Jags Fan Forum

If you have read this blog for any length of time you know we are big time Jaguar fans- including Ava who has been to almost ever single game since she was born. Her favorite player is Josh Scobee and Lord help us if/when he is no longer part of the Jags. I have no doubt it will be a full-on tantrum at our house! It's also no secret that last season was awful- I mean awful- we ended up winning 2 games, I'm not sure how, but we did. So imagine our surprise when we get our new season ticket invoice and our tickets have gone up in price! Na- Nope- Ain't gonna happen!

To use the word mad wouldn't even come close to how I was feeling. Adam of course wasn't happy, but he still wanted to renew- I on the other hand could think of an awful lot of fun we could have with the amount of money we were spending on our tickets and it wasn't helping their case. It ultimately was the principle of the matter that just infuriated me. I told Adam there were a couple of things that needed to happen before I would even *think* of renewing: 1. We needed to get the 2 seats between Mom & Dad that we had been trying for 5 years to get and 2. I wanted to speak to the person who made the decision to raise prices. If either of those things didn't happen- I wasn't renewing.

Of course, Adam underestimates me. He didn't think I would ever be able to talk to the person in charge... ha!

The Jags had been holding fan forums around town and one morning Adam called and said the President of the Jaguars, Mark Lamping, was going to be at one that was about 20 minutes away- I told him to sign me up! But here is the kicker- he was playing at church on Sunday and he had practice that night, so he wasn't going to be able to go- no worries, I called Mom, Jenny and Christi (all fellow season ticket holders) and asked if they would like to go.

Ya'll I wish you could have seen the look on their faces when 4 girls (5 including Ava)- husbandless I might add! haha!

There was a microphone set up in the middle of the room and I chose the seat right next to it. There was no way I was missing this opportunity! I had my speech prepared and I was on a mission- I needed to be heard!

They had a presentation and then after a few questions from others (mostly about football players/positions) I stepped up to the microphone. I think they were a little surprised by the fact this woman was standing up here talking. Introduced our group as the women representing their husbands :) Then I began my speech, which I had typed out in case I didn't have the chance to get in front of Mr. Lamping, I was going to hand it to him- one way or another he was going to hear from me.

My husband and I have been season ticket holders for 5 years and we added my daughter after she was born in 2008. We signed up for a 3 year plan that enabled us to lock in our prices, so we knew/expected a price increase to our tickets, but we in no way predicted a 30% increase, even more of a shocker was that our tickets increase $25 a game per ticket over last year's ticket price if you didn't have the 3 year plan. We sit in the End zone- section 149. Which we have been told is in high demand- I'm assuming because of the Bud Zone. The reason we choose to sit in this section is because my parents, who have had season tickets for 16 years, and 6 other family members have seats next to us. We have all worked over the years to get seats close to my parents and aunt/uncle. We don't drink therefore, we don't sit in the section to take part of the Bud Zone. We actually would prefer it not to be there as all it does is cause problems when people who have had a little too much to drink decided to come sit in some of the empty seats from where others have left late in the 3rd or 4th qtr and you can forget going up to get something to eat and drink because you will never find your way back down to your seats for the crowd of people standing outside. We overlooked the problems since we all sat close and for the most part liked the people around us.

We also have been frustrated with the Jag's ticketing office as we have 2 seats that are in between my parents and 4 others of us, we have tried, repeatedly to get those seats and each time they tell us something different. They have transferred 3 times in the past 4 years to new people and the first time they told us they would make a note on our account, the second time they told us they would make a note on the actual seats account, and the last time they told us there wasn't anything we could- unless we had the current/existing seat owner transfer us the tickets. Can I just say that current/existing seat owner never once came to a game? He gave the tickets away every time. Each off season we would call once a week to see if they had renewed and we finally were told they had- surprise- by someone new!  You can't tell me that as a multi-million dollar organization, this is the best way you have to take care of your existing customers? It has been frustrating .

We sat through one of the worst seasons of football- ever- last year and to increase ticket prices this much just isn't how you treat your customers.  I don't know of any other business when they don't perform well would survive a price increase. If  I had a lawn service, for example, and after a year of paying them, I had MORE weeds AND they had a price increase, do you think they would have my business? NO WAY!  I understand you all have taken measures to ensure a better football team- but raising prices is something you do AFTER you prove you are taking steps in the right direction. Please listen, I don't expect to win the super bowl- would I like to- of course, but I'm just asking to be competitive on the field. We haven't renewed our tickets- quite frankly I just have a problem with the principle of the price increase after a year like we just had. Actually we joked that we should get a rebate after sitting through last year's season. I'm disappointed in the Jaguars organization- I like to stand behind them, I have stood behind them, but I feel like as a loyal season ticket holder and fan I am being mistreated. Because let's be honest, there are a lot of other things I can do with $2500 and I can guarantee my family and I will have a good time doing.

Mr. Lamping actually was very kind in his response, no he didn't change ticket prices (of course I didn't expect him to) but he did take the time to respond to me. Actually he started off by saying that this was their 5th fan forum and I was the first person to bring up the price increase, which he said he had been waiting for someone to bring it up. He also assured me that those 2 seats would be taken care of, and as soon as the forum was over- there were like 4 guys around us, helping us get everything straight!

Meanwhile, they ended up cancelling practice and Adam was hating that he wasn't able to see/hear what was going on- so he did what anyone our age does- kept checking twitter and this is what he sent me:



Lol!! Apparently I know how to get my point across!

Christi also spoke about some parking lot issues that have been happing in our lot.

All-in-all it was a good forum and I was glad to be heard. Mr. Lamping actually handed me his card on the way out and told me to email him and we would set up a time to come tour the stadium and get field passes for one of the games- we said we were taking the guys since they didn't come represent! :)

We left and enjoyed a meal at Olive Garden- kidless! Need I say more?!