US-Nigeria Soccer Friendly in Jax Announcement

[KenFSU]

I'm not overly knowledgeable about soccer. Do you soccer folk think that the Fulham-DC United/Scoreboard Reveal/Carrie Underwood event might cannibalize some ticket sales for the friendly? Or are we talking apples and oranges?

[Tacachale]

^Might could, but I expect most people who can only pick one will do the MNT over Fulham.

[tufsu1]

^ There are no ticket sales for the Fulham event.  As of now, it is just a bonus for Jaguars season ticket holders

[JaxByDefault]

^And let me tell you how happy Fulham members are about that.

Seriously, if FFC is going to continue treating stateside members/ticket holders so poorly...

I'm not overly knowledgeable about soccer. Do you soccer folk think that the Fulham-DC United/Scoreboard Reveal/Carrie Underwood event might cannibalize some ticket sales for the friendly? Or are we talking apples and oranges?

I'd say apples to oranges, but FFC are not a Premier League side anymore. DC United should be about an even match up -- but MLS friendlies usually have silly rules like unlimited substitutions.

Typically, club ball is better than national. However, in this case, I think the USMNT-Nigeria match will be better. It is also is the WC send-off, which should amp up the atmosphere, at least from the American Outlaws and other supporter groups.

[cline]

The email I got from the Jags said that they are going to make any remaining seats available for purchase.

[Tacachale]

The email I got from the Jags said that they are going to make any remaining seats available for purchase.

That was my understanding too.

[ProjectMaximus]

By Max Marbut, Staff Writer

The city's interim sports and entertainment director pitched a $200,000 marketing program Thursday before the Duval County Tourist Development Council to bring more visitors to Jacksonville.
When Joel Lamp left the meeting, he had a commitment for only $25,000.

The proposal was to use tourist development funds to purchase in-game marketing assets from Fulham Football Club, the London-based soccer team owned by Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan.

Fulham FC will play D.C. United from Major League Soccer in a friendly match July 26 at EverBank Stadium. The match will be followed by a performance by country music artist Carrie Underwood.

Lamp said the funds requests would be used over the next two years to market Jacksonville in London to Fulham's hometown fans.

"It's not just in support of the game," Lamp said. "It will keep Jacksonville in people's minds in London."

That would be accomplished, he said, through signage at Craven Cottage, Fulham's home pitch.

A portion of the funds would be used to "reach out to fans" in London and also to the four Fulham fan clubs in the United States.

Lamp said Fulham plans to play a match in Jacksonville every year and the 2015 match could bring enough fans to Jacksonville to generate as many as 3,000 room nights in local hotels.

The majority of fans at this year's match will be local residents. Jaguars season ticket holders are being offered free tickets for the match and concert.

The Florida Sports Foundation has contributed $50,000 to support this year's match and the city has contributed $10,000 for expenses.

Paul Astleford, president and CEO of Visit Jacksonville, the Jacksonville and the Beaches convention and visitors bureau, said the organization is spending money and staff time to help market the match and objected to the size of the grant request.

"Making the TDC the point of resource allows the city to underfund sports and entertainment," he said.

City Council member Warren Jones said supporting the match this year and next year represents a "marketing opportunity" and made a motion to grant $50,000 for the proposal.

His motion received no second.

Board member Sonny Bhikha made a motion to grant $25,000 and allow Lamp to return to the board in August with a better-defined marketing plan and budget for the remainder of the $200,000 request.

The motion was approved with the condition that tickets for the match and concert will be made available to the general public.

"If city money is spent, the public should be allowed to purchase tickets," said board member M.G. Orender.

Jaguars spokesman Dan Edwards said tickets will be available to the general public sometime in June after season ticket holders have reserved their seats and the number and location of seats that will not be available due to construction of the staging for the concert has been determined.

The board also approved $400,000 for the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl, the former Gator Bowl college football game.

Gator Bowl Sports President Rick Catlett said the name change is part of the new six-year title sponsor agreement with taxslayer.com.

Also beginning with the Jan. 2 game are six-year agreements with ESPN and the Southeastern Conference, the Big 10 Conference And the Atlantic Coast Conference.

He said the move to Jan. 2 means when the TaxSlayer Bowl kicks off at 3:20 p.m., it will be the only college bowl game on television in the time slot.

mmarbut@baileypub.com

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=542949

[tufsu1]

^ I was at the meeting...everything went very smoothly until Mr. Lamp's presentation....the room got a bit tense and many questions were raised. 

[JaxByDefault]

I'm more interested in Fulham making it back to Premiership than a JAX friendly, but I am seriously disappointed in the Jags/FFC management ignoring the stateside members/ticket holders/supporters clubs. There were plenty of fans on the Fulham forums that were ready to travel to JAX -- some even booked hotel rooms. With the ticketing situation unresolved/unannounced, and no supporter section on offer, many of those FFC fans have decided not to travel. That's a a shame.

Some fans are so angry, they are not renewing their FFC memberships -- in a year where the club needs every dollar it can get.

A lot of soccer fans don't want to be stranded in crappy seats to see a soccer match that's already a compromised viewing experience by virtue of being played in an American football stadium. I'm sure the public tickets will be crazy expensive because of the concert, too. Ugh.

[ProjectMaximus]

Any way to get this word into Khan's crew? He has been extremely receptive of suggestions/criticism of fan relations with the Jags. If his treatment of Jags fans is any indication, he would definitely reach out and make things right with FFC members.

[JaxByDefault]

It's all over Twitter and FFC supporter forums; the club has been emailed, the Jags management contacted. Damage done as far as many FFC fans are concerned -- especially since the friendly was announced in soccer circles before it was generally announced. We all know FFC isn't going to sell a ton of tickets, but ignoring members is just poor form. It's a bit maddening to people who have traditionally spent lots of time, money, & airline miles to see FFC.

At this point, it's probably best if they work hard on reaching out to supporter clubs for the 2015 match.

Here's some motivational fighting words for the FFC/Jags management: Perhaps I won't buy any tickets at Craven Cottage next season when I'm in town; visiting international supporters are always treated well up the road at Stamford Bridge.  

[Steve]

I see the point that Fulham fans have. I'd probably be annoyed too.

Now, I do appreciate the Jags office trying here, but this might be one of those, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" kind of deals. The Jags launched a program called Jags 365, which is really a way to offer you things year-round as part of being a season ticket holder. I will say, sometimes it does irritate me when I've had my account for now 10 consecutive seasons, and some people buy tickets on the street for half that price. It does make me question why I do it, so I really appreciate the program. The Fulham game is part of that program, with Season Ticket holders getting free tickets. I do think it's a nice perk for us. With that said, I don't know how much of a correlation there is between soccer fans and Carrie Underwood fans. It seems like it would be better if the act was something that might have broader appeal to people who might go to the game, like perhaps a popular British Band (putting aside costs of getting them here, etc).

I'll say this: when it comes to the Jags, people are noticing, including the national media. The Jags had an unreal crowd today at rookie camp (over 6,000 people to watch player practice in shorts). I can't say whether or not Khan is going to get it right with Fulham because I don't know enough about soccer, but Khan seems to be getting more right than he is wrong here with the Jags. With that said he isn't perfect-he will make some missteps. I think the whole process of the Fulham event could have been handled better, especially for their supporters. But, Khan is definitely doing some things out of the box, and when you do things that way, you're going to make some missteps

[Steve]

^ There are no ticket sales for the Fulham event.  As of now, it is just a bonus for Jaguars season ticket holders

In thinking about it, that might be another reason they are doing it this way. They might want to ensure there is people buy tickets for the National team first, then worry about Fulham.

There will be plenty of tickets left, I want to say the Jags have a base of like 40k seats from season ticket holders. So, likely about half will go to this (maybe 25k). That should still leave a lot of good seats for the public.

[IrvAdams]

I see the point that Fulham fans have. I'd probably be annoyed too.

Now, I do appreciate the Jags office trying here, but this might be one of those, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" kind of deals. The Jags launched a program called Jags 365, which is really a way to offer you things year-round as part of being a season ticket holder. I will say, sometimes it does irritate me when I've had my account for now 10 consecutive seasons, and some people buy tickets on the street for half that price. It does make me question why I do it, so I really appreciate the program. The Fulham game is part of that program, with Season Ticket holders getting free tickets. I do think it's a nice perk for us. With that said, I don't know how much of a correlation there is between soccer fans and Carrie Underwood fans. It seems like it would be better if the act was something that might have broader appeal to people who might go to the game, like perhaps a popular British Band (putting aside costs of getting them here, etc).

I'll say this: when it comes to the Jags, people are noticing, including the national media. The Jags had an unreal crowd today at rookie camp (over 6,000 people to watch player practice in shorts). I can't say whether or not Khan is going to get it right with Fulham because I don't know enough about soccer, but Khan seems to be getting more right than he is wrong here with the Jags. With that said he isn't perfect-he will make some missteps. I think the whole process of the Fulham event could have been handled better, especially for their supporters. But, Khan is definitely doing some things out of the box, and when you do things that way, you're going to make some missteps

As a Jags fan, I can feel the excitement also, and fully believe Khan has some great ideas and there is a buzz about the franchise I haven't seen since the mid-nineties. Also, the talent and the coaching are stellar; I really look forward to great things this year.

[JaxByDefault]

As a Jags fan, I can feel the excitement also, and fully believe Khan has some great ideas and there is a buzz about the franchise I haven't seen since the mid-nineties. Also, the talent and the coaching are stellar; I really look forward to great things this year.

Lucky Jags fans; I wish I could say we share the same excitement in the stands at FFC.

Where the news of members being (thus-far) shut out of Fulham friendly tickets (or not being given a ticket deal or a supporter section) is really making headlines is among the FFC fans in London. They see this slight --along with relegation -- as confirming all of their fears about an American owner who may not understand English soccer or prioritize the club. Yes, there's always a lot of whinging in England about foreign owners and much of it is both unfounded and uncomfortably xenophobic, but after this season, I can understand why the stands are worried about management's focus.

I have no problem with Jags fans getting free tickets. I have every problem with bringing FFC to town with no concern for stateside fans (who won't even get to see their weekly matches on TV next year thanks to relegation.) FFC supporter groups and members here were excited; and they were happy to travel to JAX.