By any measure, Jacksonville’s “Team Teal” initiative was a big success in 2010.
The team didn’t have any true sellouts but they reduced the number of blackouts from nine in 2009 to zero in 2010. The Florida Times-Union notes that the Jaguars began this week with 17,000 season-ticket holders after they had zero at this time last year. (Zero? Huh?)
Boselli and coach Jack Del Rio met with 800 fans on a chilly night in Jacksonville Friday night at Everbank Stadium to kick off year two of Team Teal.
Boselli said the Jaguars proved “a lot of people wrong” last year and mocked the “dimwitted, lazy media members” that dared question Jacksonville’s long-term viability as an NFL city. (Hey, we’re not lazy.)
“The city responded, the city came alive and it was awesome to see,” Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said.
With that said, the team recognizes it has work to do. They aren’t selling their best tickets. Many of empty club seats that don’t count towards blackouts near the 50-yard line were empty during broadcasts. Owner Wayne Weaver called them an “eyesore.”
More than anything, the Jaguars would benefit from progress on the field. A playoff appearance would ensure ticket momentum in 2011 and beyond.