JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The countdown to football season has started as the Jacksonville Jaguars take the field Saturday for their first preseason matchup against the New Orleans Saints.
Local fans are already getting geared up for the new season.
At Sports Mania on Beach Boulevard, the sales floor is currently a sea of teal, black, and gold. The high energy follows a historic previous season where the Jaguars clinched the AFC South title and made a deep playoff run.
“Anything Jags-related last year blew out the doors, blew out of the tent, blew out to the parking lot, blew out everywhere we had a chance to sell it,” said Trevor Ellsworth, store manager at Sports Mania.
“This year we almost had to do a full reset, because with the playoff run last year, the cupboards were bare,” Ellsworth said.
For fans navigating the packed racks of jerseys, hats, and accessories, the sheer volume of choices is something fans like to see.
“It’s hard to make a decision what to get,” said Jags fan Jack Flickinger, who stopped by the store ahead of today’s game. “I was just down in the area, figured I’d get some new Jags swag for the car for the season.”
While fans are riding a wave of optimism, the high stakes of maintaining last year’s winning drive also bring plenty of pressure.
“If this season starts like last season ended, this beard’s gonna be completely white by the end of the first quarter,” Ellsworth joked.
Despite a schedule featuring fewer true home games and reduced stadium capacity this year, Sports Mania managers say they are fully prepared to keep the fan base equipped.
Management confirmed that even more merchandise is scheduled to hit the shelves soon, with additional shipments of gear already on the way to sustain Duval pride all season long.
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