The Jaguars played in front of a sellout crowd of 64,701 at EverBank Field on Sunday, marking the "second consecutive game" the team has sold out, according to John Reid of the FLORIDA TIMES-UNION. The team even "sold standing-room tickets" to the game, a 45-7 win over the Texans that improved the Jaguars' record to 10-4 and clinched the team's first trip to the playoffs in 10 years. Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan said, "We’ve had standing-room only tickets, which certainly hasn’t happened in the almost six years I’ve been here, so it’s wonderful. The energy in this stadium, you can’t replace that, and that’s why we need the fans." Their 6-2 home record is "tied for second-best in franchise history." The Jaguars closed out their eight-game home schedule (which included a game in London) "ranked 23rd of 32 teams." The Jaguars averaged 64,303 with a 95.6% capacity. Last year, the Jaguars were 3-13 and "ranked 26th in attendance, averaging 61,915 per game" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 12/19).
SHOPPING SPREE: In Jacksonville, Vic Micolucci wrote the Jaguars' "best team in a decade" coupled with the holiday season "means fans are scrambling to get Jags merchandise." Local store managers said that Jaguars gear is "flying off the shelves." Many added that merchandise sales are the "best they've been in at least 10 years." Jacksonville Beach-based Sports Mania Manager Matthew Smith said that business is "booming" at his store. Smith: "It starts at 9 in the morning and we open at 10. My phone starts ringing around 6:30 in the morning." Micolucci noted from "toys to hats, Sports Mania has been selling a lot of Jags merchandise as Christmas and Hanukkah presents." The store's "top seller" is CB Jalen Ramsey's No. 20 jersey. Fanatics last Friday said that Jaguars sales have "doubled this year," and in the last seven days there had been a 52% "spike over the previous week." Fanatics added that RB Leonard Fournette merchandise "is its top seller" (NEWS4JAX.com, 12/15).
