by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Team Teal plan to thank fans for their support and attract more with four rewards programs available to season ticket holders.
Representatives from the Jaguars and Team Teal talked to reporters Tuesday at the Terrace Suite at EverBank Field to provide details about the “30 Days of Teal,” Teal Deals, Jaguars Advantage and Jaguars Rewards programs.
“We are going to do what we need to do to make sure this building is full every game of the season,” said Macky Weaver, senior vice president of sales and marketing. “We had too much positive feedback last season to backslide now.”
The current NFL lockout has not helped season ticket sales, but Weaver and the Jaguars staff have said there is no risk in renewing or purchasing season tickets because those purchases will be refunded, with interest, for any game not played in 2011.
The Jaguars have sold about 32,000 tickets to date, but the organization needs to sell 50,957 to avoid blackouts.
The incentive programs were created to help avoid blackouts by rewarding ticket holders. The “Teal Deals” are booklets of gift certificates to area businesses sent to season ticket holders for each seat purchased.
The 2011 “Teal Deal” book provides about $3,000 in savings. New businesses involved in the program include Firehouse Subs, Mezza Luna, North Street Bistro, Ocean 60, Roy’s, The Tree Steak House, Gypsy Cab Co., Sonny’s Bar-B-Q, Hightide Burrito, Blue Fish, Player’s Grille and Lemongrass. That value is up about $500 from last season.
“We in the hospitality industry decided to join forces and the Teal Deals took on a life of its own last year,” said Joe Adeeb, president of Bono’s Bar-B-Q and a member of the Team Teal executive committee. “We are back this year bigger and better than ever.”
Teal Deals also can contribute to offsetting the cost of a ticket purchase, according to Brian Flynn of Mint magazine, who was also involved in the creation of the incentive program.
“It’s a way ticket holders can get their tickets for free,” said Flynn.
New programs include “30 Days of Teal.” Every day in June, season ticket holders can win prizes, including a pair of Super Bowl tickets.
Another program is Jaguars Advantage, which allows season ticket holders to register their credit card at www.jaguarsadvantage.com and earn credits for future ticket purchases or cash back.
The Jaguars Rewards program returns also, and it provides discounts at more than 100 businesses throughout Northeast Florida.
The Jaguars also are pushing to fill the club seats. Ticket prices have been reduced in six sections of the East Touchdown Club. Sections 135-138 have been reduced from $2,100 to $1,800. Sections 235-236 have been reduced from $2,100 to $1,325.
Deals also are being developed for luxury boxes, and 20 are available.
“Our people are doing a good job of partnering people in the luxury boxes,” said Weaver.
“One company may say that it can’t justify $100,000 for a suite for 10 games, but they could certainly use one for three games. So we are partnering companies together to put them in a position where they entertain their clients and do it in a manner that is affordable to them,” he said.
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