While Wayne Weaver was announcing the sale of the Jacksonville Jaguars and the firing of head coach Jack Del Rio, the JAXUSA Partnership For Regional Economic Development was holding its quarterly luncheon at the Hyatt Downtown.
About 400 people attended, filling about 40 tables.
PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem was the keynote speaker, although much of the table talk focused on the Jaguars’ sale and to some degree the firing of Del Rio.
Some of the City and business leaders said before and after the event that they were surprised by the sale announcement, but more by the timing than by the news itself.
All of those interviewed thanked the Weavers for their community support since buying the franchise in 1993 and launching Jacksonville’s first National Football League franchise, which started playing in 1995.
“There was a point we knew the team was going to be sold,” said Jerry Mallot, president of JAXUSA, who said he was “moderately surprised” at the announcement.
Mallot said he understood that Weaver did not want to sell the team before the Jaguars made it to the Super Bowl, but that didn’t happen. Weaver will be 77 in January and said in an August 2010 interview with the Daily Record that selling the team was an opportunity that “may come sooner than later.”
Mallot said the community should show its support for the Weavers.
He also said he understood that Wayne Weaver obviously was comfortable and confident with Shahid Khan’s plans for the team.
“Wayne said his goal is he would sell to a person who would keep it in Jacksonville,” Mallot said.
Mallot said he understands that Khan will buy a house in Ponte Vedra, at least as a second home.
He said the Weavers have been supportive of the economic development efforts in Jacksonville. “When we have major business projects, Wayne has offered his facilities. Wayne has hosted us in his stadium,” he said.
Mallot said he didn’t know what would happen with the Jaguars staff. “That becomes a transition question for the new owner,” he said. “They have a lot of very talented people there.”
“They’re still our team,” he said.
Linda Sherrer, president and CEO of Prudential Network Realty, had mixed emotions about the deal. She is the founding broker of the company since its inception of 1988.
One of Prudential’s partners is Tom Petway, also a partner in the Jaguars. Petway was a driving force in bringing Super Bowl XXXIX to Jacksonville in February 2005 to play at what was then called Alltel Stadium.
“It’s sad, but I’m grateful they’ll stay in Jacksonville,” said Sherrer. Asked if she had met Khan, she said “I certainly hope to.”
She was not necessarily surprised at the sale. “There’s been so much discussion for several years,” she said.
Jacksonville Aviation Authority CEO Steve Grossman’s first response to the prospect of a sale of the Jaguars was that it was “scary.”
“It heightens the potential they will move,” he said. “It will be interesting to read the details.”
Scott Keith, chair of the JAXUSA Partnership and regional president of BB&T, said before the quarterly meeting, for which he was master of ceremonies, that the community has been fortunate to have the Weavers as community leaders.
“We have been blessed to have the Weavers in our community since 1995,” he said. “We wish them well.”
Keith said he could not think of any immediate economic impact to the area from the sale, “but I do know the economic impact of the Jaguars.”
He said he was somewhat surprised about the sale, but said it was the Weavers’ decision.
“It’s their business choice,” he said. “Both are very thoughtful people.”
JAXUSA Partnership is part of the JAX Chamber. Chamber President Wally Lee said before the meeting that he had no immediate information about Khan.
Lee said he was “very surprised” to hear the team was being sold, “but what appears to be the case is the team will remain in Jacksonville.
“Everything I’ve heard so far suggests that the team will remain in Jacksonville,” Lee said. “I’m optimistic.”
Lee, who joined the chamber 23 years ago, said he has a sentimental attachment to the team. “I was in the Compass Bank room” at the chamber’s Downtown headquarters, he said. “We were watching the coverage on TV.”
He remembered the announcement that Jacksonville was awarded the 30th NFL franchise in 1993. “What a rush that was,” he said.
Lee said the Jaguars have been “an exciting part of the richness of our community.”
Lee listed ways in which the team has assisted the area, including helping to attract and retain businesses and providing “a super recreation outlet.”
City Council member Doyle Carter said he was hopeful that the team will remain in Jacksonville.
“We appreciate Mr. and Mrs. Weaver’s support for Jacksonville,” said Carter, who represents District 12 and is in his second tour on the Council.
Carter was elected in the spring of 1999 and served until 2003 and was elected again this spring.
Carter said the Weavers have been hard workers for the City and the team.
“It gets weary, but we understand,” he said.
State Rep. Lake Ray, who served eight years on Council representing District 1 from 1999-2007, said he was surprised by the timing of the sale, but thinks the move will energize fans.
“I think it is something Wayne Weaver has been thinking about for some time,” he said.
“It will really charge up our fans,” he said. “I think it will be a great opportunity.”
Ray was elected to the Legislature in 2008 and subsequently re-elected. He also was recently named president of the First Coast Manufacturers Association.
He said he saw possibilities of talking to Khan about moving some of his manufacturing business to Jacksonville.
“I think we can work on that,” he said.
Daniel O’Byrne, president and CEO of Visit Jacksonville, the marketing organization contracted by the Duval County Tourist Development Council to support business and leisure tourism, said the Jaguars are a key tourism asset for the area.
He said he looked forward to working with Khan.
Separately on Tuesday, Peter Bragan Jr., president and former general manager of the Jacksonville Suns, responded to the news that Del Rio was fired that morning.
“It’s always hard to fire somebody, but sometimes it’s time for a change, especially when it’s obvious to everybody. I feel bad for Jack, but it’s all rated on performance. You have expectations for your team and when they’re not met, in baseball, it’s the manager who’s got to go; in football, it’s the head coach,” he said.
It didn’t go unnoticed by some attendees at the JAXUSA Partnership event that the Sept. 6 quarterly luncheon was the same day as other big Jaguars news.
At that luncheon, Jaguars quarterback David Garrard was introduced as the starter to a lunchtime crowd of 1,540 business leaders. Hours later, he was cut from the team.
“I can say this decision was pure football,” Del Rio said that day in a 4:15 p.m. news conference.
Del Rio and other Jaguars leaders, including Weaver, attended that event.
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