02-08-2014, 05:49 PM
The biggest need that the Jaguars has is a rejuvenated and expanded fan base. As a Jax native, now living in Seattle and a "12th Man," I fully understand the Seahawks marketing strategy that comes with the branding of our fans as "The 12th Man." It is has been a rallying point for Seahawks fans across the Pacific Northwest and around the world. There are 12th Man flags on every street, highway, and most major buildings in the region.
Jacksonville is part of Florida's "First Coast" and is also America's First Coast. The Seahawks have proven that the fans are #1, and their enthusiasm has made winning at home an almost foregone conclusion without regard to who the opponent is.
Jacksonville got the nod for an expansion franchise in 1995, in large part, due to Paul Tagliabue's impression of our fans enthusiasm for the Florida-Georgia games, the Jacksonville Bulls of the 1980's, and NFL exhibition games of the early 90's. It wasn't because of Jacksonville's size, extraordinary night life, or being an elite American city...because Jacksonville is none of those things. We got the Jags because of the fans and if we lose the Jags, it'll be because of the fans and their lost enthusiasm/support for the team.
Here's my solution to the problem:
Brand the fans as "The First Man." Take up part of that party deck that's being built and make it into a replica of part of a Spanish Fort with 18th Century Spanish soldiers bearing rifles and a cannon with its men. At the beginning of each home game, have a special guest "First Man" featured, who had made his mark on the City or the Team (such as an ex-Jags player, philanthropist, business leader, native country/rock music star, etc) with a tribute 1 minute video shown on the giant screen. At the conclusion of the video, that "First Man" will be shown as standing in the Fort area and giving the command to the soldiers to fire their rifles and cannon, and rally the fans. Every time the Jaguars scores, the cannon and rifles will fire.
He would raise a flag that bears the Jaguars logo with the words "First Man." The organization can license First Man flags, towels, shirts, jerseys, etc to be sold to fans everywhere. Sell a Jaguars jersey with the number "1."
As for the #1 Jersey, they should have a Jersey retirement ceremony on the very first game for the fans - their jersey - their number, forever more.
My suggestion is that Paul Tagliabue should be the first one who would serve as the opening "First Man."
Here's an example of one of our "12th Man" flag raising videos, which was shown at the beginning of our home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on 9/22/2013: http://www.seahawks.com/videos-photos/vi...ad59c23c6c
The fans need to be galvanized, and this will go a long way towards doing just that. This will also reinforce the team owner's commitment in keeping the team in Jacksonville, and such reassurance to the fans is indispensable to the team's success in the region.
Take it from a 12th Man, who has seen 750,000 12th Men, Women, and children at the Seahawks Victory Parade in downtown just days ago. That could be YOU someday, Jacksonville. You don't have to be the biggest and best city in the world, nor do you have to have the most winning record. The first and foremost need that the Jaguars has is to have the best marketing people and strategy that money can buy, and it will pay dividends on every front in every way. Take it from those teams, like the Seahawks, who've made it to the top and draw from it.
-The 12th Man.
Jacksonville is part of Florida's "First Coast" and is also America's First Coast. The Seahawks have proven that the fans are #1, and their enthusiasm has made winning at home an almost foregone conclusion without regard to who the opponent is.
Jacksonville got the nod for an expansion franchise in 1995, in large part, due to Paul Tagliabue's impression of our fans enthusiasm for the Florida-Georgia games, the Jacksonville Bulls of the 1980's, and NFL exhibition games of the early 90's. It wasn't because of Jacksonville's size, extraordinary night life, or being an elite American city...because Jacksonville is none of those things. We got the Jags because of the fans and if we lose the Jags, it'll be because of the fans and their lost enthusiasm/support for the team.
Here's my solution to the problem:
Brand the fans as "The First Man." Take up part of that party deck that's being built and make it into a replica of part of a Spanish Fort with 18th Century Spanish soldiers bearing rifles and a cannon with its men. At the beginning of each home game, have a special guest "First Man" featured, who had made his mark on the City or the Team (such as an ex-Jags player, philanthropist, business leader, native country/rock music star, etc) with a tribute 1 minute video shown on the giant screen. At the conclusion of the video, that "First Man" will be shown as standing in the Fort area and giving the command to the soldiers to fire their rifles and cannon, and rally the fans. Every time the Jaguars scores, the cannon and rifles will fire.
He would raise a flag that bears the Jaguars logo with the words "First Man." The organization can license First Man flags, towels, shirts, jerseys, etc to be sold to fans everywhere. Sell a Jaguars jersey with the number "1."
As for the #1 Jersey, they should have a Jersey retirement ceremony on the very first game for the fans - their jersey - their number, forever more.
My suggestion is that Paul Tagliabue should be the first one who would serve as the opening "First Man."
Here's an example of one of our "12th Man" flag raising videos, which was shown at the beginning of our home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on 9/22/2013: http://www.seahawks.com/videos-photos/vi...ad59c23c6c
The fans need to be galvanized, and this will go a long way towards doing just that. This will also reinforce the team owner's commitment in keeping the team in Jacksonville, and such reassurance to the fans is indispensable to the team's success in the region.
Take it from a 12th Man, who has seen 750,000 12th Men, Women, and children at the Seahawks Victory Parade in downtown just days ago. That could be YOU someday, Jacksonville. You don't have to be the biggest and best city in the world, nor do you have to have the most winning record. The first and foremost need that the Jaguars has is to have the best marketing people and strategy that money can buy, and it will pay dividends on every front in every way. Take it from those teams, like the Seahawks, who've made it to the top and draw from it.
-The 12th Man.