15 years ago, the NFL was looking to place a third team in Florida. The league courted both Orlando and Jacksonville, but they were REALLY courting Orlando...Jacksonville was a secondary choice. As it stood, the illustrious (note: Sarcasm) then mayor of Orlando, Glenda Hood(rat) and then Orange County Commissioner, Linda Stewart, balked at the NFL. Orlando would have to improve the Citrus Bowl or completely build a new stadium. At the time, Glenda/Linda were too wrapped up in expanding the behemoth Orange County Convention Center and were too far in bed with Disney, Universal, et al in expanding tourism in Orlando. They were so short-sighted on the NFL, they refused to use tourist money to lure a professional football team to Orlando. They were happy with Orlando being a one team town. 15 years ago, the Magic were the hottest ticket in town. They were winning games, they made it to the championships, life was rosy for the Magic. Thus, with all the negativity and bemoaning the two frigid bitches did to the NFL, the league naturally chose Jacksonville. Orlando's loss was Jax's gain.
Jacksonville actually had civic leaders that could look beyond the rose-tinted glasses of tourism. They pooled together business leaders, community support, and government support to build a world-class stadium. The NFL noticed and awarded the expansion team to Jacksonville. Thus, the Jacksonville Jaguars were born.
Now, 15 years later, THIS article comes out: http://www.news4jax.com/sports/21158046/detail.html - JAGUARS COULD PLAY GAMES IN ORLANDO. To sum up, the Jags aren't performing so well in their hometown and the owner, doing as all NFL owners do when their team isn't performing up to scratch, is now looking to Orlando to be their saving grace. All I have to say is...I TOLD YOU SO!!! I KNEW 15 years ago that placing a team in Jacksonville was a bad idea. Jacksonville is the smallest market in Florida. Orlando is the 2nd largest market, besides LA, to NOT have an NFL team. Many say the NFL wouldn't choose Orlando anyway because of the proximity of the Bucs in Tamps. Bullshit I say. If Northern California can host the 49er's and the Raiders, both teams literally 15 miles apart from each other, then the NFL can have a team in both Tampa and Orlando!
Mark my words, today's Orlando leaders know an opportunity when they see one...and the Jags might just be that opportunity. It would be nice to see the Jaguars move to the city which should have been their home in the first place!
