Predictions of traffic problems turned out to be false as it appeared that fans took note of the construction around the stadium and made arrangements to get there via mass transit.
The Kings Avenue Garage on the Southbank, usually empty on game day (and workdays,too,) drew quite a crowd. The surface lot outside the garage was packed with tailgating fans and six JTA buses were standing by to transport the fans.
(As an added incentive to park on the Southbank, the Jags gave fans coupons for free soft drinks.)
“About the only problem I saw was a bit of a backup on the Hart Bridge before the game,” said Mike Sullivan, the Sports and Entertainment Board director and the City’s point man at games.
Traffic also cleared out easily after the game, even though most stayed for the last-play finish.
The water taxis were doing a bustling business and there’s a price break for young children and seniors. Regular fare is $4, but only $3 for youngsters under 12 and fans over 60.
• If you ride the water taxi, make sure to hold tightly to your tickets. One fan nearly lost their tickets when a gust of wind blew them into the water. The boat captain circled back, retrieving the soggy tickets for the grateful fans.
• Crawdaddy’s restaurant is closed, but fans can still park in the lot — for $5. Raddison Hotel personnel were manning the lot. However, parking is still free in the School Board parking lot.
• The Jaguars introduced a new graphic on the scoreboard during pregame introductions. A snarling Jaguar knocks the helmet off the opposing team’s quarterback and the claims it for himself.
• A promotion just before the end of the first half to see which fan could roll a beer barrel across the field the quickest didn’t fare so well. Jaxson de Ville and the contestants thought the half had ended and set up the race, and would have been rolling away had not an alert officials noticed them and stopped play to get them to the sidelines.
• Colt quarterback Peyton Manning found Florida — the Gators, that is — a big nemesis during his college days and bristled when asked if he ever won a regular-season game in the state. “I’ve beaten Miami [Dolphins] twice,” he said. “Don’t forget that I beat Virginia tech in the Gator Bowl, too, when it was in Gainesville [due to Alltel Stadium construction.]”
Manning again: “At chapel service this morning, the sermon was about being in a battle. Well, we were in a battle this afternoon.”
• Colt Coach Tony Dungy was happy, to a point: “We had them, and we let them fight their way back.”
• Though he was not pleased with the outcome, Coughlin said he was pleased with the effort. “There were lots of good things,” said Coughlin. “We lost a football game on critical mistakes . . . a muffed punt, a tipped ball, that’s the game.”
• Radio personality Pete Banaszak says by the eighth or ninth game of the season the young Jags players will jell and “the team will be one to contend with.”
• Jags general counsel Paul Vance says the team is going to be better than we’re getting credit for. The general consensus around the league is the Jaguars will finish third in the AFC South.
• The Jags travel to Kansas City to face the Chiefs, who beat Cleveland 40-39 Sunday. Kickoff is 1 p.m.
— by Jeff Brooks and Fred Seely