Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver has launched the 2009 Champions Club with a message of encouragement to the 200 hand-picked volunteers who will be involved directly in the Jaguars season ticket renewals and sales efforts.

Over 180 new and returning Champions attended the orientation event at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium. Welcoming the Champions back for a fourth season of the club, Mr. Weaver, said: "I am continually impressed with the commitment of the members of our Champions Club. We know in the current economy it's going to be a challenging year for all businesses in Jacksonville but I am encouraged by your enthusiasm and dedication. I know you will all be doing everything you can to reach out to our fans and to assist with our ticket renewal efforts as well as helping us to identify new Jaguars ticket holders in the wider community."

Formed in 2005, the Champions Club has made over 150,000 calls during the past three years to encourage ticket holders to renew their season tickets and to thank them for supporting the team. The club's volunteers, all of whom are season ticket holders, have also helped sell over 3,500 new season tickets to friends, family and work colleagues and have hosted over 150 sales and promotional events for the Jaguars throughout the First Coast and beyond.

This year, Champions Club members have been recruited from as far north as Savannah and as far south as Orlando and represent every part of the city of Jacksonville. Members report to the stadium each evening from February to May to assist the Jaguars in making calls to ticket holders encouraging them to renew.

Newly-recruited and returning club members gathered in the Crown Royal West Touchdown Club to meet the Jaguars staff and to receive an introduction to the club. Tim Connolly, Senior Vice President of Business Development, and Steve Livingstone, Senior Manager of Business Development, Sales Operations and Champions Club Director, went through a presentation that reviewed the club's mission, history, goals and values for the season.

The Champions Club's motto is "helping ensure the long-term success of Jacksonville as an NFL Community". In return of their volunteer work and service, the club rewards members with exclusive and unique benefits including an opportunity to participate in player introductions on the field at each home game.

Season ticket holders interested in joining the Champions Club should visit jaguars.com/champions and complete the online application form or call 904.633.5276.