Caution: LA is coming to steal your NFL team in 2011

[reednavy]

It will happen. If not L.A., it will be some other city. Sorry. Maybe if we generate more diplomas and jobs we could keep the Jags. Our NFL team has been a symbol of a city living beyond its means.

ok, wtf do diplomas and jobs have to do with the Jags?
Also, if you're going to talk about "living beyond their means", just look at all the foreclosed properties.

[gridsketch]

It will happen. If not L.A., it will be some other city. Sorry. Maybe if we generate more diplomas and jobs we could keep the Jags. Our NFL team has been a symbol of a city living beyond its means.

ok, wtf do diplomas and jobs have to do with the Jags?
Also, if you're going to talk about "living beyond their means", just look at all the foreclosed properties.

I'm saying people's biggest complaint is they can't afford to go to the Jaguars games (food, parking, tickets). Unemployment, underemployment, low opportunity. People who don't have educations and work for minimum wage don't buy Jags tickets. We should have spent the 1990s and 2000s developing technology and medical industries through education and legislation. Then we can have football. Whatever happened to eating all your vegetables before dessert?

[I-10east]

It will happen. If not L.A., it will be some other city. Sorry.

That's all good if that's your opinion, but it really looks dumb to act like this is some kinda sure shot deal that's etched in stone.

I don't buy the "no diplomas, and jobs" argument either. Lots of people have disposable income; Ever been by franchise restaurants in this city lately near lunch time? They're usually packed. This city has more money than you think.

If anything should be the blame IMO is the stupid "college mentality" in this city; The sooner we grow up with the 'big boys", the more stable the Jags franchise will be, not unless you wanna see this city's infrastructure, and identity go to hell.

[ac]

People who are struggling or impoverished weren't going to buy tickets anyway, and historically have not.  While good points were raised about education and employment options, let's stop the "JAX is too poor" argument right now.  

The economy is just another convenient excuse for people of means who really just want to sit at home in the AC and watch for free.  Want more?  Here's a (partial) list, borrowed from the Jags MB:

   * The team didn't draft Tebow
   * The team refuses to guarantee they'll win every game
   * The team didn't fire Del Rio
   * The team didn't cut Garrard
   * The team didn't fire Coughlin fast enough
   * The team didn't hire Spurrier
   * The team cut Brunell after treating him so badly
   * The team drafted Byron Leftwich to replace Brunell
   * The water in the fountains isn't chilled.
   * Concession prices are too high
   * Parking is too expensive
   * It's too hot
   * It's too cold
   * It's too rainy
   * It's too sunny
   * The seats are too far away from the field
   * The stadium sound system isn't very good
   * The jumbotron isn't clear enough
   * The stadium music isn't part of my playlist
   * Jaxson DeVille didn't give me a free box of hamburgers
   * I don't like Jaxson DeVille
   * I don't like the Roar
   * The Roar ignore me when I show off my body paint.
   * I don't like body painters
   * People get too drunk and obnoxious
   * They cut off beer sales at the end of the third quarter for day games
   * They cut off beer sales at halftime for night games
   * They sell beer and I hate alcohol.
   * Smokers leave me inhaling second-hand smoke on the ramps.
   * They won't let me smoke in my seat.
   * I hate the pat downs.
   * They don't have enough security.
   * I don't like the artwork on the tarps.
   * I miss the frisbee dogs.
   * The shuttle buses don't drop me off at my seat
   * The escalators don't drop me off at my seat
   * The elevators don't drop me off at my seat
   * Wayne Weaver doesn't personally greet me when I come to games.
   * The play calling is too predictable
   * They run the ball too much
   * They throw the ball too much
   * I like to see high scoring offense and don't care about defense
   * I like to see slobber knocking defenses and don't care about offense
   * I don't appreciate having to be courteous to others around me when I attend games
   * I don't appreciate people standing in front of me and getting loud at games
   * I don't like the food they serve in the stadium
   * I don't like Pepsi
   * I don't like Budweiser
   * I don't like the announcer
   * I don't like the radio broadcast
   * I hate Cole Pepper's sideline reports
   * The halftime show isn't entertaining
   * The pregame festivities aren't entertaining
   * The post game festivities don't include personalized fireworks.
   * The shuttle doesn't pick me up at my seat after the game
   * The escalator doesn't take me from my seat to the house
   * The people in the club seats don't stay in their seats
   * The people in the club seats don't cheer loudly enough
   * They don't have a big enough family fun zone
   * They have too much of a family friendly focus in the stadium
   * They don't defend our house as vehemently as I think they should
   * The seats are too small
   * I don't like teal
   * My cup holders don't keep my drink chilled in the summer
   * My cup holders don't keep my drink heated in the winter
   * they don't use the all black uniforms any more.
   * I don't like the glitter helmets
   * I don't like the glitter color
   * I don't like the logo
   * I don't like the Santa hat on the logo
   * I miss the Santa hat on the logo
   * I don't like the fact that they don't paint the endzones the way I think they should.
   * They don't let me call any of the plays
   * The players never throw me a glove or other assorted gear
   * They're all a bunch of gangster thugs
   * They're all a bunch of choir boys
   * I hate doing the wave
   * I think we should be doing the wave when the offense is on the field
   * I think we should be doing the wave the entire game.
   * I hate the move those chains chant
   * I don't like that our team doesn't have a nickname for the defense.
   * I miss the fat cats.
   * I didn't like the fat cats.
   * I don't like the violence when Jaxson beats up opposing team mascots.
   * I wish Jaxson would be more violent with opposing team's mascots.
   * Tickets are too expensive.
   * My seat doesn't have cushions attached.
   * The stadium doesn't have a dome.
   * The stadium isn't air conditioned
   * The endzone doesn't have a pirate ship or other gimmick
   * I never get picked for the pass, punt, and kick competition.
   * I never get picked for the Winn Dixie grocery toss.
   * I don't shop at Winn Dixie.
   * I never get a shot at the Shoe Carnival contests.
   * I hate Shoe Carnival.
   * I don't ever see my text messages on the jumbotron
   * There's a pixel out constantly on the jumbotron that isn't out on my home television.
   * The flyovers are too noisy.
   * The flyovers aren't flyovers, but fly bys.
   * The fly bys are actually fly overs.
   * The flyovers are too low.
   * The flyovers are too high.
   * Peter King didn't pick us to win the Super Bowl.
   * Woody Paige called us the Jagwads.
   * Vito Stellino doesn't put on a roar outfit and cheer for the team on Sundays.
   * Vic Ketchman talks about the Steelers too much.
   * Vic Ketchman is mean and won't answer my Ask Vic questions.
   * Jack Del Rio is arrogant.
   * Jack Del Rio throws players under the bus.
   * Jack Del Rio is too honest.
   * Jack Del Rio uses coach speak too much.
   * I don't like the assistant to the assistant secondary coach.
   * The players drive fancy cars
   * The coach didn't sign my autograph at a Suns game.
   * The team doesn't do enough in the community.
   * The team didn't create a marketing campaign specifically for me.
   * I haven't had a single player come to my door to beg me to buy tickets.
   * They aren't making the scrimmage free for everyone to attend.

We need to stop falling into the Jacksonville trap of excusing thought and behavior that is harmful to our city because we "don't deserve" or "weren't ready" for something, or we "should have done (X) before we (Y)."  

This low self-opinion is killing the city on a much larger and more important scale than that of an NFL team, and it negatively affects everything here.  We need to support things of value in this town city (we are a CITY!) instead of sighing, shrugging, and saying, "What do you expect?  This is Jacksonville," as they all dry up and blow away one after another.  

That type of repeated resigning ourselves to fate is just as destructive as any wrecking ball or dynamite.

We need to take ownership.  This team (and this city) is OURS.  We're the dog who caught the car.  Now what do we do?

[copperfiend]

It will happen. If not L.A., it will be some other city. Sorry. Maybe if we generate more diplomas and jobs we could keep the Jags. Our NFL team has been a symbol of a city living beyond its means.

If not L.A., then what other city?

[reednavy]

If not L.A., then what other city?

Las Vegas is in the hunt, but don't expect them to get anything I'm sure.

[copperfiend]

The NFL will never move to Las Vegas.

[fsujax]

Where would the NFL put another team besides L.A......Memphis, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque?

[copperfiend]

The only options outside of LA would be outside of the country. I know Toronto has been mentioned but I doubt any team other than Buffalo makes that move. But Toronto would probably have to build a new stadium considering the SkyDome is 20 years old.

London is a popular city to discuss but that would be a logistical nightmare for the 10 teams that have to travel there. And what about a London-Seattle matchup. How long would that flight be?

[kells904]

Alabama could be a good spot for an NFL team to land.

[copperfiend]

Alabama could be a good spot for an NFL team to land.

Are you being serious?

[Wacca Pilatka]

Toronto only has about 50,000 seating capacity for football in the Skydome, and loyalty to the CFL probably would prevent the NFL from expanding to Canada.  Anyway, Toronto is an integral part of the Bills' strategy to build their regional fan base and avoid blackouts by reducing the ticket-buying burden on western NYers.

I very much doubt the NFL wants anything to do with Memphis, which is slow-growth, already has a pro team that is about all it can support, and has bad blood with the league over the '76 and '93 expansions and the Oilers fiasco. 

Salt Lake, Vegas, and Albuquerque do not have NFL stadiums by any stretch of the imagination.  I don't think Albuquerque has the capacity to support a pro team, at least not yet. 

Kells' mention of Alabama is not off the wall at all.  Birmingham has a large stadium (Legion Field), a history of football passion (including strong USFL attendance), and a metro population not much smaller than Jacksonville's.  Back in the 80s it was mentioned many times as a relocation or expansion candidate.  The difference now is, Legion Field would need a major renovation or replacement to meet NFL standards.

The only other potential player for a team is San Antonio, which has an NFL-size stadium.  I don't think San Antonio on its own can support a second pro team besides the Spurs, but if you factor in Austin, 75 miles north, the capacity to support an NFL team is there.  But the Alamo Dome, despite being only 20 years old or so, is antiquated compared to modern NFL stadiums (including the not much younger but much more modern JMS).  And you can't underestimate the powerful grip the Cowboys have on almost all of Texas.  Embracing a local NFL team would not be a natural event.  We complain about Duval natives who have clung to the Dolphins, but that's nothing compared to the Cowboys' hold over Texas.

[copperfiend]

The NFL definitely is not putting a team in a market smaller than Jacksonville.

The only other market I can think of is Mexico City but I am not sure you convince many free agents to live in Mexico right now.

[Shwaz]

San Antonio?

[Wacca Pilatka]

The NFL definitely is not putting a team in a market smaller than Jacksonville.

The only other market I can think of is Mexico City but I am not sure you convince many free agents to live in Mexico right now.

I don't think so either, but kells didn't pull the Alabama idea out of thin air.  Mexico City would make sense as a possibility (more so than London, I would think).  The NFL has been trying to make inroads into Mexico for over a decade.