I remember reading on NFL.com a few years ago about Jacksonvilles ticket problem. They have the smallest market/metropolitan area and one of the biggest stadiums capacity(77k if I recall). It was something like 1 out of 9 residents of jville needed to attend the game to sell it out. It was the equivalent of Gillette stadium having like 400k seats to be sold out every Sunday. Then add in the 2 other teams in the same state and it makes it that much more difficult for the Jaguars to sell out.
and yes, all these numbers are wrong and were pulled from the bottom of the old memory barrel.
Jacksonville is the largest city in Florida population wise within the city limits. Jacksonville has a small small downtown, and last I heard only 5000 people actually live in what's considered downtown. The city sports over 1 million residents within the city limits, however it also takes me 40 minutes to get to the Westside of it ( I live on the beach side )
The largest problem Jacksonville faces is simply a non-competitive team. The Jacksonville Sharks ( Arean Football Team ) Sells out a lot of games, and of all the AFL teams, it's the most popular in the nation. Why? Becuase Jacksonville Craves a competitive team.
3 Major reasons the Jags have a Fan problem.
1) They stink, there is literally no talent, no super star, nothing to look at and say one day they will be great. Some solid players on defense, but in all skill positions, there is nothing. Some might say "What about MJD!", Well that may have worked 5 years ago, MJD has been the sole name for eons, and people are no longer excited about a guy who accounts for 50% of the offense and rarely if ever does anything exciting with the ball. ( He's no CJ2K )
2) The Gators have been so successful. Tim Tebow is God around here, and not drafting him was the biggest mistake from a business perspective anyone could have ever made. So what if he isn't Manning, he gets the fan base to buy into the Jags, because everyone here who needs to Choose between a Gators Ticket, and a Jags ticket, is picking the Gators every time ( even though its a long ass haul to Gainsville from here ) With the additional revenue, the Jags would be more competitive in Free Agency, and therefore drive even more fans to the games. The Jags are so non-competitive in ALL aspects of NFL team management, that the Fans aren't interested. The Jags have a boring coach, never sign any big names, and seem to draft the most low key drafts every year ( they have some good players, but no sizzle )
Wayne Weaver just sold the Team, so hopefully the new owner is interested in driving the business forward, not holding on to one of the worst coaches simply because he was cheap. The entire management and running of the Jags has been to spend as little as possible and some how get more fans... Failed ownership, and with the local college team so good, Locally, it makes the Jags look even worse.
3) Snowbirds, and transplants - I have lived here for 8 years now, and I know of 3 people who are native to Jacksonville, or surrounding areas. So many people already have their favorite teams. The Sport bars around the city are CRAMMED on Sundays, everyone trying to watch their team.
What makes everything worse is this should have been the Jags year to be in the playoffs with the Colts finally being a non-factor, and the Texans and all their injuries. The Jags picked the Worse year to dump their Veteran QB in favor for a Rookie which had no training camp. This year would have been the easiest year to make the playoffs in recent history for the Jags, and in typical fashion, they figured out a way to turn an opportunity for something positive into a negative.
Why did they drop Gerard? Because he was Due a roster bonus of 5 mil. Granted he wasn't worth that, but how much is a playoff entrance worth? Or a Division title worth?
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Overall, there is a chance all of that changes with the Gators having a really down year, and the Jags changing up the Coaching and ownership.
