1,500,000 population within range of many NBA teams...

[adamh0903]

I think in the past you could buy a single game ticket for just a few dollars more than a season ticket. I think this year my season ticket cost about 53$ a game and the same single ticket would cost close to 70. The new price structure is to encourage season tickets.

[apvbguy]

Every Jags game I've been too has been sold out, 4 last season.  Civil, as a season ticket hold you should easily notice that come Sunday the stands are full, blackout or not.  The problem is selling the tickets ahead of time before the deadline.  Not sure why people are so complacent about getting tickets.  Maybe its just easier to get them at the gate?

Based on the schedule this season and the true chance for another deep playoff run and potential division title, there should be no problem selling out the stadium.

the Jags getting 68k to turn out really is only a side bar issue, the fact is that JAX doesn't appear to be able to support an NBA franchise, how does the Orlando team draw?

NBA basketball like all top level sports is an expensive ticket and I (not exactly a scientific study) don't see the levels of income by a large enough group of people that will support a franchise. Like others have noted a minor league attempt was made and nobody came.

as for ice hockey, forget it! there are few people more interested in hockey around here than I am and I can say that JAX is hockey hell, so few care about the sport that a team at any level cannot survive.

MLS is doing well in some cities but the majority of the fans are usually hispanic immigrants and JAX really doesn't have enough of that group to provide a sold fan base.
Rugby is fringe sport (probably more popular than hockey in JAX) that won't sell tickets.
lastly we have baseball, it is a shame that JAX is only a AA town, but the level of fan turnout has a lot to so with that, the costs of ownership goes up as the level of play goes up and JAX cannot support a higher level team. One thing about the baseball team here is that not 1 game is televised! if they would get some games on TV that might generate some more interest.

This might sound harsh but in my 2 years here I've come to the conclusion that JAX is the biggest small town I've ever seen, which is fine by me

[copperfiend]

Jacksonville could support a AAA team. But there are only 30 AAA franchises in the country to go around. And I remember reading quotes from the Bragans that didn't make it seem like they were very interested in owning a AAA team.

[apvbguy]

Jacksonville could support a AAA team. But there are only 30 AAA franchises in the country to go around. And I remember reading quotes from the Bragans that didn't make it seem like they were very interested in owning a AAA team.

the ownership of the Suns don't want a AAA team because the costs of a AAA team are higher and JAX cannot sustain the level of support necessary to attract and keep a AAA viable here.

[copperfiend]

Jacksonville could support a AAA team. But there are only 30 AAA franchises in the country to go around. And I remember reading quotes from the Bragans that didn't make it seem like they were very interested in owning a AAA team.

the ownership of the Suns don't want a AAA team because the costs of a AAA team are higher and JAX cannot sustain the level of support necessary to attract and keep a AAA viable here.

How do you figure they couldn't?

[apvbguy]

Jacksonville could support a AAA team. But there are only 30 AAA franchises in the country to go around. And I remember reading quotes from the Bragans that didn't make it seem like they were very interested in owning a AAA team.

the ownership of the Suns don't want a AAA team because the costs of a AAA team are higher and JAX cannot sustain the level of support necessary to attract and keep a AAA viable here.

How do you figure they couldn't?

have you ever been to a game? 3k people a night ( and that's a good night) will not support a AAA team.

[copperfiend]

Jacksonville could support a AAA team. But there are only 30 AAA franchises in the country to go around. And I remember reading quotes from the Bragans that didn't make it seem like they were very interested in owning a AAA team.

the ownership of the Suns don't want a AAA team because the costs of a AAA team are higher and JAX cannot sustain the level of support necessary to attract and keep a AAA viable here.

How do you figure they couldn't?

have you ever been to a game? 3k people a night ( and that's a good night) will not support a AAA team.

They have led their league in attendance every year since the new park was built. They average over 5k. And a move to AAA would mean better attendance. Better product = more people showing up.

[blizz01]

5000 per game is in line with the average attendance of AAA & above average for AA.....

[adamh0903]

Avg attendance of all MiLB and Independent Teams over the past 2 years

2007 avg attendance
43. Jacksonville Suns (SL) 5,739 

2006 avg attendance
35. Jacksonville Suns (SL) 5,869

                 

[rjp2008]

2 days of the 2010 NCAA's will be played in Jacksonville. Also this October, Orlando vs. Miami will be played here. That will be a big draw.

Jax should seek to entice international teams to play exhibition games here as well.

[Tripoli1711]

The Suns are all for becoming a AAA team, and Jacksonville specifically built a stadium big enough to meet AAA specifications.  The problem is our relationship with the Dodgers.  We have had a great relationship with the Dodgers, however we cannot be their AAA affiliate.  That is because they play in a league where the easternmost team is, I believe, in OK City or perhaps Omaha.  Therefore, a road trip to Jax. for those teams, and ANY road trip for the Jacksonville team is unfeasible.  Until our affiliation with the Dodgers ends, we cannot move up.  The best scenario would have been the move of the Braves AAA franchise from Richmond.  Jacksonville is a Braves town, and the AAA affiliate of the Braves would have done very well indeed.  I believe it will happen sooner than later, but AAA is the only new thing in sports this town will see for a while.  The comments that the NHL needs to contract and that the NBA and MLB have reached their limit of franchises are correct.   I dont know if it is oversight or what but I saw two names proposed for NBA teams:  Jazz and Hornets.  Um?  I am going to assume you realize that the Utah Jazz (formerly New Orleans Jazz) and New Orleans Hornets already have those names?  Are we going to steal their franchises?  You would have to pry the Jazz from everyone in SLC's cold dead hands.  Lastly, the Sonics leaving Seattle caused a huge uproar in that city.  People are very upset.  It did not go unnoticed and it did not go without an extended battle to keep them.

[ac]

I dont know if it is oversight or what but I saw two names proposed for NBA teams:  Jazz and Hornets.  Um?  I am going to assume you realize that the Utah Jazz (formerly New Orleans Jazz) and New Orleans Hornets already have those names?  Are we going to steal their franchises?  You would have to pry the Jazz from everyone in SLC's cold dead hands.  Lastly, the Sonics leaving Seattle caused a huge uproar in that city.  People are very upset.  It did not go unnoticed and it did not go without an extended battle to keep them.

And that was the thought behind my earlier comment.  Regardless of whether the Jaguar ticket sales arrow is pointing up or down right now, we still need to focus on keeping what we have in the NFL and not on trying to go out and poach another city's major league teams.

We're pretty sensitive as both a city and a fanbase to rumors and reports suggesting that the Jags are first in line to move to L.A., and shouldn't be so willing to lust after another city's franchise. 

We fans need to keep stoking the fire for what we have and prove we can sustain it before we could even hope to get looks from any other leagues anyway, IMO.  People forget how Jacksonville was the pawn of the Falcons and Colts ('Colt Fever,' ring a bell?) in leverage with their cities long before the Jaguars were born, and got burned.  Who's to say that wouldn't happen with another league?  Even in getting the franchise, we came in the back door when the competing ownership groups fell apart. 

As far as the AAA team goes, I do agree that it would be a welcome upgrade, but that's because Jacksonville has a well-established baseball history.  We'll get there with the Jaguars again, if given time.

[copperfiend]

The Richmond Braves are moving to Gwinett County. New stadium is already being built.

[Tripoli1711]

You have hit the nail right on the head.  This city may be ready for more in the future, but right now we are darn lucky to have what we've got.  I was in Washington this past Thursday.  It was my first Jaguars away game.  Even though it was a preseason game, the impact was not lost on me.  Pro Football is the most desired entertainment option a city could have.  Washington DC, New York, Chicago, these are places you expect to have the distinction of a local NFL franchise.  Jacksonville?  It's not a given.  There are several cities of similar populations and economic circumstances to Jacksonville.  We have the Jaguars.  They don't.  It is huge.  Even if you don't like football but you love Jacksonville, it is a matter of absolute civic pride.  Forget about the NBA, MLS and all that... we MUST continue to support the Jaguars.  I think we only need a few years.  I am 28.  I was 13 when we got the team, I'm the biggest Jaguars fan there is, but I remember liking another team.  Some my age and older still have old loyalties.  Kids who are 21.. they only know the Jaguars.  Wait until they have the means to afford season tickets.  We will be OK. 

[KenFSU]

Though the Jaguars are my favorite sports franchise, the NBA is easily my favorite professional sports league on a whole. Even though I think it'd be the greatest thing in the world to see Jax get an NBA team, I question if it would be a good fit. I've been here in Jacksonville for several years now, and from what I've seen, it doesn't really seem like a basketball city. Cities like Detroit, New York, Boston, Indianapolis, and Charlotte eat, sleep and breathe basketball. You see packed public courts on every block, tons of basketball jersies being worn around town, and big interest in the high school and college level. I don't see that in Jax. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place, but even when I go to Sneakers to watch the NBA playoffs or Finals, there really isn't anybody there.

Love to see a team here for selfish reasons, but I'd rather have no team than a team rushed in prematurely only to flounder for five years and move.