by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The same concept that helped sell 10,000 Club Seats in 10 days and convince the NFL Jacksonville was ready for a franchise has been reborn. This time, the community and business-based initiative has two goals: one, sell enough seats to the Dec. 17 game between the Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts to lift the local blackout and two, put a healthy dent in the 15,000 season ticket shortfall the team is facing going into next season.
Wednesday morning, under the leadership of Former Florida Times-Union Publisher Carl Cannon and on a chamber of commerce day, Touchdown Jacksonville was reintroduced on the field of Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. There’s a moniker, too: “Revive the Pride.”
Cannon, and the others involved, say the concept has several layers — expand the current fan base, reinforce the team’s economic importance to the entire Northeast Florida area and help promote the team through local businesses, both big and small.
Cannon pointed out that the Jaguars were the only team in the 32-team league whose season opener was blacked out. He also said unless a significant number of tickets are sold, there’s the distinct possibility that all eight regular season home games will be blacked out.
“Season tickets are down more than any team in the league,” said Cannon, adding only about 44,000 of the 66,000 seats have been sold on average. “We are at a critical point in the history of the Jaguars in Jacksonville.”
Cannon talked about the effort to bring the team to Jacksonville that started in 1992 with a community/business group dedicated to showing the NFL this area was mature enough to sell, promote and keep an NFL franchise. It worked and in November 1993 Jacksonville was awarded a team that started play two years later.
The new version of Touchdown Jacksonville consists of Cannon, Ed Burr, Rick Catlett, Tony Boselli, Michael Munz and Lenny Curry.
“I will lead the steering committee and monitor the progress,” said Cannon.
Boselli, who doesn’t mince words or downplay his passion for the team and the NFL, said he’s involved because from a community and business point of view, it’s the right thing to do.
“I love this team, but it’s more than just that,” said Boselli, who was the team’s first draft pick ever. “I have fallen in love with this town.”
After leaving the Jaguars as part of the expansion draft when the Houston Texans came into the league, Boselli played in Houston, retired and moved to Nashville to work for his church, but eventually returned to the area. He joked that he’s not mad at team owner Wayne Weaver anymore for leaving him unprotected in the expansion draft.
“I am proud to live here and proud to be part of the organization,” he said.
Boselli also stressed the importance of making the Jaguars a permanent part of the community, both during the season and during the offseason.
“I wonder if people know how many players stay in this community and I’m not just talking about first-rounders,” said Boselli. “I think it’s an honor to have an NFL team. I also think it’s an honor for the NFL to be here. I think the long-term vision of Jacksonville and the Jaguars is great. It’s going to take a lot of work, but I think it’s going to work.”
Cannon said one of the immediate steps is to improve the game-day experience around the stadium and create a “festival atmosphere” to accompany the game.
Peyton said the Jaguars are vital to the area’s economy and image.
“It’s safe to say no organization has been more transformational than the Jaguars,” said Peyton. “We hosted a Super Bowl and we exceeded expectations. We owe it to ourselves to prove the viability of the team in this market. It was proven in 1995 and it needs to be proven again.”
356-2466