by JESSIE-LYNNE KERR , Florida Times-Union

Carl Cannon, former publisher of the Times-Union who led the 1993 effort, has been tapped by Mayor John Peyton to revive the group and lead a grass-roots effort to sell tickets to home games.

" Jaguars ticket sales are down more than any other team in the league," Cannon said. "We are at a critical point in the history of the Jaguars in Jacksonville."

At a news conference Wednesday at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Cannon said the Jaguars were the only team in the NFL to have its season opener blacked out because of anemic ticket sales. He added that there's a possibility that all home games will be blacked out.

Cannon and other leaders in the group attributed the low ticket sales to the economy and not to the Jaguars' 3-4 losing record so far this season. There are nine games remaining.

Former Jaguar Tony Boselli, the team's first drafted player and who has remained in Jacksonville as a businessman and philanthropist, will be an important part of the ticket sales effort along with Chamber of Commerce leaders. Boselli unveiled the group's logo, "Revive the Pride."

It is similar to the one used by Touchdown Jacksonville in 1993 except the slogan then was "A Community Effort to Win an NFL Franchise."

Cannon said the group has been revived after 15 years to create a series of events and promotions designed to connect fans with the team. The goal is to insure the long-term viability of the team and ultimately fill the stadium for years to come.

The group, of which Peyton is honorary chairman, has two short-term goals, Cannon said. The first is to sell out the stadium for the Dec. 17 game with the Indianapolis Colts. The Thursday night game will be the team's only nationally televised game of the season. Plus, it is being played the day that schools let out for Christmas vacation, Cannon said, meaning youngsters can accompany their parents to the game.

The group also is planning special events at the game to create a festival-type atmosphere.

The second short-term goal, Cannon said, is to develop a grass-roots community effort to grow a solid fan base for the Jaguars .

"The Jaguars put us on the map," Peyton said, and led to the city hosting Super Bowl XXXIX. "By every count the Jaguars are good for Jacksonville."

Peyton also mentioned the philanthropy of team owners Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver to numerous area nonprofits. "We adopted them and they adopted us."

Boselli, born and reared in California, said, "I love this team. And since Wayne Weaver and Tom Coughlin brought me to Jacksonville, I've fallen in love with the town. I'm proud to be part of this community and I know there's a passion for the Jaguars and a strong fan base."

He said nothing "drives me more bonkers as I travel around the country than to hear people who have the perception that we can't support this team."

Mike Hightower, chairman of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, said his organization of nearly 4,000 members, "is passionate about this because we believe nobody does it better than Jacksonville. You just can't imagine Jacksonville without the Jaguars ."

He said that while waiting for a flight at the Hong Kong airport, a fellow traveler asked where he was from.

"When I told him Jacksonville, he said, 'Oh, where the Jaguars play,'" Hightower said.

Kelly Madden, who will succeed Hightower as chamber chairwoman, said the chamber's efforts to help Touchdown Jacksonville will span several chamber boards and include its area councils that plan to have ticket-selling contests.

Cannon urged the community to become committed to keeping the team here.

"Talk to your neighbors about buying tickets, and if they say they are too expensive, offer to share season tickets with them," said Cannon, who is attending an upcoming game with a group from his church that bought group tickets at a special rate.

Looking around the 76,000-seat stadium where tarps cover about 9,700 seats for Jaguars games, Cannon said, "We want to sell out the stadium, and success will be when we remove those tarps."

jessie-lynne.kerr@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4374

Contact numbers

Touchdown Jacksonville is developing a Web site, but in the meantime call (904) 398-5222 to volunteer. For Jaguars' tickets call (904) 633-6000.

Among the ticket packages the Jaguars have a Flex Pack. People can buy tickets to three games, beginning at $40 a ticket, a savings of 20 percent on the single-game price. Groups of 10 of more people can purchase tickets to a game at the same savings. And single-game tickets bought before game day can be had at savings up to 10 percent. For more information go to Jaguars.com/tickets/.

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