Yahoo: Best seats at NFL game might be poolside in Jacksonville

[thelakelander]

Front page of Yahoo....

EverBank Field has gone from a football wasteland to a budding social mecca almost overnight because of this Vegas-style plaza replete with scantily-clad servers, cushy lounge areas and pools that have nearly as many eyes on them as the game going on below. The "Clevelander Deck," borrowed from the Miami hotel (and the Marlins' outfield bar), is basically a trendy nightclub with beach weather. Its cabanas and even its rail seats overlooking the field have already sold out for the season.

"This is the best thing they could have done," raved Trent Sebok, 38, who parked his boat nearby, took a rickshaw to the stadium, and spent the day lounging with his girlfriend, Britni. "Even if the team sucks, you have a good time."

As the game went on Sunday, and only one offensive touchdown was scored all afternoon, the stadium seats began to empty out and the party deck filled up. The pool areas were more crowded in the fourth quarter than in the first.

"Nobody really cares about the game," Sebok said. "I have no idea what the score is."

Full article: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/jags--poolside-scene-turning-more-heads-than-football-team-021159184-nfl.html

[copperfiend]

Imagine how much fun it will be if the team ever starts winning

[thelakelander]

The yahoo reader comments are hilarious...

[funwithteeth]

YEAAAHHHHHHH

[RattlerGator]

The winning is coming, you can take that to the Bank (pun intended). One more draft and free agent cycle (premier running back, premier linebackers) and this team will be ready. I brought two fans from Tallahassee to the Steelers game and they were truly impressed with the atmosphere, our QB *and* the Clevelander Deck. We all agreed the Jags are just about over the hump. I'm convinced this will be the last painful year in the win-loss column.

In a nod to the guy some on this site seem to weirdly envy or hate (Shad Khan), I loved this quote from the article: "the Jags have basically unearthed a completely fresh fan base." *That* creativity comes from a group clearly committed to the City, whether it is acknowledged on this site or not.

[pierre]

You cannot help but notice how young the crowds have become at Jaguars games. It's great to see. That is the future of the franchise.

[finehoe]

It need a better name than "Clevelander".  Makes it sound like it's somehow connected to Ohio.

[jaxjaguar]

^Clevelander Hotel is the sponsor of the deck. It's a swanky hotel in Miami, but yes I agree the naming rights need to change asap.... Everyone I've spoken to has said the same. No positive thoughts come from a name with "Cleveland" in it.... Especially considering we play the Browns in 2 weeks.

[Dapperdan]

Latitude 30 should have jumped all over those naming rights.

[Wacca Pilatka]

^Clevelander Hotel is the sponsor of the deck. It's a swanky hotel in Miami, but yes I agree the naming rights need to change asap.... Everyone I've spoken to has said the same. No positive thoughts come from a name with "Cleveland" in it.... Especially considering we play the Browns in 2 weeks.

On the plus side, my buddy Cleve went to his first game this weekend with me, and was thrilled to get pictures next to all the Cleve hashtag signs they have.

[fsquid]

http://gamedayr.com/lifestyle/sports-biz/jaguars-game-day-entertainment-alienating-fans-121060/

[tufsu1]

Latitude 30 should have jumped all over those naming rights.

you mean Latitude 360

I completely understand why the Jags partnered with the Clevelander....they are trying to get some of that south Florida swankiness/sex appeal associated with Jax.

[I-10east]

Latitude 30 should have jumped all over those naming rights.

I agree. I would've liked that local connection, although I don't have any problems with the Clevelander (which is obviously South FL themed rather than Ohio).

Concerning the gamedayr article above, I wouldn't call stadium enhancements 'alienating the fanbase'. I have I feeling if that stadium was in San Diego somewhere, they would not be any of these crazy 'negative connotations'. I could be wrong, but the article feels like 'typical pile on Jax' BS. Many of those 'bullet talking points' had nothing to do with the enhancements.

Anyone that's knowledgeable with the state of the Jacksonville Jaguars know that this is an unique market, that presented unique challenges. No way could we have some old school freaking Qualcomm, and remain in existence as an NFL city. Most of the stadium features were added to boost the revenue.

Lastly, the people that complain about  'how big the scoreboard is, pool etc; It's not about football etc' are annoying (outside of the political issues). They are usually angry old people out of touch etc. Take a look at the rest of league (DAL, TEN, WASH, PHI, HOU etc etc etc) and many scoreboards aren't much smaller than Jax. I'm an old school style person too. I actually leave my cell inside the car before going to the game. The game is on the field, and DJ's, scoreboards, and pools never interrupted the game when I watched. Just my two. 

[finehoe]

(which is obviously South FL themed rather than Ohio)

I don't know what's so 'obvious' about it.  I'd be willing to bet 9 out of 10 people connect "Cleveland" with Ohio and not a hotel in South Beach.

[RattlerGator]

It isn't the Cleveland Deck, it's the Clevelander Deck -- and I don't think they want their name disassociated with what they're doing. They are testing out a concept here -- cool out, folks. People will figure this out and it isn't going to be an issue. We're on the cutting edge in a positive kind of way and Shad is leading the way.