Jaguars To Become Extinct?
by Rob Staton
14/7/2008
 
For once, the Jaguar isn't the predator it's the prey.
 
It's facing a fight against extinction from the NFL, a fight to the death.
 
Los Angeles is hunting for a route back into the NFL and the Jacksonville Jaguars need to prepare for a battle greater than anything they might come up against in the AFC South.
 
The second largest media market in the United States, L.A. has been without a franchise since 1995. It was always considered a formality that football would return at some stage; with the main stumbling block in the past being the lack of an NFL ready stadium in the city.
 
When billionaire developer Edward Roski Jr. revealed plans to build a 75,000 seat stadium twenty miles east of Los Angeles, ready as early as 2011, that problem appeared to have finally been countered.
 
However, Roski Jr. has made it clear that construction on the new stadium will not begin until a team is secured to use it.
 
Game on, and it may already be advantage L.A.
 
This week it has been reported in the U.S. media that billionaire C. Dean Metropoulos is interested in purchasing the Jacksonville Jaguars, possibly with the intention of moving the franchise to the west coast.
 
Current Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver has denied the reports, insisting that the team will remain in J-ville. He might have a lot of convincing to do with the Jaguars struggling financially.
 
A surprise choice when gifted an expansion franchise in 1993, the Florida football market was already well covered. Competing for attention alongside the neighbouring Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Miami Dolphins, the Jags were also coming up against four popular college teams.
 
Considering the Jacksonville market is not even listed amongst the top 50 in the United States it was always going to struggle for its fair share.
 
With a limited television market not helped by an array of blackouts, the team has ultimately struggled to fill its stadium even having reduced its capacity by 9,000.
 
Debts are said to be as high as $110 million, not helped by losing its flagship sponsorship deal with ALLTELL who previously provided a lucrative deal for stadium naming rights.
 
Ironically, the struggling off the field has coincided with the Jaguars team growing into one of the toughest in the AFC.
 
In only 13 years of history, the Jaguars have earned a winning season seven times with six playoff appearances. Head coach Jack Del Rio and quarter back David Garrard have recently signed contract extensions and the team look well set for another playoff challenge in 2008.
 
The success of the team has so far not reaped the financial support, either in the stands or commercially. Perhaps further sustained success on the field could change that and ultimately keep the team in Florida?
 
It's nothing a maiden Super Bowl appearance couldn't aid that's for sure.
 
The Jaguars are not the only franchise facing possible relocation. The Buffalo Bills' well documented visits to Toronto are often reported as a possible litmus test to any future move to another big market.
 
Alternatively, the Bills may look into utilising that Toronto market to their advantage whilst maintaining a home base in Buffalo. Annual appearances in Canada for the next five years have already brought the team's owner Ralph Wilson close to $78 million.
 
It would certainly ease any financial concerns without leading to a full scale uprooting.
 
Jacksonville has no such luxury. Unless they can find a way to make the franchise marketable in a tight market, these rumours simply won't go away.
 
The vultures lurk in the background waiting to swoop and the pressure will build whilst debts continue to grow.
 
The question is, will the Jaguars become extinct?