Shad Khan views tarps in Jacksonville as a sign of failure

[Big Bid'Ness]

Fromrofootballtalk

For some home games the Jaguars are blacked out on local television in Jacksonville because they haven’t sold out their stadium, and other times the blackout is lifted because the game is designated a sellout. But even those “sellouts” are played in a stadium that’s far from full.

New Jaguars owner Shad Khan has ambitions for the franchise to reach the point when a sold out stadium means a full stadium.

Presently, the Jaguars put tarps over almost 10,000 seats at EverBank Field and say the official capacity is about 67,000. Without the tarps, the capacity is nearly 77,000. And for major events like the annual Georgia-Florida game, EverBank Field uses additional bleachers and seats 84,000. The Jaguars have a long way to go before they’re drawing the kinds of crowds that Georgia and Florida draw, but Khan says that’s the goal.

Asked by Sports Business Journal if he wants to get rid of the tarps, Khan said, “Absolutely.”

“To me, every day I look at the tarps it is like underachieving, and I can’t wait to be able to do that,” Khan said.

There’s an argument to be made that the tarps aren’t really a sign of a problem in Jacksonville: Even with the tarps, the Jaguars regularly have more fans at EverBank Field than, for instance, the Bears have at Soldier Field. But Khan is an ambitious man, and he doesn’t want to accept any excuses for the Jaguars’ attendance record. He wants a fan in every seat.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

They are a sign of failure...

 

[cruzg24]

They need to take off those tarps, the Jags are blacked out a couple of times and obviously its because the fans dont go. Success will change that.

 

[Giantmetfan07]

They need to take off those tarps, the Jags are blacked out a couple of times and obviously its because the fans dont go. Success will change that.

the tarps are preventing them from getting blacked out more often. Nevertheless, the tarps show weakness and they need to do a better job of attracting customers to the stadium rather than covering up the seats.

 

[WJF7]

I'm glad Khan is doing this. Great idea.

 

[Stro]

The Jags missed a trick (in drawing fans) by not drafting Tebow.

 

[kam.]

The Jags missed a trick (in drawing fans) by not drafting Tebow.

You can't be serious...

 

[kam.]

People do realize the Gator Bowl (thats what it was called before we got a NFL Franchise) Was built for the Florida Georgia game. So its suppose to hold way more seats than a NFL Stadium. Thats why theres tarps, not to help us from blacking out games. Jags have sold out every game since 2009. We don't need Tebow, never had an interest in him and gave him a 6th Round grade.

 

[Stro]

You can't be serious...

Just saying that if Tebow was in Jacksonville their attendance would be higher.

You can't doubt that.

 

[kam.]

Just saying that if Tebow was in Jacksonville their attendance would be higher.

You can't doubt that.

Why? Because hes from Florida? We haven't had a Blackout since 2009.

How is one going to sell tickets if he isn't playing? Coaches didn't like him, Front Office didn't like him. If we ever drafted him, it'd to be a FB/TE or Backup QB. He wouldn't start. How are you going to sell tickets from the Bench?

Gator Fans are going to buy tickets to watch a guy hold a clipboard? Fuck no.

Want to know what sells tickets? Winning. Jaguars aren't there yet but they're heading in the right direction. We don't need a gimmick of a QB that sucks ass for 45 Mins a game to sell tickets. Regardless of where hes from, he wouldn't of helped. Gator fans hate the Jaguars for the way we've treated all their "Precious Busts". Reggie Nelson, Derrick Harvey, Etc.

 

[Stro]

Why? Because hes from Florida? We haven't had a Blackout since 2009.

How is one going to sell tickets if he isn't playing? Coaches didn't like him, Front Office didn't like him. If we ever drafted him, it'd to be a FB/TE or Backup QB. He wouldn't start. How are you going to sell tickets from the Bench?

Gator Fans are going to buy tickets to watch a guy hold a clipboard? Fuck no.

Want to know what sells tickets? Winning. Jaguars aren't there yet but they're heading in the right direction. We don't need a gimmick of a QB that sucks ass for 45 Mins a game to sell tickets. Regardless of where hes from, he wouldn't of helped. Gator fans hate the Jaguars for the way we've treated all their "Precious Busts". Reggie Nelson, Derrick Harvey, Etc.

Err yes. Do you remember the hype when the Broncos visited Jacksonville and that was when Tebow was a backup?
* http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_16059180

But if you haven't read the above discussion in the thread, it's all about the Jags selling an extra 10k seats and removing the tarps. The Jags may avoid the blackouts but they barely do it and seem to think up new marketing ploys/*cough* giveaways every other week to avoid it.
* http://bleacherreport.com/articles/873689-jacksonville-jaguars-new-ridiculous-tactic-to-avoid-blackouts-make-money
* http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-1/-Jaguars-granted-extension-of-blackout-deadline-for-Sunday/ac01b155-e549-4809-919a-9024eebdf673
* http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/06/jags-lift-blackout-with-more-than-a-little-help/

I do see your points that coaches weren't buying Tebow's abilities but the NFL is as much of a business as it a pastime for us (which is where my first comment was born from). Give me Tebow over Alualu in the hope that he is the savior for the Jags because time seems to be running out for them in Jacksonville - LA is calling...

 

[kam.]

Err yes. Do you remember the hype when the Broncos visited Jacksonville and that was when Tebow was a backup?
* http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_16059180

But if you haven't read the above discussion in the thread, it's all about the Jags selling an extra 10k seats and removing the tarps. The Jags may avoid the blackouts but they barely do it and seem to think up new marketing ploys/*cough* giveaways every other week to avoid it.
* http://bleacherreport.com/articles/873689-jacksonville-jaguars-new-ridiculous-tactic-to-avoid-blackouts-make-money
* http://www.jaguars.com/news/article-1/-Jaguars-granted-extension-of-blackout-deadline-for-Sunday/ac01b155-e549-4809-919a-9024eebdf673
* http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/10/06/jags-lift-blackout-with-more-than-a-little-help/

I do see your points that coaches weren't buying Tebow's abilities but the NFL is as much of a business as it a pastime for us (which is where my first comment was born from). Give me Tebow over Alualu in the hope that he is the savior for the Jags because time seems to be running out for them in Jacksonville - LA is calling...

The Teal Deals thing isn't a gimmick. Tons of teams give out special offers to season ticket holders. Thats one that the Jaguars do to fans to kinda give back.

Asking for an extension doesn't mean anything, if you sell it out, you sell it out. Jags haven't had a blackout and why do fans keep thinking they're moving to LA? They're not.

Wayne Weaver (Former Owner) has stated that when he put the Jaguars up for sale he got calls from all LA area potential buyers, and told them to not even waste their time because hes not selling the franchise to anyone from that area, regardless of how much they was paying.

Shad Khan isn't moving the team either, hes been doing deals with Jacksonville since 1981 in his original business and has ties to the Jacksonville area and has vowed not to move the team to Wayne. Hes bought a home in Jacksonville now and sold his new Yaht so he can stay in Jacksonville full time and don't have to worry about having to leave the city.

Your a Dolphins fan. Please don't start about Ticket or Fan issues. https://twitter.com/#!/BenVolinPBP/status/173061337205850112

$25 a seat? LMFAOOOOOO.

 

[Stro]

The Teal Deals thing isn't a gimmick. Tons of teams give out special offers to season ticket holders. Thats one that the Jaguars do to fans to kinda give back.

Asking for an extension doesn't mean anything, if you sell it out, you sell it out. Jags haven't had a blackout and why do fans keep thinking they're moving to LA? They're not.

Wayne Weaver (Former Owner) has stated that when he put the Jaguars up for sale he got calls from all LA area potential buyers, and told them to not even waste their time because hes not selling the franchise to anyone from that area, regardless of how much they was paying.

Shad Khan isn't moving the team either, hes been doing deals with Jacksonville since 1981 in his original business and has ties to the Jacksonville area and has vowed not to move the team to Wayne. Hes bought a home in Jacksonville now and sold his new Yaht so he can stay in Jacksonville full time and don't have to worry about having to leave the city.

Your a Dolphins fan. Please don't start about Ticket or Fan issues. https://twitter.com/#!/BenVolinPBP/status/173061337205850112

$25 a seat? LMFAOOOOOO.

Kinda off point there.

All I was saying was Tebow as Jag = higher attendance.

We'll never prove nor dispel this - it's an opinion in which we choose to disagree on.

 

[kam.]

Kinda off point there.

All I was saying was Tebow as Jag = higher attendance.

We'll never prove nor dispel this - it's an opinion in which we choose to disagree on.

I'd MUCH rather have Tyson Alualu than Tim Tebow. Jags have a great young DT Tandem with Knighton and Alualu. Tebow would be on the sideline.. Wasted pick.

Even other NFL Front Offices said the Jags shouldn't of drafted Tebow. & Im glad (Along with the rest of the Jaguar fans) that we didnt.

 

[Stro]

I'd MUCH rather have Tyson Alualu than Tim Tebow. Jags have a great young DT Tandem with Knighton and Alualu. Tebow would be on the sideline.. Wasted pick.

Even other NFL Front Offices said the Jags shouldn't of drafted Tebow. & Im glad (Along with the rest of the Jaguar fans) that we didnt.

:tebow: is a winner

Too many be hating.

 

[kam.]

:tebow: is a winner

Too many be hating.

So was Vince Young, Matt Leinart, Colt McCoy, Etc. You see how this ends. Tebow will be the Backup on a team in a few years just like Vince Young is now.

 

[Stro]

I'd MUCH rather have Tyson Alualu than Tim Tebow. Jags have a great young DT Tandem with Knighton and Alualu. Tebow would be on the sideline.. Wasted pick.

Even other NFL Front Offices said the Jags shouldn't of drafted Tebow. & Im glad (Along with the rest of the Jaguar fans) that we didnt.

:fail:

 

[kam.]

:fail:

SMH. You apparently dont know the player Alualu is.


http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-fantasy/09000d5d81a7a17d/Jaguars-defense-sack-6-yd-loss

Same Game that you bragged Tebow came and filled the Jags stadium to hold a clipboard with. Tebow was stopped by Alualu whenever he was played. Tebow is garbage.. End of story.

 

[Stro]

SMH. You apparently dont know the player Alualu is.


http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-fantasy/09000d5d81a7a17d/Jaguars-defense-sack-6-yd-loss

Same Game that you bragged Tebow came and filled the Jags stadium to hold a clipboard with. Tebow was stopped by Alualu whenever he was played. Tebow is garbage.. End of story.

One of his 6 sacks over 2 years (THIRTY-TWO games).

Tebow's busy leading teams who start 1-4 to the Playoffs.

 

[kam.]

One of his 6 sacks over 2 years (THIRTY-TWO games).

Tebow's busy leading teams who start 1-4 to the Playoffs.

Hes a DEFENSIVE TACKLE.

Its rare for DTs to end up with alot of sacks unless your a Suh or Sapp type player, which he isnt.. but hes a very good DT. & Hes one of the main reasons Jags had a top 5 Defense last year.

He also hasn't been healthy since week 2 of 2010 (After the Broncos game)

INDIANAPOLIS — If all goes as planned, for the first time in his professional career, Jaguars defensive tackle Tyson Alualu will play with healthy knees next season.

Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey said Friday that Alualu had surgery on his right knee, a joint he injured in the preseason of his rookie year.

“Anxious to see how he is when he feels 100 percent,” Mularkey said from the NFL Scouting Combine. “… When we played him when I was with Atlanta, he was a disruptive player on that knee and here’s a guy that’s going to hopefully come back full speed and see how much more he can improve from it. I think he should be ready to go by the time we get to camp.”

The surgery was to clean out his knee. Alualu had hoped he wouldn’t need it.

Alualu finished the 2011 season with 81 tackles, 2.5 sacks and one fumble recovery. He has started 32 games the past two seasons.

Meanwhile, the Jaguars began negotiations with defensive end Jeremy Mincey this week at the combine. Mincey is due to be an unrestricted free agent on March 13 at 4 p.m., unless the Jaguars re-sign him.

Mincey had a breakout season in 2011. He played in all 16 games and for 942 snaps at a position which usually sees more rotation. He had 101 tackles and eight sacks — a career high.

Talks with kicker Josh Scobee have progressed and the two sides exchanged contract proposals. Though both Scobee and the Jaguars have expressed interest in reaching a long-term deal, there was still a significant gap between the two sides on Friday.

Scobee made 92 percent of his field goals in 2011.

The Jaguars also plan to meet with the agents for cornerback Rashean Mathis and safety Dwight Lowery.

Mathis, a longtime starter, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in November.

Lowery joined the Jaguars in a preseason trade and started 11 games, was a backup in two others and missed three with shoulder stinger.

The Jaguars finished last season with 31 players on injured reserve and Mularkey said the team will monitor each of them and check in more formally on their progress some time next month.

“We’re still going through the roster, not making any changes as of yet,” Mularkey said when asked specifically about the futures of defensive ends Matt Roth and Aaron Kampman with the Jaguars. “We’re trying to get our free agents addressed first. We’re going to let some of these guys heal that ended up on IR. And some have passed, some have not passed, but we’re going to address it at some point.”

Kampman had his third knee surgery in three years last season and Mularkey said his rehab was going well. Roth had a severe concussion that was still giving him headaches six weeks after it happened.

Sooo... I think Alualu will murder shit this year while Tebow is benched near the end of October.