JBA Board of Governors member Ray Driver
The Southeast in general, and Jacksonville in particular, has always been known for its college football. Pick a Saturday in the fall, and chances are most of your friends and family are in Gainesville or Tallahassee, or glued in front of a TV watching the Bulldogs, Gators, Hurricanes or Seminoles.
Large alumni bases and perennial championship contenders tend to have that effect. Jacksonville’s always been ready for some college football.
On Nov. 30, 1993, the NFL decided that Jacksonville was ready for some NFL football by awarding us its 30th franchise (sorry St. Louis). For about 15 years, we proved they were right. Our Jacksonville Jaguars sold out games and made playoff runs. Wayne Weaver somehow convinced them we were ready for a Super Bowl. We were ready and boy did it pay off.
Jobs were created. Large companies relocated to Jacksonville. Large companies that were thinking about moving out of Jacksonville decided to stay. The talk about the Florida-Georgia game moving because of a deteriorating stadium subsided. The Gator Bowl jumped to a top-tier bowl.
Downtown revitalization began (if you don’t believe that, go back to 1992 and take a walk around downtown). Charities benefited. Our city’s self-esteem improved, and not just a little. We actually got a little cocky. We told the national media that questioned our viability (and even our “backwoods” way of life) to stick it in their ear.
Boy, how things change quickly. The Jaguars put a bad product on the field a few years in a row, and the “Great Recession” hits. Not quite the three-pronged perfect storm, but pretty close. All of a sudden, the national media was again questioning our viability and we gave them the fuel they needed to build a raging fire. The rumors started surfacing that the team was moving to Los Angeles, and we started believing them. We almost let it become a foregone conclusion.
Fortunately, the people that make up this community woke up and did what they have done time and time again. They began fighting. Team Teal was created, and it started to reinvigorate fans.
The Jaguars changed their ways. They lowered ticket prices, got out in the community more, and reconnected with their fans. EverBank stepped up and committed millions of dollars to keeping the Jaguars in town. That even got Roger Goodell, the NFL’s commissioner, to come to Jacksonville this past week.
Back on May 14, the JBA got involved. With the help and generosity of the Weavers and Jaguars, The JBA hosted the largest party in its history at EverBank Field. There was a lot of excitement at that party, and I hope it has carried over. I know it has for me.
The Jaguars are a special and unique asset for our community, regardless of whether you like football or not, and Wayne and Delores Weaver are trustees for our community that we can’t put a price on. We all need to do what we can to show them that we realize and appreciate that, and that we are committed to keeping them here.
We are down to about 4,000 season tickets that need to be sold to avoid blackouts this year. The rest will be taken care of through group sales, etc. We have about two weeks to do it, and the JBA has the ability to make it happen.
Please, please, please consider (1) buying tickets if you haven’t already done so (give them to charity if you don’t want to go to games), (2) buying more tickets, even if it hurts a little, (3) reaching out to clients, friends and family and encouraging them to do the same, and (4) being positive about the Jaguars and their importance to our incredible city.
Wayne Weaver has continuously stated that the Jaguars are not moving out of Jacksonville, and Roger Goodell affirmed that when he was in town. But those statements always are caveated with words and phrases like blackouts, viability, etc. That’s why we all need to do what we can. It’s too important for our community, and the effort needs to be now … not tomorrow. If we wake up one day and the Jaguars are gone, it’s unlikely we will ever get them back. That’s a chance none of us should be willing to take.
Now, are you ready for some NFL football? I know I am. Thank you Wayne and Delores Weaver for giving us the opportunity to prove everyone wrong (again), and GO JAGUARS!!