Shad Khan Hopes To Take Tarps Off EverBank Field
by Alfie Crow on Feb 22, 2012 2:00 PM EST
in Jacksonville Jaguars News
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PrintJacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan has taken no time exuding his bravado in media appearances, and it's a welcome change for most Jaguars fans. There is a definite excitement in the air as Khan is hoping to give the franchise a re-birth, hitting the reset button if you will. One thing Khan hopes to do is remove the tarps from EverBank field, according to an interview with the Sports Business Journal.
Daniel Kaplan: Do you hope to get rid of the tarps that cover some of the stadium seats? (The team covers the seats because it cannot sell them.)
KHAN: 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.
The tarps were originally place on EverBank field prior to the 2005 NFL season, reducing the stadium's capacity from close to 77,000 to just over 67,000. It's been a black eye for the team and community, and as Khan says it's a sign as underachieving. Hopefully, Khan can breath new life and help build a winner so the team can fill the entire 77,000 seat stadium like it did in the early stages of the franchise.
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Play makers on Offense brings Excitement
Scoring points, bigtime plays from guys like Stevie Johnson, Marques Colston, Justin Blackmon, or Kendall Wright should energize fans. Most importantly, these players could lead us to wins. Want to fill the seats? Just win baby.
by jagzman04 on Feb 22, 2012 2:06 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I still don't get it....
we get a black eye for covering 10,000 seats in a 77,000 seat stadium but don’t we average close to the same attendance as Pittsburgh? Aren’t we in the middle of the pack as far as average home attendance?
But that isn't taking into consideration market size.
As he just stated we’re not to far off from Pittburg’s average of 63,034 and Minnesota’s average of 62,816, and we’re above Chicago’s average of 62,145 and Arizona’s average of 61,181, and Miami’s average of 60,886…by the way all of those markets are much larger markets than Jax….Our stadium is to big for our market without question. It would likely have tarps in some the majority of those markets.
"Sad fact about our generation: Most ppl would rather hear "you look good" than "you are good". We spend thousands a year on cars, clothes, & cosmetics; Forget that. I can give you a Bible for free. Save money, save your soul. Get right with the Savior, Jesus Christ."- Travis D. Holmes
So why take them off and add 10,000 seats
if the Market is too small ?
Kahn's point is.....
he has the goal of generating enough interest to warrant taking the tarps off. He is not going to do it until the remainder of the stadium is full!
But even then
it’s no wise to do it. The reason we’re close to Pittsburgh and better than Chicago is because those Stadiums are small. The Stadium in Pittsburgh, and Indy for that matter, were built so that they could be full for the long haul, not just during the good times.
Jacksonville will NEVER be a city that can consistently put 70,000+ fans in the stadium year in and year out. It’s not like they’re never going to have losing seasons again.
Jacksonville is a growing market, or at least i thought it still was
Khan’s goal is to spread out around NF and into Georgia to get more fans, something Weaver never truly seemed interested in. I’m sure we would have plenty of fans who would show up to the games if we had a winner on the field. Hell, we did it for the first 5-7 seasons. The market is bigger now with a business minded owner who can grow the brand. As long as this team wins, they’ll fill the stands.
I understand that, but it's not going to be Miami
anytime soon and they appeal to all of Southeast Florida. And even they have trouble filling a Stadium.
I do not think I am qualified.....
to tell Shad Kahn what is and what is not a wise business move. He has pretty much kicked my butt to this point in life concerning that category!
by GAJAGFAN on Feb 23, 2012 11:57 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Exactly. In this generation perception is reality. True reality is just "stuff smart ppl say"...smh
"Sad fact about our generation: Most ppl would rather hear "you look good" than "you are good". We spend thousands a year on cars, clothes, & cosmetics; Forget that. I can give you a Bible for free. Save money, save your soul. Get right with the Savior, Jesus Christ."- Travis D. Holmes
With my new job, i *might* be getting 2x season tickets this season..
We will see!
If worse comes to worst, i’ll at least get 2x 4 game flex package or something similar!
by SexonvilleShaguars on Feb 22, 2012 2:27 PM EST reply actions
Unfortunately I still have 4 years of veterinary school
but after that Khan can def expect a couple of new season ticket holders. In the mean time he will have to settle for a couple of games a year.
Respect My Authoritah
So I'm an exaggerated screaming psychopath who clearly doesn't exist. That's High Praise.
With the payment plans its pretty painless my Brother!
The game day atmosphere is incredible! The tailgating, the fans, the sights all just unbelievable fun!
Anyone attending the games are always welcome in our tailgate camp if you don’t mind hangin’ with a 50ish retired AF guy and a bunch of 30 something kids! Lots of cold drinks (Leaded and unleaded!) Great eats, a pretty eclectic selection of tunes from classic rock to punk to country and best of all … avid Jags fans!!!
by TCJagsFan on Feb 22, 2012 8:14 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Not one single talking head ever mentions
reality behind the tarps b/c none of them can even tell you why they were added. They have to fit the usual Jax agenda. All the people who write the ignorant comments on this subject on various sites get all there info from ignorant ESPN and PFT and they would have it any other way.
by nationalmediacansuckit on Feb 22, 2012 2:30 PM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
They should just take them off
remove the seats and plant trees up there.
Problem solved.
by pksiv on Feb 22, 2012 2:40 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
You need the seats for the FL/GA game and the Gator Bowl game…
(feeding a stereotype spoiler alert) – not to mention the Monster Truck events.
So put them back for that game.
They had more seats in the Indy Stadium for the Superbowl than they do for Colts games.
How many Gator games
are played there ? GA-FLA is the only game that needs them and they can put them back for that one game.
Kick the Gators/Dawgs game out.
Tell them to play on a rotating home and home schedule.
Fidelis Ad Mortem
we're gonna need those seats
as soon as the bandwagon fills up after the Jags win Superbowl XLVII
..
ok.. maybe Superbowl L
by SexonvilleShaguars on Feb 22, 2012 4:02 PM EST up reply actions
hahaha
Brilliant. Sir, let Khan have word of your vision.
by Adam Bealyer on Feb 22, 2012 3:39 PM EST up reply actions
I'm not work in finance or marketing
but we start regularly filling the non-tarped seats. Wouldn’t donating or getting sponsers to buy seats in the those sections to various groups (veterans, under privileged children, etc.) not be both a great way to fill the stadium and a massive PR boost for the organization. Each week the section is filled with some sponsored group of people. I mean we would have to fill the non-tarped seats first of course but just a thought.
"I don't know what we're yelling about. "
Sponsors/Companies
already buy a huge number of the seats, but it would be great to see them sell more.
In time we might be able yo take them off.
For now however I’d wait and see how sales are during the offseason of each year. Then take some of the off tarp by tarp. For example if we fill up the 67,000 + we have now by (or during) the preseason in season tickets/singles I’d remove some of the tarps in the NEZ. and just continue that process each year until there all removed.
Personally
I think he’s dreaming. If you take them off you can never put them back on or risk this whole “The team is moving” backlash all over again. The current capacity is right for the city, unless he plans on lowering the price of tickets to a ridiculous level.
You're right on
I wonder how many jobs were in Jacksonville during the mid-90’s as compared to how many jobs are in Jacksonville now. Are there 77,000 people able to afford season tickets currently in Jacksonville?
Yes
there are probably 500,000 people able to afford season tickets currently in Jacksonville. I do not make a lot of money, but supporting the team is important to me. $100/month is the same as a cable bill. I buy season tickets and pass on cable. The vast majority of people who are lucky enough to have jobs could afford season tickets. It’s a matter of priority.
500K? Not quite
It’s not just the ticket in most cases. Disposable income is not as plentiful as it used to be.
You are banned from Stampede Blue.
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I think he means
if they prioritize tickets over things like food and their children’s education.
I was definitely overstating to make a point, but
we park downtown 1.5 miles from the stadium and bike the rest of the way. I never buy concessions (just to keep costs down). My Jaguars cost is $50/month and not a dollar more. Like I said, it would take a big sacrifice to things that some people see as not expendable, but, to me Jaguars games are more important than cable television, eating out two more times a month, 10 six packs a month, 2 rounds of golf, etc.
Here's a question, hypothetical of course
Do many of you believe the city of Jax would assist financially in building a new/smaller stadium? It may be years down the road, but if this team becomes a hot ticket, Khan may be ready to go this route.
by nationalmediacansuckit on Feb 22, 2012 3:44 PM EST via mobile reply actions
stadium still has a good 10 years in it.
What I’d like to see is the 200s sections that are tarped off, I’d like to see a Beer Garden where they sell 250-500 SRO tickets for about $25
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You just want a beer garden......
The only problem is it would be as packed and uncomfortable as the Bud Zone!
You cap it. Wristbands only, security near by and position the bar so folks who want a beer from the beer garden are able to purchase it and go back to their seats
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U of Phoenix Stadium
The Cardinals stadium has a capacity of 63k but they have 9k temporary seats they add for games like the Fiesta Bowl, BCS Game and the Fiesta Bowl. The stigma here is only because the tarps are visible. If they had some kind of rollers system to simply hide the seats, it would not be an issue.
The seats are in the end zone. Notice the end zone is empty during Cardinal games and full of seating for premium games.
by Fivus Viener on Feb 22, 2012 4:33 PM EST up reply actions
The Colts
added 5,000 seats for the Super Bowl. Even the Cowboys did it, though less successfully.
I am not saying, it is even possible. Just saying it’s not an issue when people discuss the Cardinals and their attendance. And they essentially do the same thing the Jaguars do.
by Fivus Viener on Feb 23, 2012 9:33 AM EST up reply actions
Nature of the beast
We tarp seats…they add seats. One symbolizes underfilling your stadium…the other symbolizes overfilling. The numbers don’t matter to national media looking for a story.
This is a stupid question in the first place
What is Khan going to say, “No I hope we never remove the tarps”
Shake and Bake
Follow me on Twitter @ J_Pledger904
The best way to sell tickets and remove the tarps
is to charge the obese for two tickets, like the airlines. That’ll certainly increase ticket sales.
I would take it as an insult if you didn't troll me on Twitter @JagsTom
What a minute...that means I will have to buy a second ticket.
ABORT! ABORT!
I would take it as an insult if you didn't troll me on Twitter @JagsTom
What if...
you were given a discount on the second ticket? Would you consider that as a good deal?
You mean like the kid's discount Shad proposed?
If I comes with a coupon for the 2pt conversion burger in the Bud Zone, I’d be willing to fork over the $25 per game.
I would take it as an insult if you didn't troll me on Twitter @JagsTom
Sounds like a plan.
This should be submitted to the front office of the organization.
Let's hope Khan inspires other local leaders
I wish other leaders in our city would react the same way to the other obvious signs of underachieving in our city; poor public schools, dead downtown, second rate port, high murder rate, and unhealthy river.
by bigcat05 on Feb 22, 2012 9:08 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Khan
could very well play an important role in revitalizing the whole of downtown if he really decides to invest in Jacksonville. This especially true if he has hopes of hosting another Super Bowl. And, I have no doubt that he will make that happen.
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