFL) are the top seed in the AC we have clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Shock (number 1 team in the AFL) also has home field advantage throughout the playoffs and if they win all of their playoff games they would play in the ArenaBowl in their arena. BUUUUUUUT...if they lose a game in the playoffs then we become the highest seed in the playoffs and the ArenaBowl would be played at SeaBest field (if we win all of our playoff games)!!! That would be great...
If the ArenaBowl was held in Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena How many of you would attend?
Quote from: copperfiend on June 08, 2010, 11:14:43 AM
Just looked it up and according to the site I found, the Sharks are averaging 10574.
Tampa leads the league averaging 14k. After that, there is a cluster of teams averaging 8-11k a game that includes the Sharks. There are some averaging as little as 3-5k per game.
http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=yearly&histleague=3&fpage=attendance&year=2010
Florida seems to be the top market in Arena Football. All 3 Florida teams are in the top 3 of highest attendance. Tampa still has the best number in attendance followed by Orlando and then Jacksonville.
Tampa: total attendance-121,896 Game Avg.-15,237
Orlando: total attendance-89,637 Game Avg.-11,204
Jax: total attendance-88,984 Game Avg.-11,123
For this to be the Shark's first year they are doing great. I would suggest having an expansion team in Miami but after looking at the history of arena football in Miami it would never work. Miami had two AFL teams, the Miami Hooters ('93-'95) and the Florida Bobcats ('96-'01). Both teams never had a winning record and the attendance was very bad. Horrible!!!! Out of the 9 years of arena football in Miami, the worst had to have been in the last year (2001). The team had an average attendance of 2,367. And to make matters worse...the Florida Bobcats only sold 143,516 tickets total between 1996-2001. The Sharks sold over half of that in the first year. But then again that was 9 years ago...who knows an expansion team in Miami could probably sell-out crowds now.
http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=yearly&histleague=3&fpage=attendance&year=2010
http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=history&team=32
Quote from: WillNevaLeaveJAX on August 01, 2010, 06:37:19 AM
Quote from: copperfiend on June 08, 2010, 11:14:43 AM
Just looked it up and according to the site I found, the Sharks are averaging 10574.
Tampa leads the league averaging 14k. After that, there is a cluster of teams averaging 8-11k a game that includes the Sharks. There are some averaging as little as 3-5k per game.
http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=yearly&histleague=3&fpage=attendance&year=2010
Florida seems to be the top market in Arena Football. All 3 Florida teams are in the top 3 of highest attendance. Tampa still has the best number in attendance followed by Orlando and then Jacksonville.
Tampa: total attendance-121,896 Game Avg.-15,237
Orlando: total attendance-89,637 Game Avg.-11,204
Jax: total attendance-88,984 Game Avg.-11,123
For this to be the Shark's first year they are doing great. I would suggest having an expansion team in Miami but after looking at the history of arena football in Miami it would never work. Miami had two AFL teams, the Miami Hooters ('93-'95) and the Florida Bobcats ('96-'01). Both teams never had a winning record and the attendance was very bad. Horrible!!!! Out of the 9 years of arena football in Miami, the worst had to have been in the last year (2001). The team had an average attendance of 2,367. And to make matters worse...the Florida Bobcats only sold 143,516 tickets total between 1996-2001. The Sharks sold over half of that in the first year. But then again that was 9 years ago...who knows an expansion team in Miami could probably sell-out crowds now.
http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=yearly&histleague=3&fpage=attendance&year=2010
http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=history&team=32
Glad they are doing well. Its always great to seeing a team being successful here. Not an indoor football fan, but they do supply a niche that needs to be filled. only a few weeks before the jaguars start up!
Glad to see all the support for the Sharks. It was a little disappointing not to see any comments on the recent Times Union articles about the Sharks' victories, but it looks like people at least go to the games.
No play at all here in the media as well, but we know about Tebow though.Anyway awesome game vs the Shock.That game had all u would want ints, a fumble ran back for a TD,,great game.
Don't fret on Sharks media coverage. After watching AFL in Chicago, they would suffer the same issues as Jacksonville.
The minor league hockey team Chicago Wolves got more coverage than Arena.
Current AFL has very few dollars for media support, I guess they don't fund a full pre-game buffet for the beat writers. No eats, no coverage.
I did get emails from around the US when they saw us on the NFL Network.
They are fun games to watch. Anyone who tries to compare AFL to the NFL is missing the point.
Go Sharks!
Quote from: WillNevaLeaveJAX on August 01, 2010, 06:37:19 AM
Quote from: copperfiend on June 08, 2010, 11:14:43 AM
Just looked it up and according to the site I found, the Sharks are averaging 10574.
Tampa leads the league averaging 14k. After that, there is a cluster of teams averaging 8-11k a game that includes the Sharks. There are some averaging as little as 3-5k per game.
http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=yearly&histleague=3&fpage=attendance&year=2010
Florida seems to be the top market in Arena Football. All 3 Florida teams are in the top 3 of highest attendance. Tampa still has the best number in attendance followed by Orlando and then Jacksonville.
Tampa: total attendance-121,896 Game Avg.-15,237
Orlando: total attendance-89,637 Game Avg.-11,204
Jax: total attendance-88,984 Game Avg.-11,123
For this to be the Shark's first year they are doing great. I would suggest having an expansion team in Miami but after looking at the history of arena football in Miami it would never work. Miami had two AFL teams, the Miami Hooters ('93-'95) and the Florida Bobcats ('96-'01). Both teams never had a winning record and the attendance was very bad. Horrible!!!! Out of the 9 years of arena football in Miami, the worst had to have been in the last year (2001). The team had an average attendance of 2,367. And to make matters worse...the Florida Bobcats only sold 143,516 tickets total between 1996-2001. The Sharks sold over half of that in the first year. But then again that was 9 years ago...who knows an expansion team in Miami could probably sell-out crowds now.
http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=yearly&histleague=3&fpage=attendance&year=2010
http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=history&team=32
Have you heard of the Marlins, Heat, Panthers, Dolphins?? All of their franchises struggle with attendance except when the teams are doing really well.
Wasn't there one "Jaws" movie when Jaws got shocked; Well this time the tables were turned as the Sharks went on a feeding frenzy against the Shock; I know cheese galore. LOL.
I absolutely love the name THE SHARKS. It fits Jacksonville better than any other they've had. A shark is the most intimidating killer on the planet. A jungle cat? Jaws would shred the feline in seconds. JAGS, DOLPHINS, SUNS, blech - Sharks is best!
Really because Dolphins have been known to kill Sharks.
The game friday night was an amazing experience and the crowd was absolutely nuts! The white towels were a great touch.
Section 101 was the loudest and craziest by far.... :)
I'm so glad that the season isn't over at Seabest Field. I haven't had my fill of sharks football yet.
In a semi-related note, looks like this shark was trying to make it to the game Friday...
http://www.surfjaxpier.com/2010/08/great-white-shark-caught-off-st-augustine-beach/