Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan has become "one of Jacksonville's most prominent and influential figures," but some people wonder what his "long-term intentions are, if maybe he's planning to move the Jaguars to London full-time someday," according to Tim Rohan of SI. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry has "heard the rumors that Khan may move the Jaguars to London, but he's not worried." Curry "points to how Khan has invested money back into EverBank Field." Khan has spent about $175M renovating the stadium "over the last five years, splitting the bill with the city." The Jaguars also recently "added a practice facility and 5,500-seat amphitheater, modeled after Radio City Music Hall." However, it is "clear that within the Jaguars' offices, there is a focus on another challenge: turning the Jaguars into an international brand." That was "one of the first jobs" Khan gave team President Mark Lamping. Rohan writes Khan "viewed regular trips to London as a way to generate more money" and has been "proved correct." The London game now "accounts for about 15% of the Jags' annual revenue." But Khan also "saw a chance to expand the Jaguars' profile." He "created a London bureau and moved three Jags staffers" there full-time to "handle local sponsorships and oversee" community initiatives. The NFL's U.K. office reports that the Jaguars are the "eighth-most-popular team in London" as of June '17 as measured by jersey sales. There also "seems to be the makings of a solid season-ticket base among the locals: 40,000 people bought ticket packages to attend all four games played in London this season." NFL Exec VP/Int'l Mark Waller said that the next step in the experiment is to "play eight games in London ... and having one team play there twice, in back-to-back weeks." The Jaguars "could be that team." Khan said, "We'd listen if it meant further strengthening the franchise in Jacksonville" (SI, 10/9 issue).
