News over here is that the 2018 International games will be announced tomorrow PM (UK time). Anybody heard anything your end ?
Yes they will be announced Thursday but I think the chances of us playing there this season are less than 5%. We've done our share.
Where did you get that number from? I mean, I hope you're right and all...but it seems like Ross is dead-set on pleasing the league by volunteering. I really hope he changed his mind though after the schedule they handed us this year due to the hurricane.
I made the number up based on how often we've played there recently. We already lost two home games in the last 3 seasons. We paid our dues for the Super Bowl bid. We also lost our bye last season. I can't see us getting selected this time, even as the "road" team. I'll be furious otherwise.
We did well more than we should send the NFL darlings like Dallas, New England, Pittsburg. Let us have a change to build something here
I feel exactly the same way- we deserve at least a 5-year pass for England. I wouldn't mind if Ross took a Mexico game though! I would actually try to go to that one.
Apparently there was a big meeting that took place about which teams would be playing in London this year. Owner Stephen Ross was adamant about his team not going this year, stating "we've done our time over there, and it has been painful". It was thought that Miami would not be going, but Roger Goodell returned to the conference room with a big red balloon from the dollar store and offered it to Ross. Ross, simply became enamored with the shiny balloon and excitingly agreed on us playing in London this year yet again. FML.
jax has to be tired of playing in London, and the raiders have to be tired as well. I think its a crock of ish that season tix holder get jipped a game, why not put preseason games over there.
I always thought Jacksonville was a prime candidate for moving to London someday, especially with how bad that team has been in the past decade, and that they went to London each year to help create a fanbase. London Jaguars is also a pretty cool name IMO, though I wouldn't mind them being called the London Redcoats just so that we could see a Redcoats vs. Patriots rivalry lol.
I think that was in the back of the owner's mind when he signed up to play 1 game here a season (was it a 5 year commitment originally?). Guaranteed sell-outs as opposed to indifference in Jacksonville (at the time) had to be attractive, and it has helped expand the Jaguars brand internationally. He already owns a soccer club over here in London (Fulham FC) as well of course.
Simon, I think the Jags took over the Rams 5 year commitment after the 1st year - St Louis had originally signed up for this & played 1 game but probably knew the LA thing would come to fruition & didn't want to commit any more home games
Thanks - that rings a bell now. I don't know the affect on home fans in Jacksonville but it has been great at raising the profile of the team over here.