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used by, any individuals other than members of the media that have been accredited by Jacksonville Jaguars, LLC. The materials may be used
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JAGUARS OWNER SHAD KHAN
STATE OF THE FRANCHISE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2015
(What was the excitement factor like for you?) “I think we’ve been working at it for a while. I think we’ve
articulated Jacksonville has a huge amount of potential here and these are some of the ideas that can take us to
the next level.”
(How much of an influence did you have on what we just saw?) “You’ve got to come up with a vision as to what
you think it ought to be. It has to respect history but you have to take it to the next level. It’s got to be architecture
that’s fresh, that’s new and it’s something that is very reaching. There’s huge amount of stuff here as you kind of
digest. We’ve been looking at it for a while. The covered practice facility would be one with all of the green spaces.
It doesn’t look like a typical facility. It really respects the river and shows design at its best.”
(Did you draw some of this up on a napkin?) “There’s been a lot of talk.”
(What do you need from the city to make this work?) “There’s a process. We are going to be submitting it to the
DIA (Downtown Investment Authority) next week. This is a public/private partnership so you have to respect the
public process. We are going to be doing that and as it moves forward we’d like for it to be quicker. Sooner is
better.”
(Are you asking for any type of financial incentive?) “I think I will leave the details when we make our presentation
to DIA which I believe is next Monday. All of that stuff will be out and you can pore over it.”
(How much does a project like the shipyards continue to drive your point of commitment?) “I think the key point is
actions speak louder than words. I think when people have asked me in the past I said just see what we’re doing. I
think talk is cheap. We’ve made a huge investment here and we’ve carried through. The kind of presentation that
Mark led on the State of the Franchise, I think it’s unpreceded in transparency and sharing the good and the bad
and things we can work on. I think Jacksonville has a huge amount of potential. The Jaguars can’t do well if
Jacksonville doesn’t do well, so the London component is absolutely vital for us and it really supplements our effort
in making the Jaguars a more stable franchise.”
(Do you have any kind of timetable of when it would start or finish?) “From everything I know about the public
process, if we get this thing approved in the next 30 to 60 days there are some remediation on environmental
stuff. We will have the timing. I think you’ve got to start moving forward and make it as soon as possible.”
(Why did you want to take on everything instead of pieces at a time?) “Because a piece at a time really doesn’t
work in this case. You’ve got to have a big vision which ties in all of the things that are missing. I refer to it as a
‘boulevard of broken dreams’ and that’s what the history has been here. When you come in you look at an
abandoned building. It could be downtown Beirut, across from a prison with a lot of other things going on that
don’t present the city in its best light so if you go piece meal you’re not going to accomplish it. I think this is an
economic revival, I think this is a visual revival, it’s also really revival for the Jaguars.”
(On proposals in the past, what is your message to them? Is this 100 percent commitment to make this happen?) “I
think we have the commitment but we are not alone. I think this is, as I said earlier, this is a public/private
partnership. We want to do our part. I think when we came here two years ago we said we envision a game day
experience that would be among the best in the world, among the best in the NFL with the scoreboards, the pools
which would really show Jacksonville at its finest with the sun and the water and the lifestyle. That’s what
happened here last year. We got all of that done and I think it’s made a huge impact. This is just another bigger
piece of it.”
(What’s been your favorite part of it?) “Everything. I love the architecture; I think this is just like Sydney with the
Opera House. Those sails, that architecture kind of changed the whole image of Sydney. This can do that for
Jacksonville. There’s a lot going on here, there’s got to be a catalyst that propels Jacksonville to the next level.”
(Would an enclosed practice facility be included in this?) “Yeah it is. It’s so beautifully done that it doesn’t scream.
Those two levels that you saw, that’s the enclosed practice facility, the green space. It’s open on both ends so you
can have air go through it and it’s covered.”
The following material is the copyrighted property of Jacksonville Jaguars, LLC. The material is not being made available to, and is not to be
used by, any individuals other than members of the media that have been accredited by Jacksonville Jaguars, LLC. The materials may be used
for the purpose of providing limited amounts of quotable excerpts for use in connection with news reports and articles created by such
members of the media. Any other use is strictly prohibited. The material is not to be shared with any third parties. The material may not be
duplicated, reproduced, published or distributed without the prior written consent of Jacksonville Jaguars, LLC.
(Would people pay to watch that?) “We have not charged people. Our practice facilities are open (during training
camp), anybody is welcome. We had a franchise that really relates to the community. You can bring water in, you
can bring food in. We are unpreceded on access when it comes down to it.”
(Do the Jaguars see this as a money maker?) “We see this as a franchise-stabilizing opportunity. Local revenue is
always a part of that. We have chosen not to do that because we need to pick up more fans and the way you do it
is to be more successful.”
(Are you endorsing the Mayor’s race?) “Yes I am. I have been supporting Alvin Brown and I’m going to be
supporting him. I think he has done a great job for the city and he’ll do even better the next term.”
(On the proposed practice facility) “It doesn’t look like what you’d look at a covered practice facility which is like a
steel covered building or garage. It respects the views of the river, it respects the green, it’s open on the side with
a lot of glass and it’s not a typical facility.”
(Ideally how many residential units?) “I think we’ll get you the details. It’s how it’s configured.”
(When will it be completed?) “We don’t control the timing solely. I think we’re ready to go but we have to respect
the public aspect. This will go through the usual process that’s laid out and I hope it goes as fast as possible.”
(Has the city made any promise how much public funding this will get?) “The city has made no promise because we
haven’t presented it to them. The process is we give it to DIA and then the process will move from there. This is
the first time the city has seen it because that’s how the process works. It has to be public.”
(What did you see that other people haven’t seen before when you saw that open space?) “You’ve gotten a
glimpse of that, that it can be a lot better. It doesn’t present the city at its finest.”
(How do you feel about the overall revenue with the team?) “I think we’ve got to look at the business side and
obviously the football side. What we control is how we engage the fans; what kind of game day experience they
have, and how many fans we can grow. Those metrics are moving in the right direction. We have to win on the
field, no question about that, and they will get better.”
(What will the club enhancement do to take this even further?) “It’s a whole different level. I think we proved that
in the north end zone with the cabanas and some of the rail seating, that there is an appetite. We have to bring the
attributes of Jacksonville; the beautiful weather, sunshine, the breezes, sitting on the river front, all of that. You
have to show those attributes and really enhancement them and give people the experience they want.”
(On football side, do you like the way you’re lined up going into free agency?) “Yeah, I think so. I think Gus and
Dave can give you all of the details. We’ve got a great facility here, great town here, great coaching staff we have
enhanced. We want to get the better players.”
(Is it intentional that we’re not seeing a lot of “Jaguars” injected into the shipyard plan?) “Absolutely because it is
the shipyard. It was here way before my time and hopefully it will be here way after my time, so there is no
egotism here. I think it’s building Jacksonville at its finest. And if Jacksonville does well, Jaguars will do well.”
(Has there been a couple of times where people have brought you plans and you’ve said ‘no, bigger?’) “To me
you’ve got to have a complete vision of the area. If it is piecemeal it normally doesn’t work. And you’ve got to have
enough critical mass to propel it forward. Overall it has to make sense. The pieces have to make sense but overall
the plan has to make sense.”
(Do you feel like the Mojo has shifted here in town?) “I hope we’ve made a difference. You have to decide and
other people will judge whether we’ve made a difference or not. I feel it has. I got a kick out of it how some people
maybe didn’t take kindly to that comment (about a lack of mojo) but I happen to feel that we’ve got to have the
confidence to move forward and to bring out the best in Jacksonville.”
(Population growth in Florida, corporate growth has not. Has the US Assure partnership taken that first step after
twenty years?) “I think it’s definitely a step in the right direction and I’m deeply grateful, the Petways’ founding of
the Jaguars. What we’re looking here there’s no reason some of our corporate sponsors, why their offices couldn’t
be here and why they couldn’t work and play here. When you have the kind of environment maybe you can
deepen the roots from the business side where the employees live here ,work here, make money here and support
a football team here. A complete package.”
(What time frame would you like to see as far as extending the London deal?) “Our desire to do that is great for
the league, it’s great for us. It’s out there and I think in due time the league, the process will be addressing it.”
(Are you happy with the fan engagement over there?) “I think it’s been great. It’s absolutely good. Jaguars,
Jacksonville we have recognition there now and you’ll see we can now carry the games ourselves. Two years ago if
The following material is the copyrighted property of Jacksonville Jaguars, LLC. The material is not being made available to, and is not to be
used by, any individuals other than members of the media that have been accredited by Jacksonville Jaguars, LLC. The materials may be used
for the purpose of providing limited amounts of quotable excerpts for use in connection with news reports and articles created by such
members of the media. Any other use is strictly prohibited. The material is not to be shared with any third parties. The material may not be
duplicated, reproduced, published or distributed without the prior written consent of Jacksonville Jaguars, LLC.
the NFL did a survey which was outside the U.S., which was your favorite NFL team we ranked 31 out of 32. Now
we rank anywhere from second to seven depending on the survey that’s done, so we’ve moved up dramatically in
recognition. ”
(It was nine last year?) “Yes, I’m referring to one of the newspapers that did a survey last year before our game,
and we were number 2.”
(Did you anticipate that kind of difficulty in terms of winning games when you hired Dave and Gus?) “Yeah, I mean
we’re building it the right way, and I think success will come.”
(How much do you need that news later in the week to be good in Tallahassee?) “We need the news; I think the
projects were ranked. We were ranked number two right after the new franchise in Orlando. We’ve got a great
case here. This is a public stadium and that sales tax rebate is coming to Jacksonville. The purpose of that is to be
invested in facilities, make the stadium be even greater, draw more fans and that is what underpins what we’re
talking about right now.”
(Is there a plan B?) “There is no plan B. That’s our plan and I think we spent time in Tallahassee. We’ve got support
from the local legislators and we’re hoping it turns out right.”
(Early on you said when you spoke to your fellow owners that there was a negative perception of viewership,
ticket revenue and so forth. Has Jacksonville’s overall status in the league changed?) “I think you guys have to
decide that. They (owners) have been surprised that we’ve been able to move the needle. A great example is the
surveys Mark went through. Out of eight categories Jacksonville is number one. Some of the fans from visiting
teams who were here, talking to them they’ve been coming here for a while but they were blown away with the
new energy in the stadium, the new fans, the freshening up of the stadium, the boards and what have you. I think
from my viewpoint the needle has been moved and people are kind of surprised. There is a lot more out there.
Again, the slides Mark picked up on we have the fastest growing fan base but working off a very small base
number, so there’s a lot more work to be done.”
(How much are you willing to spend on the private side for the shipyards?) “At this point we’ve got to get the
project approved and then we’ll share. The bottom line is there is a commitment from my part to make it a reality
just like when we did the boards and the investment in this stadium, which is a public stadium. We are going to
spend the money if we get the okay and the right public/private partnership. I think if we get that I’m going to be
committed to getting it done.”