Orlando "guarantees" NFL game

[spuwho]

If memory serves, there were more requests for the local Orlando TV stations to carry the Jaguars this past year than in previous years.

While many attributed this to the rough seasons the Dolphins and Bucs are having, others account for the fact that Blake Bortles was very popular at UCF and the locals want to see him in action.

Either way, currently the Orlando market has been swaying the Jaguars way recently.

[funwithteeth]

^ Orlando has long shown Jags games; Bortles has nothing to do with it. Remember this? http://www.businessinsider.com/orlando-tv-station-apologizes-for-airing-jaguars-2013-9

[FlaBoy]

I actually think it is the Bucs. See there new deal with Tampa Sports Authority:

At one point during the negotiations, which began early this year, the Buccaneers demanded the flexibility to play a second home game away from Raymond James Stadium, causing negotiations to break down in late September. But the team backed away from that position. During renovations, the Bucs will be able to play two home preseason games at another site and can continue to play one home regular season game outside Tampa for the remainder of the lease agreement.

The Buccaneers dropped a previous demand that would have allowed the team to play a second home game away...

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/baybuzz/tampa-sports-authority-board-approves-raymond-james-stadium-renovation/2257856

That is probably the reason they were trying to get even more wiggle room since the Glazers are also committing to London with their Manchester United ties.

[RattlerGator]

I agree -- it's very likely to be the Bucs. What they may try and do is get that Bay Area market to accept one less home game a year just as we have in Jax. Their twist, however, would likely be this: every other year do a home game in Orlando and every other year do a home game in England. For all we know, the Jaguars might then employ a similar tactic when the current London contract for an annual game ends (2020?). That way, Orlando gets at least one pro football game every single year.

I personally wouldn't have a problem with this arrangement.

As it is, the Orlando market is very important to us but is primarily a Dolphins first market which the Bucs and Jags then split. But, as time passes, it should become more and more a Jaguars market -- especially for those folks either on or closer to the Atlantic coast. The success of Blake Bortles will be huge for us in the eastern-most sections of Central Florida.

[KenFSU]

Pro Bowl will be in Orlando next year, per ESPN.

Well played Orlando, coming through on the guarantee.

[spuwho]

Pro Bowl will be in Orlando next year, per ESPN.

Well played Orlando, coming through on the guarantee.

Meets the promise perhaps, but any resemblance between a real NFL game and the ProBowl is merely a coincidence.

[mtraininjax]

The Jaguars are not losing another home game, preseason or otherwise.

If Lamping and Khan smell money in Orlando, you can be assured they will send a home game down there. It would help if the damn owners would add 2 more games to the schedule.

[tufsu1]

The Jaguars are not losing another home game, preseason or otherwise.

If Lamping and Khan smell money in Orlando, you can be assured they will send a home game down there. It would help if the damn owners would add 2 more games to the schedule.

you really are off-kilter these days.  The Jags aren't moving another home game UNLESS the regular season schedule is expanded to 18 games.  Note that the new Citrus Bowl is much better than the previous version, but hardly NFL caliber.  There simply aren't nearly enough club seats/suites.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

The Jaguars are not losing another home game, preseason or otherwise.

If Lamping and Khan smell money in Orlando, you can be assured they will send a home game down there. It would help if the damn owners would add 2 more games to the schedule.

you really are off-kilter these days.  The Jags aren't moving another home game UNLESS the regular season schedule is expanded to 18 games.  Note that the new Citrus Bowl is much better than the previous version, but hardly NFL caliber.  There simply aren't nearly enough club seats/suites.

IF they were to add 2 more regular season games, I highly doubt that we would send one of those to Orlando because I highly doubt that the money made at the game would cover the money spent to move them there for the weekend.  I don't think it matters if the games is only 2 hours away in Orlando, the team would still treat it as a road game and move EVERYONE down there on Friday/Saturday for Sunday's game.

I do believe that if the season is expanded that we will most definitely take another game in London for a possible 2 game homestand.  1 against the NFC and one v/s the conference.  That would also be an easy test to see if London is ready to host back-to-back games with the same enthusiasm as they have for their 3 games over the season.

[Jax-Nole]

That would also be an easy test to see if London is ready to host back-to-back games with the same enthusiasm as they have for their 3 games over the season.

Just so you know, last year Wembley hosted back-to-back games. Bills vs Jags on October 25th and Lions vs Chiefs on November 1st. This year there will also be back-to-back games in London, just at different stadiums. Giants vs Rams at Twickenham Stadium on October 23rd followed by Redskins vs Bengals in Wembley on October 30th. All 3 London games last year were sold out, and all 3 this year are already sold out.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

That would also be an easy test to see if London is ready to host back-to-back games with the same enthusiasm as they have for their 3 games over the season.

Just so you know, last year Wembley hosted back-to-back games. Bills vs Jags on October 25th and Lions vs Chiefs on November 1st. This year there will also be back-to-back games in London, just at different stadiums. Giants vs Rams at Twickenham Stadium on October 23rd followed by Redskins vs Bengals in Wembley on October 30th. All 3 London games last year were sold out, and all 3 this year are already sold out.

Thanks.  I didn't remember until I saw your post.

How about b2b games with the same team?  Would the enthusiasm still be there or would there be a drop-off?

IMO, it's not difficult to sell out a few games, but I do wonder how many games they can play there before saturating the market and losing the novelty.  I personally don't think a full season there would be sustainable at the levels of crowds they're getting now and that after a few years, London would experience the same drop-off that nearly every team here in the states has seen at one time or another. 

From what I remember about the numbers (about 1.5x the revenue), they would only need to sell about 45k seats to equal the revenue for a game here.

[JaxAvondale]

That would also be an easy test to see if London is ready to host back-to-back games with the same enthusiasm as they have for their 3 games over the season.

Just so you know, last year Wembley hosted back-to-back games. Bills vs Jags on October 25th and Lions vs Chiefs on November 1st. This year there will also be back-to-back games in London, just at different stadiums. Giants vs Rams at Twickenham Stadium on October 23rd followed by Redskins vs Bengals in Wembley on October 30th. All 3 London games last year were sold out, and all 3 this year are already sold out.

Thanks.  I didn't remember until I saw your post.

How about b2b games with the same team?  Would the enthusiasm still be there or would there be a drop-off?

The NFL is mulling back to back games with the same team. The issue is that no team (Jags included) want to give up 2 home games. So, you need a team that will be the "road" team for one of the weeks. Washington was on track to be that team for this season but that changed once they won their division.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

That would also be an easy test to see if London is ready to host back-to-back games with the same enthusiasm as they have for their 3 games over the season.

Just so you know, last year Wembley hosted back-to-back games. Bills vs Jags on October 25th and Lions vs Chiefs on November 1st. This year there will also be back-to-back games in London, just at different stadiums. Giants vs Rams at Twickenham Stadium on October 23rd followed by Redskins vs Bengals in Wembley on October 30th. All 3 London games last year were sold out, and all 3 this year are already sold out.

Thanks.  I didn't remember until I saw your post.

How about b2b games with the same team?  Would the enthusiasm still be there or would there be a drop-off?

The NFL is mulling back to back games with the same team. The issue is that no team (Jags included) want to give up 2 home games. So, you need a team that will be the "road" team for one of the weeks. Washington was on track to be that team for this season but that changed once they won their division.

That was the caveat behind my remarks, IF.  If the NFL adds the 2 games to the schedule, then I would anticipate the b2b game for the Jags.

[JaxAvondale]

That would also be an easy test to see if London is ready to host back-to-back games with the same enthusiasm as they have for their 3 games over the season.

Just so you know, last year Wembley hosted back-to-back games. Bills vs Jags on October 25th and Lions vs Chiefs on November 1st. This year there will also be back-to-back games in London, just at different stadiums. Giants vs Rams at Twickenham Stadium on October 23rd followed by Redskins vs Bengals in Wembley on October 30th. All 3 London games last year were sold out, and all 3 this year are already sold out.

Thanks.  I didn't remember until I saw your post.

How about b2b games with the same team?  Would the enthusiasm still be there or would there be a drop-off?

The NFL is mulling back to back games with the same team. The issue is that no team (Jags included) want to give up 2 home games. So, you need a team that will be the "road" team for one of the weeks. Washington was on track to be that team for this season but that changed once they won their division.

That was the caveat behind my remarks, IF.  If the NFL adds the 2 games to the schedule, then I would anticipate the b2b game for the Jags.

I think that it is a real possibility that the Jags play back to back games in London even without a 18 game regular season schedule. It really makes a lot of sense for all parties involved. The Jags would be able to grow their fanbase in London. The city could commit to FL/GA and ND/Navy (Or other teams) games on consecutive weekends more regularly.

[RattlerGator]

JaxAvondale: The city could commit to FL/GA and ND/Navy (Or other teams) games on consecutive weekends more regularly.

The more I think about it, the more it occurs to me this is a very important point. Two games during the latter half of October or two games straddling October/November gives the local commission an opportunity to schedule some very interesting games to pair with Florida-Georgia.

When the amphitheater and flex field are completed, Florida-Georgia Week is really going to get amped up even further.