Join Jaguars Inside Report Senior Editor Vic Ketchman as he tackles the fans' tough questions.
Lynn from Jacksonville:
How many new seats were added this year to the stadium and do they count against us in figuring for a blackout?
Vic: No "seats" that would count toward the blackout were added. In fact, the blackout number was decreased by 600 as a result of the stadium renovations. The "seats" that were added -- about 700 -- are in the south end zone terrace suite, and suites and club seating do not figure into the blackout decision. About 600 seats that would count had to be removed from the south end zone to accommodate the renovation.
Craig from Jacksonville:
What other teams besides Jacksonville have blackout problems with ticket sales? It feels like we are the only city and it's downright embarrassing. A group of us discuss it all the time and we always say the stadium was built in a lousy location. We feel stadium locations should be like San Diego, away from downtown with plenty of parking, easy access and around where most people live.
Vic: The team coming in here this Sunday has had blackout problems in losing seasons. The Bills have a huge stadium in a small market, and it hasn't seemed to help them that it's in Orchard Park, N.Y., which is "away from downtown with plenty of parking, easy access and around where most people live." Indianapolis, though it has the league's smallest stadium, and Seattle are the other two NFL cities that are currently experiencing blackout difficulties. The bottom line is that any small-market team with a huge stadium is going to struggle with blackouts, especially when the team is losing.
David from Fukuoka, Japan:
After our stunning come-from-ahead loss last week, where do you think the arrow's pointing? I'm still thinking up; well, maybe a cautious up. Please speak to the "eggheads" in IT and have them update the links to the archived radio shows. I'm sitting here in Japan, starving for info that only the Wednesday radio show can provide.
Vic: In what I consider to be a potential rebuilding year, the direction of the arrow won't be determined on a weekly basis. At the end of the season, I'll look at how many young building blocks this team uncovered and then I'll decide which way the arrow is pointing.
Brad from Jacksonville:
"This is such an important issue with Jack Del Rio that if it doesn't get fixed by the end of the season people may get pushed out at 37,000 feet on the way back from Atlanta. At least, that would be my solution." You post this disgusting answer on the anniversary of 9/11? Hasn't cancer taught you anything? You should be ashamed and post an apology to all families who lost loved ones on 9/11/01. Stop being funny. If I want comedy, I'll watch Leno. If you don't post an apology, I'll drag your (butt) into a firestorm with the local media that you can't extinguish. And I'll write a letter to Wayne Weaver asking for your termination. As a season ticket holder since day one, I'm dismayed at that response. The events of 9/11 may not have struck a nerve with you, but they definitely left a lasting impression regarding our vulnerability in a free society. Pushing people out of airplanes is not funny, especially considering that most of the flight attendants and a few passengers onboard had their throats slashed with box cutters at 30,000 feet. Rescuers found remains of a flight attendant at "ground zero," her hands bound together by a seat belt. Am I over-reacting? Not considering the context in which you answered the question -- on 9/11 no less. Post an apology, Vic.
Vic: Brad, you and anybody else I offended have my sincere apology. It was not my intent to convey insensitivity for our national tragedy of two years ago.
David from Orlando, FL:
In the NFL, you win some and you lose some. It's funny when teams start losing, everybody starts playing the "blame game." Is it a sin to credit the other team and admit they were better on this one day?
Vic: Once upon a time, it was common postgame etiquette for coaches to do just that. The first thing out of their mouths during their postgame press conference was a congratulatory remark for the other team. I still hear it, at times, but not nearly as often as I did when I started in this profession. I can remember thinking to myself back then, "Here we go with the congratulation thing again." Now, I kind of miss it. We all need to be better sportsmen.