The owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Wayne Weaver is apparently floating the idea of having his team play a couple of games in Orlando in upcoming seasons. A big reason he is floating the idea; attendance, or lack of it for games in Jacksonville. The Jaguars are having major problems selling out games, sometimes drawing as few as 46,000 people in their 66,000 seat stadium and having their home games blacked out.
More from the Florida Times-Union HERE.
((Wayne Weaver wants fans//Courtesy: Will Dickey/Florida Times-Union))
An interesting discussion. Having lived for a time in Jacksonville, I was actually there when they were awarded the team. The prevailing thought was that they were so football crazed in the River City, they would never have a problem with attendance.
What part of the problem is and nobody has mentioned this; they are now competing with the University of Florida. And quite honestly, people down there are choosing to spend there money in Gainesville. Much like the Atlanta area, North Florida is primarily College Football Territory and as much as they try, unless they have a winning product, people won't come. The Atlanta Falcons for years had the same problem, trying to compete with the University of Georgia. They finally realized they couldn't. They embraced UGA and put a good product on the field...boom...people showed up.
Whether the solution is Orlando...I don't know. I grew up in that area and though the population is big, it is transitory. There aren't a lot of people who live there that are from there. Who knows, maybe they would embrace the Jags, even if it were for just a game or two; my guess is they are just relocating the problem I just talked about. The hardcore football fan in Orlando...also will spend there money with the Gators. Just sayin'.
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