Quote:You're last point is 100% correct.  If this was a perennial winner, the Jaguars wouldn't be in the rumor mill as a potential relocation candidate.  

 

I feel my initial suspicion about the purpose of these London games had some merit.  It was awfully convenient that the commitment to this experiment coincided with the agreement Khan made with Wayne Weaver to keep the team in Jacksonville for 5 years.  This was always the thing that stuck in my craw because the timing was awfully convenient.  But, I also looked at the 5 year agreement with Weaver as a test of our commitment as fans to the franchise.  If at the end of the 5 years the team was losing money, or the fan draw was ridiculously low, then I could see the team moving. 

 

What we've seen so far is that the fans have stepped up and continued to do their part despite the team being downright lousy, and there's every expectation that as the team improves, the fan support will continue to remain solid, and hopefully grow. 

 

I may not agree with every decision Khan has made since buying the team, but I do see now that he's making every effort to assure this team remains in Jacksonville beyond that first 5 years.  If we survive that window, I don't think there will nearly as much concern about the franchise pulling up stakes and moving.  I believe this is especially true if the product on the field improves.

 

One thing I feel Khan has learned since buying the team is that the fan passion in Jacksonville can't be measured by ticket sales.  There's a lot of passion for this team in the area despite the team being awful.  Fans want to see it succeed here.  Khan has to have recognized this passion (despite the best efforts in the media to portray us as an apathetic fan base) over the past 2 years, and he's clearly trying to tap into that to bolster ticket sales and increase the footprint of the franchise. 

 

When I watched everything going on around the London trip, it's clear he recognizes the need to build the business base in Jacksonville.  More significant corporate presence leads to more sponsorships, higher incomes locally, and hopefully more revenue for the franchise.  The Jaguars and the city of Jacksonville had a very prominent presence during the last week in London, and the hope is that will net results locally with companies looking to do more business here, or to expand their presence.  All of that is a good thing for the city, and what's good for the city is good for the team as well. 

 

Seeing that effort, spearheaded by Shad Khan, it gave me a better sense of confidence that he's not just in this to move the team to a bigger market.  He's trying to grow the market he's in so that won't be necessary.  He's not just focused on the team.  That's a good thing.

 

The true mark of Khan's word comes/will come with an important caveat he's made since the announcement he bought the team.

 

Khan indicated the fans have to support the team, but it's important that the product on the field earns the fans support.

 

I support the team.  I go to the games. 

 

But many won't go with a product as bad as it's been the past two years.

 

I think if he is a man of his word, he'll make every legitimate effort to put a winning team on the field and see how the support here is.

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