The decision by the Jaguars to limit attendance at their intra-squad scrimmage only to season ticket holders received some criticism in Jacksonville, and here on PFT.
Vic Ketchman of Jaguars.com has a message for those who question the move. And while it ran a few days back, we thought it was too powerful to ignore.
“At this time, I would like to speak to everyone from my heart. I ask that you, please, read my words carefully and embrace them. Here goes: Folks, this is it. This is save the whale. Forget, for the moment, about kids and growing the fan base for the future. We’ve been doing that since 1995. Back then, it was about the future. In 2010, it’s about the present,” he starts.
In the most clear way possible, Ketchman makes the case that the Jaguars have reached a crisis point, if that wasn’t already clear.
“Ticket sales, not the futures of David Garrard and Jack Del Rio, is the number one issue confronting this team, and it’s not about next year’s ticket sales or growing the fan base for 2020, it’s about selling tickets for this year. This is it,” Ketchman says.
“This is save the whale and, from my perch on the beach, the whale is struggling to live. I think everyone would do well to understand that the radical nature of this decision underscores the team’s desperation to sell tickets. The team knew this decision would be harshly criticized, yet, it went forward with it. Why do you think it did? If your answer is that we have reached the tipping point, then you are a logical person.”
We read Ketchman daily, and doubt anyone in Jacksonville has a better handle on the Jaguars’ situation. The message is clear. This is an organization fighting daily for survival, with no real guarantees beyond 2010.