by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
Jacksonville Jaguars fans filled practice field seats as training camp opened Saturday, but team officials still don’t know whether those packed bleachers will translate to a crowded Alltel Stadium come fall.
After losing nearly half their season ticket holders in 2002, the Jaguars cut prices, opened up training camp and offered a seven-month payment plan to entice fans. Dan Connell, senior vice president in charge of sales and marketing, said the early response has been encouraging.
“Anyone interested at any price point should look into what we’re offering,” said Connell. “We have tickets available and we’re making a real effort to make the games affordable and fun.”
Connell said the team’s first practice Saturday morning brought out 2,700 fans. Bleachers at the field’s north and east ends were filled. The team allowed fans “inside the fence” of training camp for the first time and Connell said hundreds of fans took advantage of unprecedented access.
“It was standing room only. People were really excited to get that close to the players,” said Connell. Ropes at the practice facility keep the public about 20 feet from the field.
The $3 million facility is the most apparent facet of a strategy to get fans out for regular season games.
Following a 10-loss season in 2001, enthusiasm for the franchise was in short supply. Connell said the team lost 49 percent — 13,000 — of its season ticket holders. The team held a series of community workshops to find out what could be done, beyond wins and losses, to bring fans back.
The responses varied, but the discussions produced one constant: ticket prices were keeping fans at home. The team responded by easing prices on 90 percent of their seats and offering buyers installment payment plans. Now a fan can sit in the upper deck for about $20 a month.
Connell said early ticket sales were encouraging. He said the team sold more new tickets this year than any prior year. The team sold 4,000 single-game tickets since they went on sale Saturday. Connell said 13,000 season tickets have been purchased, the same number as this point last year.
Connell said most of the $40 million stadium renovations would be ready for fans when the Miami Dolphins come to town Aug. 15 for a preseason game. Alltel Stadium will feature escalators, a new terrace suite, a 35,000 square-foot patio and the Budzone sports bar.
The Jaguars are holding a scrimmage Friday night inside Alltel Stadium, which is free to the public.