Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan sent an e-mail to season ticket holders about their participation in games in London starting in 2013. In the e-mail, Khan lays out his plans to expand the team's brand through the world. Khan also says that its part of a plan to help expand tourism for Jacksonville as well as making it a destination for commerce and living.
The Jaguars will hold a press conference with NFL commissioner Roger Gooddell at about 2 p.m. to confirm Jacksonville's participation in the international series games. All four of those games will be held at London's Wembley Stadium.
What follows is the e-mail that Khan sent to season ticket holders.
I am very proud to share the news that your Jacksonville Jaguars will be announced today as the featured home team in London as part of the NFL International Series.
Beginning in 2013, the Jaguars will play one of our regular season home games in Wembley Stadium through 2016 as part of the National Football League's effort to grow the NFL brand throughout the world. The Jaguars and the entire Jacksonville community will be a centerpiece in the NFL's efforts over these four seasons, and that's a very exciting and rewarding development for all of us. My ambition is to make the Jaguars one of the signature franchises in the NFL and to see Jacksonville realize its full potential as a destination for commerce, tourism and living. An annual home game in London over four years, supported by initiatives in Jacksonville and throughout the United Kingdom to further develop our following, will help us achieve these goals and much more.
I am honored to welcome NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to Jacksonville today to announce the news, and in the weeks to come the Jaguars will have more information for our fans, partners and friends in the community. I wanted you to hear the news from me directly, and I thank you for the consistent and impressive support you've given the Jaguars over the years. I know great things are ahead for the Jacksonville Jaguars!
In other news involving the new owner, Khan has also been followed by the crew from 60 minutes for a feature. Though the air date has yet to be determined, it will air soon.
For more on the Jaguars, be sure to check out our blog Big Cat Country and SB Nation Tampa Bay for all the latest news and updates.