1 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 1: The following presentation of the Jaguars podcast Network. He's presented 2 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: by by start Credit Paer. There is a measure of 3 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,799 Speaker 1: irony in Mark Lamping's role in Jacksonville. The Jaguars president 4 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,279 Speaker 1: is a St. Louis native and was the president of 5 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:23,639 Speaker 1: the Cardinals baseball club during the NFL's expansion derby in 6 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: the early nineties. Lamping eyed the race through the lens 7 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:29,639 Speaker 1: of a civic leader who wanted what was best for 8 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 1: his hometown. What he couldn't know at that time was 9 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: how the decision to give the Jaguars to Jacksonville instead 10 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: of the Stallions to St. Louis would impact the course 11 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: of his life. This is perspectives, the story of the 12 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: Jaguars first twenty five seasons told by the people who 13 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:52,560 Speaker 1: built the franchise. This is Mark Lamping. No one gave 14 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 1: Jacksonville a chance at the thirtieth franchise. When Commissioner Paul 15 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,600 Speaker 1: Taglaboo announced Carolina as the twenty ninth team in late 16 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 1: October but didn't announce the thirtieth franchise that day, it 17 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:06,119 Speaker 1: was a clear sign, but the decks were being cleared 18 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:09,959 Speaker 1: for St. Louis. Shocked is probably not strong enough of 19 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:14,959 Speaker 1: a word. Um. The Chicago Cardinals relocated to St. Louis 20 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: in nineteen sixty and the Chicago Cardinals are one of 21 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: the oldest franchises in the National Football League, dating back 22 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: to the UH eighteen eighteen ninety four or something like that, 23 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 1: late eight hundreds, obviously, and they moved to St. Louis 24 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 1: and then they left St. Louis UH in nineteen seven, 25 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 1: and it was devastating, and immediately the community started to 26 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: try to figure out how can we get the NFL 27 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 1: back into St. Louis. One of the persons that led 28 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: that effort was a gentleman by the name of Jerry Clinton. 29 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: Jerry Clinton was he and has a bush wholesaler for St. 30 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: Louis County. He was also, you know, a very prominent 31 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 1: citizen in St. Louis and nationally. You know, was was 32 00:01:57,560 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 1: also well known because he was actually a race car 33 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 1: driver as well. And uh uh he had a he 34 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:07,600 Speaker 1: had a partner um in his race team who was 35 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 1: a fairly fairly famous football player by the name of 36 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: Walter Payton. So Walter and Jerry created this idea of 37 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 1: bringing a an NFL team to St. Louis. They got 38 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: into the expansion uh process. So you had a prominent 39 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: UH St. Louis in teamed up with a farmer, very famous, 40 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: very well respected, UH former NFL player in Walter Payton, 41 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: and through a lot of hard work, through a lot 42 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:45,080 Speaker 1: of effort, UH, they finally put together a funding plan 43 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:49,840 Speaker 1: to build a dome stadium in downtown St. Louis. So 44 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 1: that got rid of UH the angst in St. Louis 45 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: about the football team moving out to St. Louis County. 46 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 1: So stadium was under construction. Jerry Clinton had control of 47 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:06,080 Speaker 1: this lease for the stadium because they had done all 48 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 1: the work to get to to get the financing of 49 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:12,079 Speaker 1: the stadium put together, which we required fancing from the 50 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: State of Missouri, the City of St. Louis, Anne St. 51 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: Louis County, and things were rolling rolling right along. St. 52 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 1: Louis was continuing to make the cut in terms of 53 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: the expansion teams, you know, as those were narrowed. St. 54 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: Louis still stayed there. UM one of the NFL's biggest 55 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: sponsors at the time and even to this day, and 56 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: one of the more UH we wanted, one of the 57 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: biggest sponsors with individual NFL teams. Anne has your bush 58 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 1: was very very aggressive in terms of advocating on behalf 59 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 1: of of the city of St. Louis with then UH 60 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 1: Commissioner Paul Tagulebu, and it looked like it was a 61 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 1: sure thing. And then I believe what happened was I 62 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 1: think the original expansion the price was like a hundred 63 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 1: and fifty million, They may have been a hundred five. 64 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 1: Then they bumped it up two hundred fifty. And then 65 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 1: they bumped it up to two hundred million dollars after 66 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 1: Jerry paid what he did for the Cowboys. I think 67 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: that that was not certain, but I think that was 68 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,960 Speaker 1: the sequence of events that occurred. And all of a sudden, 69 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: while he was very well funded Jerry Clinton, UH, they 70 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:22,840 Speaker 1: didn't have the capacity to be able to UM, to 71 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 1: be able to make that work. So, all of a sudden, 72 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 1: you had a new state in a funding in place 73 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: for a new stadium in St. Louis, and think, in fact, 74 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 1: I think the stadium was under construction. UM, you had 75 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: a what appeared to be a really good owner teamed 76 00:04:37,960 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 1: up with a former NFL player, a really good combination, 77 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: and now all of a sudden, they don't have the 78 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 1: financial capacity to pay the additional fifty or a hundred 79 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:50,360 Speaker 1: million dollars whatever that increment was. And I think at 80 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: that point, I think there was actually some behind the 81 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: scenes overtures to Wayne Weaver to see if Wayne would 82 00:04:56,720 --> 00:05:00,840 Speaker 1: move his interest to St. Louis because Wayne spent many 83 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 1: many years in St. Louis's head of has a head 84 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 1: of brown shoe. But you know, um, you know, thankfully 85 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: and not surprisingly, you know, Wayne uh was very loyal 86 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:16,559 Speaker 1: to Jacksonville. So um, the city of St. Louis didn't 87 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 1: found themselves in a situation where they didn't have an owner, uh, 88 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: and they decided they needed to go get a deeper 89 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:27,040 Speaker 1: pocketed owner, and they put together a bunch of of 90 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: old guard in St. Louis and actually recruited a very 91 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 1: wealthy um individual who lived in mid state, in uh, 92 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: mid Missouri, in Columbia, Missouri. His name was Stan Cronkey, 93 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 1: and they brought Stan Crokey and because Stan had an 94 00:05:45,240 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 1: interest in football, was very wealthy. So now you had 95 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: Stan Crokey coming in with a lot of you know, 96 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:53,480 Speaker 1: old St. Louis money, the old guard in St. Louis, 97 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, Jerry Clinton is wondering, you know, 98 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:00,680 Speaker 1: what just happened, So he did all the work to 99 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:04,280 Speaker 1: get the stadium built. He did all the work to 100 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 1: move St. Louis along through the expansion process. And now 101 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:11,039 Speaker 1: there's a new entity that shows up because Jerry didn't 102 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 1: have all the money, but what Jerry had that was very, 103 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 1: very valuable was control of the stadium. He had the 104 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: least for the stadium. So you went through a period 105 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 1: where this new group that Stan Cronky was a part of. 106 00:06:24,279 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 1: Stan was recruited to be a part of it negotiating 107 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: with Jerry Clinton and as Bush Hoolesaler and his partner 108 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:34,360 Speaker 1: Walter Payton to be able to get control of the 109 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:39,720 Speaker 1: stadium lease and UH once again, they couldn't. They couldn't 110 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 1: resolve it. You know, Jerry thought it was worth a 111 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 1: significant amount of money. The new new owners didn't see 112 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: it that way, and all of a sudden you had 113 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:52,919 Speaker 1: chaos in St. Louis. And it was during that period 114 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 1: that the the expansion vote was getting very close. They 115 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:00,280 Speaker 1: actually had the vote it was supposed to be for 116 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: both teams and ended up awarding UH the first expansion slot, 117 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: UH to UH to Charlotte, and then decided to delay 118 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 1: on the on the second. I think they delayed for 119 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: thirty days and what they what they were basically doing 120 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: was giving St. Louis the last opportunity to try to 121 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: get their house in order. And uh, you know, it 122 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: was it was a foregoing conclusion. I was, I was. 123 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: I had just been named president of the of the Cardinals, 124 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: the baseball Cardinals at that time, and you know, we were, 125 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: we were well down down the line in terms of 126 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 1: negotiating for the baseball stadium to be the temporary home 127 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 1: of the team while the stadium football stadium was being completed. 128 00:07:43,240 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 1: The team name was picked out. It was the St. 129 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: Louis Stallions, the colors were picked out. They even had 130 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 1: the fight song that was being broadcast all the time. 131 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: So to to say that it was a surprise in St. Louis, retrospectively, 132 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 1: it shouldn't have been a surprise, you know, because it 133 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 1: was St. Louis's to win and lost it. But then 134 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: you look back, you know, you know, back over that situation, 135 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 1: and the NFL made the right decision, you know, to 136 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: believe in Jackson Building, to believe in in the fans, 137 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 1: and you know, if not for you know, the the 138 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 1: in fighting and the fumbling that occurred in my hometown. Um, 139 00:08:22,680 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: you know, Jacksonville would not have an NFL team, and 140 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: I and my wife and I are family never would 141 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 1: have been blessed to have the opportunity to live here. 142 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:35,719 Speaker 1: Lamping focused on St. Louis, the Cardinals and building a 143 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:39,000 Speaker 1: new baseball stadium until two thousand eight, when he moved 144 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: to New York to leave the efforts to build MetLife Stadium. 145 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 1: A phone call, ironically routed through the Gateway City brought 146 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: him to an interesting place. Well, it's a it's it's 147 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 1: a again another story that uh bisex St. Louis. Um. 148 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 1: You know, before a shot had the privilege to to 149 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 1: purchase the Jazz Wars Um he was working on buying 150 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: the St. Louis Rams and went through an extended period 151 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: of time in um Um in negotiating and all the 152 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: due diligence that would be a part of it. And 153 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 1: it's interesting once again, the name stan Cronki comes into 154 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:26,679 Speaker 1: play here us the UM Georgia Frontier had passed away UM, 155 00:09:27,280 --> 00:09:32,480 Speaker 1: the owner of the team her estate, UM desired to 156 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 1: sell the team. Stan Cronkie was a minority owner of 157 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: the team and had an option to purchase the team. UM. 158 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: It didn't appear as though he was going to exercise 159 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: that option, and over the course of of many months, 160 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: I think it was almost as much as as eighteen months, 161 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 1: Shod was doing due diligence on the purchase of the 162 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:59,319 Speaker 1: of the St. Louis Rams. And during that during that process, um, 163 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 1: you know, he he he also was began to be 164 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: thinking about how he might staff the Rams. And uh, 165 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 1: you know, this goes back to two thousand and ten, 166 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 1: two thousand eleven, I believe, and uh I had left St. Louis. 167 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: I was President of Cardinals from four to two thousand eight. 168 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:21,599 Speaker 1: I just left to go to New York. And so 169 00:10:21,720 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 1: Shod was in St. Louis a couple of years later. UM, 170 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,559 Speaker 1: he was. He was talking to people about, you know, 171 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:31,720 Speaker 1: trying to fill um uh you know, the president's position 172 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,079 Speaker 1: to run the day to day business operations of the Rams. 173 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:38,800 Speaker 1: And somebody had suggested to him that, you know, maybe 174 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 1: I would be interested in in coming back from New 175 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: York to St. Louis. UM. I think everybody knows how 176 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: that story ends. Shot ends up not buying the Rams. 177 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:50,800 Speaker 1: S Dan Crocky, you know, at the very end of 178 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 1: his option period exercised his right to UH to buy 179 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 1: the Rams and then Shot uh but ends up in 180 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: a conversation not that long after that with Wayne Weaver 181 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:09,120 Speaker 1: and uh um Um. The negotiations go very quickly. This 182 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: would have been um, you know, the end of two 183 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: thousand eleven, so early two thousand twelve, Shot closes on 184 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 1: the purchase of the of the Jaguars, and a few 185 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 1: weeks after that, you know, I received a call from 186 00:11:26,960 --> 00:11:29,560 Speaker 1: a third party asked me if I'd be number one 187 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:31,920 Speaker 1: interested in meeting Shotgun. I had not met him before, 188 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 1: and if I'd be interested in coming down to Jacksonville 189 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:37,199 Speaker 1: to talk to him about, you know, joining his his 190 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 1: team that he was putting together to h to run 191 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 1: the run the Jaguars. So Shad and I had had 192 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 1: not met before two thousand twelve. Um. I obviously was 193 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 1: well aware of him, you know, because because his his 194 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:56,079 Speaker 1: his reputation you know is Stertling and and um everybody 195 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 1: had everybody, everybody knew who he was in the sports world. 196 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: So I was I was really really fortunate. You know, 197 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 1: once again you have something that ties back to St. 198 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 1: Louis that you know, but you know, had shot purchased 199 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,440 Speaker 1: h the St. Louis Rams first, I think that would 200 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 1: have been that would have been you know, wonderful for St. Louis. 201 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:28,120 Speaker 1: You know, really in in some respects, Um, the biggest 202 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:32,319 Speaker 1: loss to what happened, you know with the Rams, Um 203 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:36,319 Speaker 1: and and and Shots attempted to buy the team that 204 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 1: ultimately led to the Rams relocating to Los Angeles. Uh. 205 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 1: You know, I was born and raised in St. Louis. 206 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 1: You know, still still have very close ties back there 207 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:48,000 Speaker 1: and still have family there. And in many respects, I 208 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 1: think the big the biggest loss for St. Louis was 209 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 1: not losing the NFL team, was not losing the Rams. 210 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:56,000 Speaker 1: The biggest loss to St. Louis was losing the opportunity 211 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:58,000 Speaker 1: to have shot Con as part of that community. And 212 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: it was you know, through through through those circumstances, you know, 213 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: Shot ends up owning the Jacksonville Jaguars. I was really 214 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:09,559 Speaker 1: really fortunate to be asked to be a part of it. 215 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:13,559 Speaker 1: And um, you know what what shod means to to 216 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:19,079 Speaker 1: this community, you know, really speaks for itself. The challenge 217 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:22,199 Speaker 1: was distinct and very obvious, but what was clear to 218 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 1: Lamping the first time the two men met was CON's 219 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 1: drive to build something unique, something special. It was really 220 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 1: shots vision. I mean, you know, we didn't we didn't 221 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: talk specifics, you know there. If we did talk any specifics, 222 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 1: it had more to do with, you know, things related 223 00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:41,439 Speaker 1: to the stadium and you know, uh, operational aspects the 224 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: business side of football. But when I walked away from 225 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 1: that conversation, it was clear that that Shod had really 226 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: really high ambitions and that he was fully committed to 227 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:02,559 Speaker 1: not just maintaining the status quo, but to really grow, um, 228 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:06,839 Speaker 1: you know, the Jacksonville Jaguars too, to make them a 229 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:12,079 Speaker 1: very special franchise. And his commitment to Jacksonville was also 230 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:17,959 Speaker 1: very clear. So while while you know, the strategy and 231 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,640 Speaker 1: the tactics really weren't discussed at that time, the objectives 232 00:14:21,680 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 1: were and the objectives were that we're going to be 233 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 1: a stable, we're gonna be a growing, we're gonna be 234 00:14:27,960 --> 00:14:32,720 Speaker 1: a dominant and a well respected sports franchise. And uh, 235 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 1: I don't think you could say that that the team 236 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 1: that Shod bought were all those things at the time. 237 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 1: It was not. But it was clear that you know, 238 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 1: that was Shods. Uh. It really wasn't his vision, it 239 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: was his expectation and one way or the other, that's 240 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:51,720 Speaker 1: gonna you know, that was gonna happen, and and and 241 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 1: you know when I left my first discussion with him, 242 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: it was it was it was with great excitement because, um, 243 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 1: you know, you had somebody that was that was that 244 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: was committed, that was willing to do you know what 245 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 1: it took to achieve and to meet those objectives. And uh, 246 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 1: it was just a really nice, pleasant guy to be around. 247 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: So um, it was. It was a it was a 248 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 1: really fortunate trip that I was up in New York. 249 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: I flew down on a Friday. I met with shod Um. 250 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 1: You know, we we we we had a home down 251 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: in the Jupiter area from the years, and I was 252 00:15:29,160 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 1: with the Cardinals. That's where Cardinals had spring training. So 253 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 1: as a weather turn cold up in New York, you know, uh, 254 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 1: you know, my wife would report uh to spring training 255 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:41,720 Speaker 1: about two months ahead of the pictures and catchers and 256 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 1: then I would uh, I would commute down on weekends, 257 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 1: so you know, she drove from Jupiter up to UH, 258 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 1: up to Jacksonville. We met here. I met with Shot 259 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 1: on Friday. We hunt we hung around that weekend to 260 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 1: get a sense for the community. Had never been to 261 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 1: Jacksonville before. Both of us had been to a million 262 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 1: alland but neither one of us had spent anytime in Jacksonville, 263 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:01,040 Speaker 1: so we got We took the opportunity to get to 264 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:03,720 Speaker 1: know the community a little bit, and it was it 265 00:16:03,920 --> 00:16:06,360 Speaker 1: was a really, really fortunate turn of events from you 266 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: and my family. More perspectives following this from bi Star 267 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 1: Credit Union Advice Star. We believe in better and that 268 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 1: means treating people bet are with friendly personal service that's 269 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 1: kept our members happy since a smile and personal greeting 270 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 1: when you enter the branch, an online or phone chat 271 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 1: for those quick questions, and a call center that's open 272 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 1: every day. If you believe that great services better joined 273 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 1: by Star. We never forget that it's your money, all 274 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: loan subject to approval, insured by n c U. A 275 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: to be blunt, Lamping was looking at an enormous job. 276 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: The Jaguars were a mess on the field, but the 277 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: problems extended far beyond football to a business model. It 278 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 1: had to be broken in order to be fixed. Somehow, 279 00:16:57,360 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 1: it didn't seem like an obstacle. It seemed like an 280 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:03,000 Speaker 1: opportun entity and one he didn't want to miss. You know, 281 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:07,640 Speaker 1: the idea of being able to work for somebody like Shot, 282 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:10,880 Speaker 1: I mean there's you know, I've I've had the opportunity 283 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 1: to work for, you know, some of the best owners 284 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 1: in sports, you know, the Bush family, the Mayor family, UM, 285 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 1: Woody Johnson, UH, the DeWitt family. So some really really 286 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:29,520 Speaker 1: top notchment very lucky to uh to work for those 287 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:32,359 Speaker 1: types of owners. Not everybody is that lucky, you know. 288 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:36,680 Speaker 1: There there there are some owners that are really difficult 289 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 1: to work for. UM. So you know, the idea of 290 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,160 Speaker 1: of you know, being able to to work for Shod 291 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:49,440 Speaker 1: um and also the you know, the only thing I 292 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 1: was really concerned about in in coming down here, and 293 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 1: and and and and Shod allayed those fears. The first 294 00:17:57,040 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 1: time I met him, I was just wondering whether it 295 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 1: it would be enough, you know, just working for a 296 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:07,119 Speaker 1: football team in Jacksonville, Florida, you know, because I mean 297 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:10,680 Speaker 1: I worked for a very prominent, very you know nationally 298 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 1: and internationally, had claimed baseball team in St. Louis, President 299 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:17,160 Speaker 1: Sal's Karlos for fourteen years. And as I got near 300 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:19,119 Speaker 1: the end of that, it didn't seem like there was 301 00:18:19,400 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: enough on the horizon too. You know, I want to 302 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:24,120 Speaker 1: continue to be challenged, I want to continue to learn. 303 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 1: I think those are things that you know, help you know, 304 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 1: keep as young as as we age, you know, as 305 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:33,600 Speaker 1: I age, certainly. And my only concern was would would 306 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 1: it get what you would I get bored down here? 307 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:39,440 Speaker 1: And after talking with Shod, you know, the idea to 308 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:41,439 Speaker 1: be able to you know, not only focus on fixing 309 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 1: the our base business, which is the Jacksonville j was 310 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:47,679 Speaker 1: first and foremost were a football team that will always 311 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 1: be the most important thing. But then the idea of 312 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:54,920 Speaker 1: knowing you know, you know what I did know about 313 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 1: opportunities here at the stadium. UH, the idea to be 314 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 1: able to be created, to be able to work in 315 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:04,159 Speaker 1: an environment where you can be creative and and and 316 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:07,160 Speaker 1: try to come up with new solutions to old problems. 317 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 1: And they have an owner that UM, you know, believes 318 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:13,520 Speaker 1: in investing in the team and also believes that the 319 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 1: only reason you make investments is to make a return. 320 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 1: The alternative doesn't last very long. So UM first the 321 00:19:21,320 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 1: London initiative, it was very really exciting from a career perspective, 322 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 1: UM shots purchase of the Fulham Football Club UM is 323 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:37,439 Speaker 1: very interesting from a career perspective, UM being much more 324 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:41,879 Speaker 1: aggressive in terms of getting into the entertainment business, specifically 325 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:46,760 Speaker 1: the music business with Daily's Place and now a real 326 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: focus on development here in Jacksonville, and particularly as it 327 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 1: relates to the Jacksonville development shipyards and lot J along 328 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:57,920 Speaker 1: with Daily's Place. To be able to do something that 329 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 1: you know not only well is very important for the 330 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 1: long term viability of of the football team here in Jacksonville, 331 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 1: but it also gives you the opportunity to do something 332 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:12,280 Speaker 1: very special for this community and for downtown, and those 333 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:14,680 Speaker 1: types of opportunities don't don't come along every day where 334 00:20:14,720 --> 00:20:18,520 Speaker 1: you can do something that is really really supportive of 335 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 1: your business goals, but then you also have this huge 336 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 1: ancillary benefit of doing something outstanding for the community. In 337 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:31,480 Speaker 1: November of con began to share his expansive vision for 338 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 1: the Jaguars with the city of Jacksonville. The commitment to 339 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,639 Speaker 1: play games in London initially put the fan base on 340 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 1: its heels. They were worried about the future of their team, 341 00:20:40,880 --> 00:20:43,879 Speaker 1: but six games in seven years into the Jaguars relationship 342 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 1: with the United Kingdom, the title London has become one 343 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:51,920 Speaker 1: of Jacksonville's strongest bonds. The early following the ground was 344 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 1: done by the National Football League and and and to 345 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:58,920 Speaker 1: this to this day. Um. You know, the London strategy 346 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:04,440 Speaker 1: from a football perspective, UM is really driven by the 347 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:09,000 Speaker 1: league and the International Committee. Now our role is really 348 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:12,680 Speaker 1: really important because not only are we serving the league 349 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:16,880 Speaker 1: and it's in its attempt to develop the UK as 350 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:20,680 Speaker 1: a as a as an NFL market, but also to 351 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:24,680 Speaker 1: be able to to UH gain some knowledge as to 352 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:30,520 Speaker 1: how how will that market respond to the repeated appearances 353 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: of a team. Okay, so one of the real benefits 354 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:39,960 Speaker 1: of of the Jaguars UM playing in in in London 355 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:44,480 Speaker 1: each year is first we're helping out the league. Second, 356 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 1: we're helping out ourselves because the obvious economic benefit of 357 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:53,160 Speaker 1: playing there versus that game being played here in Jacksonville. 358 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 1: And third, our ability to work hand in hand with 359 00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: hand with the league in terms of of how we 360 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 1: develop uh the market. So we have you know, four 361 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 1: full time Jaguar employees that are that are based in London. Um. 362 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 1: You know, we've gone from you know, pretty much an 363 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 1: afterthought of a franchise throughout the UK UH to UH 364 00:22:13,720 --> 00:22:16,560 Speaker 1: two in the top ten in terms of popularity UH 365 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:21,639 Speaker 1: and that continues to grow. Um. Um. We've gotten very 366 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:24,680 Speaker 1: involved in the community in London, just as we do 367 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:30,119 Speaker 1: here in Jacksonville, working very hard h on charitable activities, 368 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 1: principally focusing on fighting uh, childhood obesity and doing it 369 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:39,399 Speaker 1: in a way uh that you know, young boys and 370 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:42,119 Speaker 1: girls in the UK are learning about American football. So 371 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 1: we've introduced something called jag Tag, which is basically flag football. 372 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 1: But you know there's thousands of of of children that 373 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:55,359 Speaker 1: are playing this through their elementary schools. It is spread, 374 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:59,199 Speaker 1: Um started in London, it has spread outside London. Uh. 375 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:02,760 Speaker 1: You know, we supported very aggressively from a funding standpoint 376 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 1: um and also we we actually have a partnership with 377 00:23:06,040 --> 00:23:09,439 Speaker 1: the with the British government where they actually fund this program. 378 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:14,879 Speaker 1: So it was it was difficult at first because anytime 379 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:17,080 Speaker 1: you go into a new market you have to you know, 380 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:18,920 Speaker 1: you're gonna make a lot of mistakes just because you're 381 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:20,919 Speaker 1: you know, you're not you're not wise to the ways 382 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 1: of that particular community. But you know, over the years 383 00:23:25,080 --> 00:23:28,800 Speaker 1: we've been going there, you know, it seems like a 384 00:23:28,880 --> 00:23:31,680 Speaker 1: second home for us. Without any question. You know, I'm 385 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,199 Speaker 1: I'm over there, uh you know once a month, I'm 386 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:37,560 Speaker 1: actually flying there this afternoon and and I'm coming back 387 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:39,840 Speaker 1: a day and a half later, So it's it's a 388 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:42,560 Speaker 1: it's a flight, but it's not like, you know, you 389 00:23:42,640 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 1: can't get there and have a couple of meetings then 390 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:47,840 Speaker 1: come back the next morning. Um, And it's it's it's 391 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:51,680 Speaker 1: it's it's from a career perspective, and I'm not talking 392 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:56,080 Speaker 1: about by me here, but it makes working for the 393 00:23:56,160 --> 00:24:02,680 Speaker 1: Jacksonville Jaguars so much more interesting and appealing to people 394 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:06,080 Speaker 1: who were thinking about joining this organization. And you know, 395 00:24:06,119 --> 00:24:07,679 Speaker 1: we're only going to be as good as the as 396 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:10,000 Speaker 1: as the quality of the people that were able to 397 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:15,119 Speaker 1: to recruiting an attract and develop here with the Jaguars 398 00:24:15,680 --> 00:24:17,879 Speaker 1: and the idea that we're involved in so many different 399 00:24:17,880 --> 00:24:19,720 Speaker 1: things with London, you know, being close to the top 400 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:22,960 Speaker 1: of the list, it really makes this organization much more 401 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:26,879 Speaker 1: interesting for people to to join that it would be 402 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:30,480 Speaker 1: if we were just you know, another NFL team that 403 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: happened to be located in the state of Florida. That 404 00:24:33,720 --> 00:24:38,200 Speaker 1: their commitment has been questioned, truthfully, is constantly questioned, is 405 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:41,239 Speaker 1: just part of my pan The NFL's smallest market, one 406 00:24:41,320 --> 00:24:45,800 Speaker 1: with unique challenges that require innovative solutions. Still for a 407 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:48,160 Speaker 1: guy from the show me state, it would be nice 408 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:51,320 Speaker 1: if people would look at what they've done. Jacksonville in 409 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:57,399 Speaker 1: terms of its own somewhat self paranoia reminds me a 410 00:24:57,480 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: lot of my hometown and St. Louis. St. Louis is 411 00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 1: the same way, I think, because it's a smaller market. 412 00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 1: You know, we're all always sort of looking over our 413 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:06,440 Speaker 1: shoulder a little bit and you know, wondering, you know, 414 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:09,399 Speaker 1: when that that next storm is going to appear. And 415 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:14,000 Speaker 1: I think that applies to people's view of the football 416 00:25:14,040 --> 00:25:18,159 Speaker 1: team because the uh, you know, the Jaguars arrived here 417 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 1: against all odds, and this the community, this community in 418 00:25:23,280 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 1: specifically NFL and Jaguar fans. You know, we're put through 419 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:30,760 Speaker 1: a lot, through a lot at the beginning in terms 420 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:32,840 Speaker 1: of if you don't do this, we're not going to 421 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:36,479 Speaker 1: get an NFL team, if you don't buy eleven thousand 422 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:39,320 Speaker 1: club seats, and of course of a couple of weeks, 423 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 1: then we're not going to get an NFL team. I 424 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:44,679 Speaker 1: think the community for a long time felt they were 425 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:47,880 Speaker 1: always being used, whether it was the Oilers coming down 426 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:51,080 Speaker 1: here and um, you know, the Jacksonville was always the 427 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 1: city you'd go to negotiate to get the deal you 428 00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:57,080 Speaker 1: really want in a different city. And I think I 429 00:25:57,600 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 1: think the team, you know, inflicted some of it on 430 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 1: the community as well, where you know, there there wasn't 431 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:12,360 Speaker 1: um an absence of talk about well, if we don't 432 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:15,840 Speaker 1: sell these tickets, then bad things are gonna happen. The 433 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 1: games are gonna be on TV, the team may relocate, 434 00:26:20,280 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 1: and I don't, I don't. I don't know that there 435 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:26,560 Speaker 1: was ever, you know, really clear evidence of the level 436 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:28,679 Speaker 1: of equipment, although I know it, you know it certainly 437 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:33,200 Speaker 1: you know existed. So so the fans went through a lot. 438 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:36,960 Speaker 1: Now Shod comes in and it's very clear in terms 439 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:39,359 Speaker 1: of what his goals are. In fact, one of the 440 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:42,960 Speaker 1: early things that that that was determined was we're not 441 00:26:43,119 --> 00:26:44,600 Speaker 1: all the games are gonna be on TV. We don't 442 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:46,080 Speaker 1: care whether we have to buy the tickets or not. 443 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:50,920 Speaker 1: We're not gonna hold the the the broadcast of the 444 00:26:51,040 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 1: Jaguars game home game over the heads of our fans. 445 00:26:54,800 --> 00:27:01,119 Speaker 1: Um and and that he that he focused on investing. 446 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:04,280 Speaker 1: And you know, we don't own the stadium, but you know, 447 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:06,399 Speaker 1: Shot is invested just in the stadium alone, well in 448 00:27:06,480 --> 00:27:09,440 Speaker 1: excess of a hundred million dollars of his money. In 449 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:14,920 Speaker 1: the stadium and then we UM develop a structure with 450 00:27:15,040 --> 00:27:19,240 Speaker 1: the London game. There really is was designed and has 451 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:21,879 Speaker 1: worked out to be a win win both of the 452 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:27,000 Speaker 1: Jaguars in London and locally here, uh for for Jacksonville 453 00:27:27,560 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 1: in terms of awareness, in terms of economic development, in 454 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 1: terms of additional tourism benefits, all those things have accrued, 455 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:37,480 Speaker 1: all those benefits of a crew to Jacksonville as part 456 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:41,280 Speaker 1: of this this this the London strategy. And then you 457 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: have the big investment in Daily's place and then you 458 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:50,119 Speaker 1: have um a commitment to invest you know, hundreds of 459 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:54,040 Speaker 1: millions of dollars more in downtown Jacksonville through the shipyards 460 00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:56,920 Speaker 1: and lot J And then somebody asked you while you're 461 00:27:56,920 --> 00:28:00,920 Speaker 1: moving the team. You know, it's I mean weird. You know, 462 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:03,399 Speaker 1: we live in the criticism business. If you work for 463 00:28:03,440 --> 00:28:08,520 Speaker 1: a professional sports team, Uh that's you're you're always getting 464 00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:12,040 Speaker 1: criticized because there's no perfect team, you know, uh, there's 465 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:15,480 Speaker 1: there there's always room to improve, and people talk about 466 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:18,840 Speaker 1: our business all the time. You know, just turn on 467 00:28:19,280 --> 00:28:23,720 Speaker 1: the you know radio here in in uh in Jacksonville, 468 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:26,480 Speaker 1: and if you're if you're listening to a sports talk station, 469 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:31,200 Speaker 1: you know, of the discussion throughout the entire year, not 470 00:28:31,359 --> 00:28:33,720 Speaker 1: just during the football season. The entire year is gonna 471 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:38,080 Speaker 1: be about football, and of that, you know, it's gonna 472 00:28:38,080 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 1: be talking about the Jaguars. So, um, you know it's 473 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:45,280 Speaker 1: you know, I've said, I guess I have the benefit 474 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:47,400 Speaker 1: of of having worked in sports for a long time, 475 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:50,280 Speaker 1: so I sort of under understand that. And you know, 476 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:54,000 Speaker 1: you you you you should have really thick skin as 477 00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:57,320 Speaker 1: it relates to this, you know these types of things. Um, 478 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:02,720 Speaker 1: you know, and and nobody feels sorry for you that 479 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:05,240 Speaker 1: you work for a professional sports team. There's not a 480 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:08,440 Speaker 1: person here in Jacksonville that you know would reach awe, 481 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:11,240 Speaker 1: you know, the burden you have of having to work 482 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:13,880 Speaker 1: for the local NFL team. That just doesn't happen. Okay, 483 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:17,040 Speaker 1: So people don't feel sorry for you North should they? Um? 484 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:20,880 Speaker 1: And then you know when you're actually writing big checks 485 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:24,640 Speaker 1: and this is shot when Shod's writing big checks and uh, all, 486 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:27,160 Speaker 1: all all he's ever asked, and all as an organization 487 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:30,120 Speaker 1: we've ever asked is judges by our actions, not by 488 00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 1: you know what someone informed pundent you know out of 489 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 1: New York or Los Angeles may write judges based on 490 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:38,960 Speaker 1: what we say, but more importantly judges by what we do. 491 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:43,800 Speaker 1: And then you know, sometimes you'll get those questions and yeah, 492 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:45,920 Speaker 1: I can I can see how Shot and others would 493 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:49,120 Speaker 1: hire of that very quickly. What the Jaguars did is 494 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:52,080 Speaker 1: what they said they were going to do. They attacked problems, 495 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:55,840 Speaker 1: look for new solutions, didn't blame their poor record or customers, 496 00:29:56,160 --> 00:29:58,640 Speaker 1: and waited for their effort to pay off, which seemed 497 00:29:58,680 --> 00:30:02,360 Speaker 1: to happen until an inadvertent whistle in New England. The 498 00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:07,240 Speaker 1: athleticism that Miles Jack showed just to be able to 499 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:12,240 Speaker 1: run down the runner he was little, literally on the 500 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:15,040 Speaker 1: other side of the field, he caught up to him, 501 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:21,000 Speaker 1: he created the fumble. He was self aware enough to 502 00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:24,920 Speaker 1: stay away from him, so he wasn't touched down. Um 503 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:28,680 Speaker 1: recovered the fumble and was on his way to scoring, 504 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:32,959 Speaker 1: perhaps not not knowing what may have happened that had 505 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:35,960 Speaker 1: we gotten to the Super Bowl, but perhaps the most 506 00:30:36,040 --> 00:30:39,600 Speaker 1: impactful touchdown in the history of the franchise. And when 507 00:30:39,640 --> 00:30:41,680 Speaker 1: you look back on that, had that call been playing, 508 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 1: had that call been made the way it should have 509 00:30:45,680 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 1: UM this year, I believe we would be recognizing that 510 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:55,480 Speaker 1: play as the as the biggest play in the history 511 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:57,960 Speaker 1: of the franchise. I mean, you think about that, you 512 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:01,200 Speaker 1: go from an official who fortunately they're they're human too, 513 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:06,400 Speaker 1: but an air is made. But the consequences of that, 514 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:08,960 Speaker 1: you know, you know, we can talk about the Super 515 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:11,880 Speaker 1: Bowl everything beyond that, and and and and every team 516 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:15,200 Speaker 1: goes through this. Look at the Saints this year, but 517 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:18,680 Speaker 1: that that play would have I think, you know, you 518 00:31:18,920 --> 00:31:21,880 Speaker 1: would know better than better than than me, but that 519 00:31:21,880 --> 00:31:23,040 Speaker 1: would have been the most that would have been the 520 00:31:23,040 --> 00:31:26,320 Speaker 1: biggest play in the history of the franchise, just like that. So, um, 521 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:30,200 Speaker 1: we've been we've been spending a lot of money investing, 522 00:31:30,520 --> 00:31:32,520 Speaker 1: you know, in the in the business side of the 523 00:31:32,600 --> 00:31:36,720 Speaker 1: Jaguars since shod bought the team. Investing in facilities, but 524 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:41,520 Speaker 1: almost you know, probably more importantly, investing in people, investing 525 00:31:41,560 --> 00:31:45,760 Speaker 1: in products, all those types of things. And because there 526 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 1: was a great opportunity to increase you know, what I 527 00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:52,240 Speaker 1: would describe as the revenue infrastructure of the Jacksonville Jaguars, 528 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:56,560 Speaker 1: and um, you know that that takes time, you know, 529 00:31:56,880 --> 00:32:01,920 Speaker 1: redoing the clubs, redoing the stadium, h removing seats, um 530 00:32:02,440 --> 00:32:05,320 Speaker 1: creating new seating products, all those types of things you 531 00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:09,040 Speaker 1: can't do overnight. So we you know, we we finished 532 00:32:09,120 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 1: most of that work, and then we have two thousand 533 00:32:11,520 --> 00:32:15,480 Speaker 1: seventeen happened and and and the impact on our business, 534 00:32:15,880 --> 00:32:20,400 Speaker 1: particularly going from seventeen to eighteen was really really significant. 535 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:23,320 Speaker 1: And the reason it was so significant was a huge 536 00:32:23,400 --> 00:32:26,440 Speaker 1: increase in terms of interest of UH interest in the team, 537 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:29,720 Speaker 1: but also we had the revenue infrastructure in place to 538 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:33,200 Speaker 1: fully capitalize on that, UH and that led us into 539 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:35,400 Speaker 1: two thousand eighteen. And as you know, as we've talked about, 540 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:38,840 Speaker 1: you know, UH most recently at the State of the 541 00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:50,000 Speaker 1: franchise UM the the seven highest individual ticket UH gates 542 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:52,080 Speaker 1: the amount of ticket revenue that we collect on a 543 00:32:52,520 --> 00:32:56,160 Speaker 1: game by game basis, the seven seven highest in history 544 00:32:56,160 --> 00:32:58,960 Speaker 1: of the franchise. All happened in two thousand eighteen as 545 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:01,960 Speaker 1: a result of interested in the club and also are 546 00:33:02,040 --> 00:33:05,080 Speaker 1: being able to to take advantage of the of the 547 00:33:05,640 --> 00:33:09,000 Speaker 1: revenue infrastructure that we've invested in built and also quite honestly, 548 00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:12,640 Speaker 1: you know, the opportunity to sell through a price increase, 549 00:33:12,920 --> 00:33:14,920 Speaker 1: which has been difficult to do in this marketplace. So 550 00:33:15,400 --> 00:33:20,800 Speaker 1: seventeen was really really important. UM, you know, eighteen, UH, 551 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:23,240 Speaker 1: you know was you know, certain I don't think anybody 552 00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:26,480 Speaker 1: would describe as anything other than a huge disappointment. But 553 00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:28,560 Speaker 1: because of the investments we've made in the past, and 554 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:31,280 Speaker 1: because of the residual impact of of of two thousand 555 00:33:31,320 --> 00:33:35,640 Speaker 1: and seventeen UM, you know this, this, this, this year 556 00:33:35,680 --> 00:33:38,280 Speaker 1: will be a very difficult year compared to two thousand 557 00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:42,600 Speaker 1: and eighteen UM, but it's gonna be a year compared 558 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:46,440 Speaker 1: to prior years. UM. You know that's that's still okay. 559 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:54,440 Speaker 1: More perspectives following this from Vice Star Credit Union Advice Star. 560 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:58,320 Speaker 1: We believe in better, especially in helping build a better 561 00:33:58,440 --> 00:34:01,800 Speaker 1: financial future for our members, so we reviewed our offerings 562 00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:04,840 Speaker 1: from the ground up. We've lowered or eliminated over half 563 00:34:04,920 --> 00:34:08,840 Speaker 1: our fees and enhanced our already competitive rates, saving members 564 00:34:08,920 --> 00:34:11,680 Speaker 1: more than a million dollars this year, in addition to 565 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:14,560 Speaker 1: the millions we saved them every year. If you believe 566 00:34:14,640 --> 00:34:18,399 Speaker 1: that saving money is better Joined by Star, we never 567 00:34:18,560 --> 00:34:21,760 Speaker 1: forget that it's your money. All loan subject to approval, 568 00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:25,360 Speaker 1: insured by n c U. A. Lamping has worked in 569 00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:27,520 Speaker 1: the world of professional sports long enough to know how 570 00:34:27,680 --> 00:34:30,799 Speaker 1: things work. His career began in one of America's great 571 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:33,920 Speaker 1: baseball towns, and it continues today in a city that 572 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:36,759 Speaker 1: loves football as much as St. Louis loves its game. 573 00:34:37,440 --> 00:34:39,840 Speaker 1: His way of thinking, time is the only variable for 574 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:44,719 Speaker 1: Jacksonville to be to football, but his hometown is to baseball. Well, 575 00:34:44,800 --> 00:34:48,720 Speaker 1: we we need to start having consistent success on the field. 576 00:34:49,320 --> 00:34:51,319 Speaker 1: I apologize for keep on going back to St. Louis, 577 00:34:51,360 --> 00:34:53,400 Speaker 1: but born a razor, and that's that's what I know. 578 00:34:54,360 --> 00:34:56,560 Speaker 1: One of the one of the reasons St. Louis is 579 00:34:56,640 --> 00:34:59,520 Speaker 1: such a great baseball too, is that it didn't It 580 00:34:59,560 --> 00:35:02,279 Speaker 1: didn't developed overnight. In fact, for a long time Saint 581 00:35:02,320 --> 00:35:04,000 Speaker 1: Louis had two baseball teams and lost one of them. 582 00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:08,040 Speaker 1: Saint Lois Brown's went on to become the Baltimorials. But St. 583 00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:11,360 Speaker 1: Louis has has had the Cardinals for well and access 584 00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:15,160 Speaker 1: of a hundred years. But most importantly from my perspective, 585 00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:20,880 Speaker 1: um they've they've had uh generational success, which means no 586 00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:24,799 Speaker 1: matter what generation you are as a as a St. 587 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:28,560 Speaker 1: Louis and as a Saint Louis Cardinal fan, there there 588 00:35:28,719 --> 00:35:33,480 Speaker 1: there were there were teams that one World Series and that, 589 00:35:33,680 --> 00:35:36,359 Speaker 1: and there were players that became Hall of Famers. If 590 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:38,439 Speaker 1: you grew up in St. Louis, you know no matter 591 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:42,520 Speaker 1: what age you are during during your your formative years, 592 00:35:43,480 --> 00:35:46,280 Speaker 1: you came across a championship team and you came across 593 00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:50,520 Speaker 1: some Hall of Fame players, and you know, in order 594 00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:52,279 Speaker 1: to do that, you need to have success on the field, 595 00:35:52,280 --> 00:35:53,919 Speaker 1: because you're not gonna have success on the field without 596 00:35:53,920 --> 00:35:57,360 Speaker 1: great players. So first and foremost, this franchise needs to 597 00:35:57,400 --> 00:36:00,279 Speaker 1: win more frequently. In addition to that, we need to 598 00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:02,080 Speaker 1: continue to get a little age on us. You know, 599 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:06,280 Speaker 1: we you know, we still have, you know, uh, relatively 600 00:36:06,360 --> 00:36:08,920 Speaker 1: young franchise when you compare it to some of the 601 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:12,480 Speaker 1: more historic franchises. The fact that you know, this is 602 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:14,160 Speaker 1: a bit of a transient town and so many people 603 00:36:14,239 --> 00:36:17,040 Speaker 1: move here that are that are really fortunate to move here, 604 00:36:17,719 --> 00:36:21,880 Speaker 1: but sometimes they bring their football allegiances with them. So 605 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:26,279 Speaker 1: there's no no reason why if if we can have 606 00:36:26,440 --> 00:36:31,000 Speaker 1: success and we can become an even more important part, 607 00:36:31,080 --> 00:36:32,800 Speaker 1: in an integral part of this community. I think this 608 00:36:32,920 --> 00:36:36,960 Speaker 1: downtown development is really an important part of this. What 609 00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:40,520 Speaker 1: we should aspire to is to become the Green Bay 610 00:36:40,560 --> 00:36:43,560 Speaker 1: of the South. That's what we should aspire to. And 611 00:36:44,239 --> 00:36:47,960 Speaker 1: you know, people look at Green Bay today and there 612 00:36:48,360 --> 00:36:50,359 Speaker 1: a lot of people assume it's always been that way. 613 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:52,239 Speaker 1: That's not the case. You know, there was there was 614 00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:55,040 Speaker 1: a period not that long ago where they where they 615 00:36:55,080 --> 00:36:58,760 Speaker 1: played close to half of their schedule at Milwaukee County 616 00:36:58,760 --> 00:37:01,040 Speaker 1: Stadium in Milwaukee. They didn't even play all their games 617 00:37:01,080 --> 00:37:04,520 Speaker 1: at the lambeau Field. But now you know, they're they 618 00:37:04,560 --> 00:37:07,800 Speaker 1: are the true definition of a regional franchise and national franchise. 619 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:11,359 Speaker 1: And uh, you know the reason that occurred, there's there's 620 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:14,160 Speaker 1: a lot of reasons why that happened, but one of 621 00:37:14,239 --> 00:37:16,200 Speaker 1: the point of the key reasons is they had success. 622 00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:19,920 Speaker 1: And they had success not every year, not even not 623 00:37:20,080 --> 00:37:25,360 Speaker 1: every decade, but they had constant success up there. He 624 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:28,600 Speaker 1: wasn't sure if Jacksonville would be enough, and at times 625 00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:30,960 Speaker 1: he had to wonder if it might be too much, 626 00:37:31,480 --> 00:37:33,920 Speaker 1: but he isn't backing down, and his confidence in the 627 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:38,160 Speaker 1: present and the future drives the franchise towards CON's vision. 628 00:37:38,960 --> 00:37:41,880 Speaker 1: This job is so different than what I had originally 629 00:37:42,680 --> 00:37:45,960 Speaker 1: anticipated that it could have could have been. And I'm 630 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:49,120 Speaker 1: so thankful and and all the thanks goes to Shot 631 00:37:50,400 --> 00:37:56,640 Speaker 1: for having the the ambition, UH to take on a 632 00:37:56,840 --> 00:38:00,680 Speaker 1: problem that not many people would have osen to take 633 00:38:00,719 --> 00:38:02,799 Speaker 1: on the easiest thing in the world would have been 634 00:38:02,840 --> 00:38:04,520 Speaker 1: for somebody to come in and just move the franchise 635 00:38:04,560 --> 00:38:06,920 Speaker 1: to a bigger market. Are you kidding? Let me look 636 00:38:07,160 --> 00:38:10,000 Speaker 1: look in some respects that That's the thing that I 637 00:38:10,080 --> 00:38:12,880 Speaker 1: think all of us are are most proud of, is 638 00:38:12,960 --> 00:38:15,040 Speaker 1: that you you know, you go through a period that 639 00:38:15,480 --> 00:38:18,840 Speaker 1: you know, maybe as much as almost twenty four months 640 00:38:19,600 --> 00:38:23,879 Speaker 1: where you had active discussions, really active discussions about uh 641 00:38:24,160 --> 00:38:28,840 Speaker 1: team relocations and who's gonna go to Los Angeles? Is 642 00:38:28,880 --> 00:38:32,080 Speaker 1: it gonna be the Rams, is it gonna be the Chargers, 643 00:38:32,200 --> 00:38:34,560 Speaker 1: Is it gonna be the Raiders? And you go through 644 00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:38,840 Speaker 1: that whole process, and the Jaguars weren't afterthought. I'll guarantee 645 00:38:38,880 --> 00:38:40,839 Speaker 1: you if that same process had been going on before 646 00:38:40,880 --> 00:38:44,120 Speaker 1: Shot I bought the team and before the Jaguars would 647 00:38:44,120 --> 00:38:46,080 Speaker 1: have been prominent in those discussions. Does that mean does 648 00:38:46,160 --> 00:38:47,640 Speaker 1: not mean that the team would have relocated. I'm not 649 00:38:47,680 --> 00:38:50,960 Speaker 1: suggesting that, but I guarantee they would have been prominent 650 00:38:51,000 --> 00:38:53,520 Speaker 1: in those discussions in terms of what team's gonna go 651 00:38:53,600 --> 00:38:56,120 Speaker 1: to l A. Okay, even even if there was no 652 00:38:56,560 --> 00:38:59,600 Speaker 1: nothing happening here that would have suggested that the speculation 653 00:38:59,680 --> 00:39:02,080 Speaker 1: would have been because what what what people would have 654 00:39:02,080 --> 00:39:04,439 Speaker 1: been speculating about is Let's look over the recent history 655 00:39:04,440 --> 00:39:09,080 Speaker 1: of the Jaguars blacking out the games, tarps on the seats, 656 00:39:09,760 --> 00:39:14,560 Speaker 1: um appealing to the community that if you don't buy tickets, 657 00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:17,520 Speaker 1: then you made lose your football team. So so all things, 658 00:39:17,880 --> 00:39:21,400 Speaker 1: all things considered, you know, I think this community is 659 00:39:21,400 --> 00:39:23,560 Speaker 1: blessed to have shot Con as the owner of football 660 00:39:23,600 --> 00:39:27,000 Speaker 1: team because he has staying power and he also has 661 00:39:27,080 --> 00:39:32,319 Speaker 1: high ambition. Uh and uh, you know there's we've we've 662 00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:34,320 Speaker 1: we've made a tremendous amount of progress. We still have 663 00:39:34,360 --> 00:39:37,920 Speaker 1: a long way to go, but you know, I can 664 00:39:37,960 --> 00:39:41,279 Speaker 1: say with a thousand percent confidence, you know our better 665 00:39:41,400 --> 00:39:42,080 Speaker 1: days are endless