http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7...rs-fire-longtime-coach-jack-del-rio-sell-team Outgoing owner promises the new owner won't be moving the team. ...but I have a hard time seeing that last, with the Los Angeles vacuum and the team's piss poor financial situation.
FWIW, the Jags actually pulled a sizeable operating profit last year, despite being the lowest valued franchise.
I read earlier today that the lease to keep them in J-Ville is iron-clad. There are some leases that are ridiculously tough to break... also read that the NFL isn't interested in moving that particular franchise to LA...they want to be very careful about the franchise that gets moved there to make sure it works this time. still might end up being an expansion team, i suppose.
Jacksonville has no business having an NFL franchise. Did you see those massive tarps they laid out to cover up all the empty seats? It's looking like the Chargers will be the ones moving to LA. They can keep their regional San Diego fans too.
I went to a Dolphins game and Jags game this year. The Jags had way better attendance for their game. Does Miami deserve a team? For years you could go to a Falcons game and the stadium was half empty. Does Atlanta deserve a team? Jags bigger problems are being a small market (large city, but little surrounding metro area), and the lack of corporate dollars in the area.
What's said is, they block those sections from the start to lower the number of tickets needed to "sell out" If they "sell out", they open those sections up for purchase. Even with the tarped sections, the Jags apparently "bought" boatloads of tickets themselves to literally give away and dodge the blackout. http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/122902/jag_11340226.shtml Thanks for the nod about the lease, I didn't know: Runs through 2030 Exit Clause demands demonstration of three consecutive years of being in the red Exit Clause still leaves team on the hook for remaining financial obligations
They're unlikely to move. But I'd personally prefer a Jags team in the LA area that doesnt have a solid identity that can be made OVER into LA. A fixer-upper "expanish-ish" team of sorts. Having a "Los Angeles Vikings" would seem too borrowed and transplanted.
The NFL doesn't need a team in LA. Football fans in LA watch football. All that matters is the TV market. People don't got to football games in LA. It doesn't matter, the NFL maxxes out the value of the TV Market. they don't need a team in L.A. They use L.A. as an incentive for your city to get on the ball.
I actually agree with this to an extent. I think the "threat" of moving an existing franchise to L.A. has proven to be incredibly valuable for the NFL, in terms of getting the owners to straighten up. However, I simply cannot believe that it's good for the sport as a whole to NOT give the fanbase in L.A. and its surrounding markets a rooting interest in a team. I think San Diego makes the most sense (and even then, if they move to Anaheim, would they REALLY even be moving?) as they can basically just represent ALL of Southern California.
