London trips show few results for time, money spent by Jacksonville delegation

[thelakelander]

London calling hasn't been a game-changer for Jacksonville's job growth.
Each time the Jaguars play overseas, a Jacksonville delegation of city and civic leaders pack their bags for a week-long trip to meet European companies on their home turf, most recently this week for the Jaguars' game against the Buffalo Bills.

The trips have gotten thousands of dollars in taxpayer support and high-profile attention from mayors the past three years. But so far, they haven't wooed any European-based company to open a new location in Jacksonville.

Full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-10-24/story/london-trips-show-few-results-time-money-spent-jacksonville-delegation

[lastdaysoffla]

Deutsche Bank plans to add 350 jobs at an average salary of $64,356 at its Southside location. The City Council agreed this month to $959,000 in financial incentives.

Almost one million in incentives and the city couldn't convince them to occupy space Downtown?

Wait, who am I kidding, St Johns Town Center is our Downtown

[thelakelander]

Nope. If they wanted to be in a vibrant urban environment they would have stayed in NYC.

[blizz01]

I feel like the lack of (any) direct flights across the pond from JAX takes the sexiness out of things from the start. Not sure what comes first though...

[spuwho]

Jags in London isn't just about the city.

NFL (with Shad's permission) is using the Jags in London as a test tube of new concepts.

While the webcast only of todays game was considered a total business flop, it was the first broadcast of an NFL game exclusively via Internet.

Yahoo paid $20 Million for the rights, and while they couldn't get the ad revenue they wanted (50% discounts on 30sec ads were seen), they also ran into some regional distribution issues at many of the CDN's. Many areas got a great deal of pixelation or freezes. Some areas did not.

That is what the NFL wanted to see in this game. Can the NFL use this distribution method effectively? NFL sees the cord cutters too.

The Jags will also be in the forefront on the new NFL deal with Tottenham, especially if the Wembley renewal goes sour.

The Jags are also using new marketing tools through their British fan club, Union Jax to broaden their appeal to British fans.

This is all great for the NFL and the Jags. Not much to show for the city....yet.

Personally, the city is just along for the ride, while the NFL sells itself. Kind of like being invited to a friends party but you aren't the people they are there to see.

Some of these business relationships may take years to develop. Companies don't locate due to a sports team, otherwise everyone would be moving to Denver or Boston.

However, having the NFL provide an opportunity to expose what one has to offer to an audience not accustomed to seeing many civic pitches from US cities is an opportunity one shouldn't waste.  In this case Jax is making the most of it while it happens.

[blizz01]

^ Like Baby from Dirty Dancing..."I carried a watermelon".

But hey, "nobody puts Baby in a corner".

[Adam White]

Jags in London isn't just about the city.

NFL (with Shad's permission) is using the Jags in London as a test tube of new concepts.

While the webcast only of todays game was considered a total business flop, it was the first broadcast of an NFL game exclusively via Internet.

Yahoo paid $20 Million for the rights, and while they couldn't get the ad revenue they wanted (50% discounts on 30sec ads were seen), they also ran into some regional distribution issues at many of the CDN's. Many areas got a great deal of pixelation or freezes. Some areas did not.

That is what the NFL wanted to see in this game. Can the NFL use this distribution method effectively? NFL sees the cord cutters too.

The Jags will also be in the forefront on the new NFL deal with Tottenham, especially if the Wembley renewal goes sour.

The Jags are also using new marketing tools through their British fan club, Union Jax to broaden their appeal to British fans.

This is all great for the NFL and the Jags. Not much to show for the city....yet.

Personally, the city is just along for the ride, while the NFL sells itself. Kind of like being invited to a friends party but you aren't the people they are there to see.

Some of these business relationships may take years to develop. Companies don't locate due to a sports team, otherwise everyone would be moving to Denver or Boston.

However, having the NFL provide an opportunity to expose what one has to offer to an audience not accustomed to seeing many civic pitches from US cities is an opportunity one shouldn't waste.  In this case Jax is making the most of it while it happens.

This is NFL-water-carrying at its absolute worst.

Data shows this a flop? Just blindly insist, "Nun-uh! Nun-uh! We are out there marketing! It's going to work, all evidence to the contrary because NFL!!!"

"The city is just along for the ride" THEN LET THE NFL PICK UP THE TAB AND NOT US.

It's really just an opportunity for a taxpayer-funded trip to London. They throw in the meetings to "justify" the expense - and probably to make themselves feel important as well.

It would be funny if it wasn't so insulting.

[ben says]

Not sure how this fits into the grand scheme of things, but the high of watching yesterday's game led me to book a week in London for the next Jags game held there.

[Adam White]

Not sure how this fits into the grand scheme of things, but the high of watching yesterday's game led me to book a week in London for the next Jags game held there.

Oops. Make sure to talk up Jacksonville while you're over there.

[ProjectMaximus]

Not sure how this fits into the grand scheme of things, but the high of watching yesterday's game led me to book a week in London for the next Jags game held there.

How'd you know which week to book???

[ben says]

Not sure how this fits into the grand scheme of things, but the high of watching yesterday's game led me to book a week in London for the next Jags game held there.

How'd you know which week to book???

Booked an 'option' at my favorite hotel, which is basically travel industry speak for: I've guaranteed a room (via a small deposit), to be confirmed when the game itself is confirmed.

I know there is a lot of scepticism/cynicism with the whole Jags playing in London thing, but many people across the pong are looking at the Jags as their hometown team. A good friend of mine works for the Jags (flew on the team plane across the pond and travels to ALL games with them) - know a few other people who've been to the last 2 games - and they say the feelings towards the team are palpable.

[MusicMan]

I would think there is more than a small market for "reverse tourism NFL style."  Londoners who want to come to Jax for a few day golf, beach, and an NFL home game at Everbank. Not sure if you could make any money on it but sure seems like a no-brainer.

[RattlerGator]

I know there is a lot of scepticism/cynicism with the whole Jags playing in London thing, but many people across the pong are looking at the Jags as their hometown team. A good friend of mine works for the Jags (flew on the team plane across the pond and travels to ALL games with them) - know a few other people who've been to the last 2 games - and they say the feelings towards the team are palpable.

I doubt if some are ever going to "get it" -- but this is without a doubt a huge coup for Jacksonville. In time, even the most skeptical won't be able to seriously deny it even as they insist they just don't get it.

[JaxAvondale]

The NFL and Kahn should be making a deal with the Premier League and Tottenham to have Premier League matches played in Jacksonville while the Jags are in London. The stadium would be packed with soccer fans.

[ProjectMaximus]

Not sure how this fits into the grand scheme of things, but the high of watching yesterday's game led me to book a week in London for the next Jags game held there.

How'd you know which week to book???

Booked an 'option' at my favorite hotel, which is basically travel industry speak for: I've guaranteed a room (via a small deposit), to be confirmed when the game itself is confirmed.

I know there is a lot of scepticism/cynicism with the whole Jags playing in London thing, but many people across the pong are looking at the Jags as their hometown team. A good friend of mine works for the Jags (flew on the team plane across the pond and travels to ALL games with them) - know a few other people who've been to the last 2 games - and they say the feelings towards the team are palpable.

Ah, thats what I was thinking you did. Savvy traveler 

I dont understand why some people don't realize the benefit of the London game (there are some who just don't). But I do understand why some people don't like losing a game, and I also understand why some are skeptical that London in the long run won't steal our franchise. It is a legitimate possibility...the more the fanbase over there grows with us the more possible it is.

Anyway, it's here and it's happening so all we can do is make the most of it and grow the base here in FL!! I trust that Khan truly wants to make this work in Jax so let's help him out!