Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan yesterday in his opening comments at a “State of the Franchise” event said that the team's rebuilding process "should be over," according to Hays Carlyon of the FLORIDA TIMES-UNION. Khan said to fans, "We owe you better results on game day. ... I want to make it clear -- it’s my responsibility and yours that we deliver a team and an organization to you that you can be proud of on game days and every other day of the year.” Khan did "express his confidence" that the way Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell and coach Gus Bradley are constructing the roster and culture of the team is "one he still endorses." Team President Mark Lamping "presented many positive stats and figures to show how well the team is doing in popularity and meeting customer needs." Khan: "What we control is how we engage the fans. What kind of game day experience they have, and how many fans we can grow. Those metrics are moving in the right direction. We have to win on the field, no question about that, and they will get better.” Meanwhile, Khan said that the current four-year deal to play a home game in London "has not been extended" beyond the '16 season, but he "expressed no doubts that it will." Khan: “The London component is absolutely vital for us. It really supplements our effort in making the Jaguars a more stable franchise.” Meanwhile, Carlyon notes Khan "still has his eye on more upgrades" for EverBank Field, as the Jaguars still hope to "renovate their club levels on both the East and West sides of the stadium" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 2/18).
TRENDING UP: In Jacksonville, Vito Stellino reports the Jaguars last season saw a "jump in local revenue" due to "selling more tickets, a variable ticket pricing policy for the best games and more premium seats," including the new poolside cabanas. If the Florida Legislature gives the team the funding they want to renovate club seats, they will "reduce the capacity from 66,851 to 64,107" in '16 and "might eventually be able to uncover 3,501 seats that still are covered by tarps." Because the Jaguars now allow fans to bring their own food into the stadium, the increase in fan spending at the stadium "might seem surprising, but the Jaguars have boosted sales by increasing the quality and the variety of their concessions." As a small-market team with an older population, a below-average per capita income and corporate base, the Jaguars "face more challenges than most teams." Lamping said that they "can’t ignore the figures but have to find ways to take advantage of the demographics" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 2/18).
REAL ESTATE LICENSE: In Jacksonville, Richard Webner notes Khan yesterday unveiled his plan to "turn the ill-fated, city-owned Shipyards property into a mix of housing, retail and offices, as well as practice fields for his team." After the presentation, Khan "compared his proposal to the Sydney Opera House, saying it could become a Jacksonville icon." Renderings of Khan’s plans "show what appear to be three football fields branded with the Jaguars logo." Two of the fields are "stacked on top of each other." Lamping after the presentation said that the fields "would be open for public use and that the team would probably use them fewer than 10 times a year" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 2/18). In K.C., Diane Stafford notes Populous, which designed The Shipyards development, envisions a "vibrant public space that links the sports complex to Jacksonville’s downtown." The plan "calls for a 'walkable destination' with restaurants, retail, a hotel, residential units, offices, a marina and other public spaces." No cost projections "were included in the presentation." The proposed development by Khan’s development entity, Iguana Investments, "appears to indicate Khan’s interest in keeping the team in Jacksonville’s EverBank Field." Populous Senior Architect Ben Stindt "compared the project to work that Populous did in Pittsburgh providing commercial and public space around Heinz Field." Stafford notes Populous also worked on EverBank Field's new videoboards and "other fan amenities" (K.C. STAR, 2/18).
WHAT DREAMS MAY COME: In Jacksonville, Gene Frenette wrote, "If we’ve come to understand anything about Shad Khan, it’s this: his vision is a lot bigger than most people, and the Jaguars’ owner usually takes action to bring that vision to reality." Renderings of what The Shipyards might look like in coming years "created a genuine buzz around the city." Details on costs and how a developed Shipyards would be paid off "won’t emerge until a formal presentation is made next week to the Downtown Investment Authority." Jacksonville Sports Council Exec Dir Alan Verlander said that for now, "what matters is that Khan and the Jaguars have laid out a plan that 'could change the course of the history of Jacksonville in a huge way.'" Frenette noted the Council "is preparing a bid in May" for the city to host the CFP Championship in '18, ’19 or ’20 (JACKSONVILLE.com, 2/17).
