JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Having back-to-back No. 1 picks in the NFL draft isn’t a goal any NFL team strives for -- but that’s where the Jaguars find themselves Thursday as the draft kicks off in Las Vegas.
Despite the dismal season that led to picking first for the second year in a row, the Jaguars’ front office is hoping to take advantage of the buzz from the draft to sell more tickets to the games.
Chad Johnson, vice president of marketing and sales for the Jaguars, said the draft does tend to provide some momentum for ticket sales.
“It really started last year. We had the first overall pick which resulted in Trevor Lawrence being a Jacksonville Jaguar. And we know the season didn’t go as we wanted, but we ended on a high note with a victory over the Indianapolis Colts. We bring in a Super Bowl-winning coach who will be out addressing our fans tonight at the draft party. And then with the first overall pick again -- there are significant moments in time that we really see upticks in ticket sales, and this draft party is one of them,” Johnson said.
He said the next big bump in sales will come May 12, when the NFL releases its schedules and fans know who the Jags will be playing on what days.
“We see a real big pick up then,” Johnson said. “And then when training camp is coming around the corner and the players are back on the field, you see another one leading in to the season.”
For now, Johnson said he’s jazzed to see fans gathering together for an intimate experience with coaches and players for the draft for the first time in two years.
“Last year it was in the stadium, socially distanced. The year before, we couldn’t do that,” Johnson said. “Our fans just love to come together and celebrate, so when they can do that around our coaches and players and feel like part of the family, it’s just such a special time.”
News4JAX anchor Melanie Lawson tried to sneak in a quick question about who the Jags’ first pick will be, but Johnson wasn’t having it
“I promise you I want nothing to do with that. I don’t want to know. I don’t want to have to keep that secret,” Johnson said. “I’ll find out when our fans find out tonight.”
For everything you need to know if you’re going down to Daily’s Place for the draft party, click here.
To buy tickets to a Jaguars game, go to https://www.jaguars.com/tickets/.