Goodell, League Wants Jaguars to Stay in Jacksonville
Just because the National Football League is looking at new markets for NFL teams and are exploring more expansion, that doesn’t mean they are looking to replace or relocate any team.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have been rumoured as being a team on the move in the near future. It’s been reported that Los Angeles is looking to add an NFL team which certainly makes sense. It’s hard to imagine that a market as big as L.A has no NFL team, although they have had one several times.
With the Jaguars struggling to fill their stadiums every Sunday and being blacked out by NFL broadcasts, many felt the team would soon be on its way to the West.
Commissioner Roger Goodell stated though that the league’s plan is to keep the Jaguars in Jacksonville. However he also added that fans would have to do their share in supporting the team, mainly by buying more tickets.
"The NFL wants to be part of the future of this city," Goodell said in an address to business leaders in the area.
As part of a new league policy last year, the Jaguars games were blacked out seven times due to the team not selling out their games. Jaguars Owner Wayne Weaver states that 13,000 season tickets have been sold and roughly 5,000 more must be sold in order to prevent further blackouts.
"If it's a one-year blip due to a perfect storm, then this is a great opportunity to demonstrate that," Goodell said regarding last year’s blackouts in the slow economy.
"We want the team to be successful and we want it to be here. We just want it to play in front of sold-out audiences."
Goodell has made his intentions clear that he wants the team to stay in Jacksonville. A team in L.A in the near-future is indeed a possibility but the NFL does not want it at the expense of Jacksonville.
“I think this team is going to continue to be successful here," Goodell said. “I believe they will support the team. The team wants to see a full stadium, the players want to see a full stadium, the league wants to see a full stadium and I think the community wants to see a full stadium."
While it’s clear what people may want, it’s time for the Jacksonville area to step up and show that they really do care about the team. Too many cities have claimed to care about their team only to not show their support in attendance and as a result, they lose their team.
It would be a shame for the Jaguars to leave Jacksonville due to a lack of support from the city. Some may be wondering whether it’s the economy, a lack of interest, or the team’s sub-par performances in recent seasons.
The Jaguars have only made it to the playoffs twice in the last decade. After going 14-2 in the 1999 season, in which the team went to the AFC Championship, the team has only made the playoffs in 2005 and 2007. Coach Jack Del Rio is on the hot-seat heading into this season.
The Jags faithful still must show their love and support of the team this season. While Goodell wants the team to remain where they are, business is business. If the city can’t show their support of the team, Goodell may have no choice business-wise but to move the team somewhere where they can flourish and Los Angeles would be a distinct possibility if that were to happen. Now is the time for the city to show what they can do with an NFL team, before it’s too late.
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