Weaver Says Jaguars Not Leaving Jax, But He May Sell In Future
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| Weaver Says Jaguars Are Not Moving To L.A. |
Jaguars Owner Wayne Weaver Thursday said that the team "isn't leaving Jacksonville, but didn't rule out the possibility of selling the club in the future," according to Michael Wright of the FLORIDA TIMES-UNION. Weaver: "I'm not selling the Jaguars. The team is not moving to L.A. I don't know how I can say it any more clearly than that. At some point, maybe I will sell the team. But not now." An NFL source close to the situation confirmed that the Jaguars have been in contact with Pinnacle Foods Chair & CEO C. Dean Metropoulos "and other potential investors, but Weaver isn't close to an agreement with any of the parties." Wright notes if Metropoulos were to buy into the Jaguars, he would "join the club as a minority investor, and could potentially, at any time in the future, have the option of purchasing a majority interest in the team." Investors value the franchise between $700-750M. Weaver said the "situation is the same as it was last year when I explained we were looking into refinancing some debt and the possibility of adding investors." Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton said that he "had a hard time believing the initial report that Weaver was looking to sell, and urged residents to support the team." Peyton: "Wayne Weaver is committed to this city. His focus, I believe, is bringing a championship team to Jacksonville" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 7/11). Peyton added Weaver "continues to invest in the facility; he continues to invest in the players and the coaches. There is every indication that he has a long-term interest in our community" (WAWS-Fox, 7/10). First Coast News Sports Dir Dan Hicken: "If you look at what [Weaver] said today, clearly his intent is on keeping this football team here in Jacksonville. He made a lot of offseason commitments financially, to his head coach, to his quarterback. This is not the time or the place to make a move right now" (FIRSTCOASTNEWS.com, 7/10). But in L.A., Sam Farmer cites two sources as saying that Metropoulos has "been in contact with Jaguars ownership" and one said that he has "discussed a three-year acquisition plan that calls for him buying 30% of the team in each of the first two years and 40% in the third." One of the sources said that Metropoulos "thought the $750[M] asking price is too high" and that Metropoulos also is "on a short list of potential candidates to buy" the Rams (L.A. TIMES, 7/11).
REAX: In Jacksonville, Mark Woods writes Weaver's statement "did carry some weight, partly because his words included the wiggle room for what he will do in the future, and partly because in the world of NFL owners he is more likely than most to give you an honest answer" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 7/11). Also in Jacksonville, Ron Littlepage writes under the header, "Mayor's Slim Legacy Rests On Jaguars Staying In Town." Weaver's statement is "welcome news, not only for Peyton, but for Jacksonville." Littlepage: "If the Jaguars left, it would be a loss -- just not the end of the world" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 7/11). In Jacksonville, Gene Frenette writes, "Can anybody seriously be surprised that Weaver wants financial assistance?" The team is without a naming-rights deal for its stadium, had "three television blackouts last year for a playoff-bound team, are 28th in the ... NFL in revenue and still have 3,800 available season tickets" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 7/11).
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