Jacksonville Jaguars: The implications of no games in London

With no games being played overseas this season, how will the Jacksonville Jaguars make up lost revenue from no games in London?

Jacksonville Jaguars fans are getting what they want after all.

In February the team announced that they would play one more home game across the pond at Wembley stadium in London, much to the ire of the fan base that would be left with only six home games at TIAA Bank Field.

"“Make no mistake: Winning is the top priority,” team owner Shad Khan said via Jaguars.com in a February story by John Oehser. “Everything we’re striving to do for the franchise and the city is about winning and building a franchise that expects to win consistently.“We’re not going to rest until we get there, but obviously that doesn’t erase what we need to do here away from the game to create and generate the revenues and be everything we can be here in Jacksonville. We’re doing it in a way that benefits the city.“Everything we’ve done has always been with the city in mind.”"

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Now because of the threat of COVID -19 and the uncertainties that lie ahead as the pandemic continues to threaten the sports world, the NFL has announced the international games scheduled to be played this season have been canceled.

The announcement has been cheered by the masses here in Jacksonville but presents a challenge once again for this organization. Playing football games in London is a source of revenue for the franchise, one of the NFL’s smallest markets. Losing a game across the pond does hurt this team financially. While I have read comments made on social media where fans are reveling in the fact that eight games will be played on home soil, it doesn’t solve the problems that exist in generating revenue.

In other words, just because the home team will play all eight of those games in their backyard, don’t expect that to be the case in 2021 or possibly beyond.

From a monetary standpoint, playing one game in the UK presents enough revenue for the Jaguars that is the equivalent of two home games in Jacksonville. The idea to play yet another home game this season as part of the International Series, was to help generate revenue that would help take care of projects directed toward improving the NFL experience and the surrounding area of TIAA Bank Field.

As we have seen over the course of the last year, housekeeping, home improvement, and game day enrichment have been the focal point of the organization with plans underway for Lot J and other money-making ventures.

Khan and President Mark Lamping have stressed how this is for the betterment of the franchise and the city of Jacksonville. There have been many fans who have balked at the idea that this is a helpful solution. It’s true that winning does solve a lot of problems, but for a team that has been limited in turning a major profit in the past, losing the London games do more harm than good.

Add to the fact that the current status of the NFL is such that we are not aware yet whether fans will be able to flock to see those eight games. Sports, in general, are still battling the idea of starting or continuing their seasons without extra people in the stands.

It’s almost a no-win situation.

https://twitter.com/FieldYates/status/1256921481172451329

As I wrote before, the Jaguars became the NFL’s “team” that represented the cause in the international Series since 2013. It was Khan’s vision all along to you use international resources to help build this franchise.

Part of the issue the fanbase has with this type a proposal that has continued to progress is the team itself isn’t winning sans 2017. The front office continues to let key players walk in free agency, via trade or by releasing them. This past off-season proved once again to be a winter and spring of departure with draft capital replacing production.

If the Jacksonville Jaguars had taken what they learned from a 2017 run toward the AFC title game and continued to follow it up with winning seasons in 2018 and 2019, this probably would not have been such a big deal. Hence, the winning cures everything theory. But cracks in the walls from that winning season became more apparent with both upper management, players, and the coaching staff.

Now, with the announcement by the league office of yet another change in the International schedule, the Jacksonville Jaguars once again need to find a replacement for revenue. Don’t be surprised if the team plays two games next year in London to make up for the loss. And don’t be surprised if the contract between the Jaguars, the NFL, and London continues for longer than expected.