In San Jose, Sean Webby notes on the secondary ticket market, prices "are skyrocketing to meet a frenzied demand" for Sunday's Giants-49ers NFC Championship game, with the average price at $610.23. 49ers Dir of Corporate Communications Steve Weakland said, "I don't know anyone in the organization who hasn't been hit up for tickets." Tiqlq Dir of Data & Corporate Communications Chris Matcovich said that the "costliest seat for the Patriots-Ravens game is about $2,895." The price for the best expensive seat for the Giants-49ers game is "reportedly going for $10,000" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/18). Meanwhile, a S.F. CHRONICLE editorial is written under the header, "49ers' Ugly Fan Element." The editorial: "We received four letters from Saints fans who detailed intimidating encounters" during last Saturday's NFC Divisional playoff game at Candlestick Park. Saints fans "were not the only ones to be disturbed by the ugly undercurrent at Saturday's game." It is a "shame that a blend of alcohol, testosterone and absence of rationality can cause a few hooligans to ruin the Candlestick experience for others" (SFGATE.com, 1/18).
SEEKING NEW CHALLENGES: Jets Exec VP/Business Operations Matt Higgins, who will be "stepping down from his post," said, "We’ve created the stadium, it’s doing great; the business of the team is doing great; we’ve settled into our practice facility. And I feel like a culture of innovation and transparency is part of our DNA and is going to continue when I move on. I feel a great sense of accomplishment, and when that happens, you start looking around and saying, ‘What’s my next challenge?'" (NJ.com, 1/17).
GOING ALL IN: In Jacksonville, Vito Stellino notes new Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan "promised a bright future to an enthusiastic crowd of 6,789 fans during a pep rally at EverBank Field on Tuesday night that was billed as the start of the rebirth" of the team. Khan said, "We're going to have a lot of fun together and we're going to win together." He said that with every "fiber in his body, he is committed to put a winning team on the field and bringing a Super Bowl to Jacksonville and said the fans should hold him accountable." Khan: "There's no doubt Jacksonville has the best fans in the NFL." He said that he "wanted to make the game-day experience the best in the NFL and he said that included a better wireless network for fans who want to use social media at the games and more screens with no ads running on them." Khan also said that the team "would spend to the salary cap." Meanwhile, Stellino notes yesterday's "festivities included a mustache contest" in honor of the new owner (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 1/18).
