Fans enjoy final home game experience of year

Top-rated venue in NFL gets high marks in final homestand of season

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jaguars are working on their game on the field, but off the field, they're a proven success with the No. 1-rated venue in the National Football League.

On Thursday, fans experienced the Ultimate Tailgate as part of the NFL Network's Thursday Night Football.

The party included a performance by national recording star and Jacksonville native JJ Grey and Mofro, a craft beer festival featuring local breweries, dozens of food trucks, and games for kids and adults, including giant Jenga and human beer pong.

"It's been such a different experience from this year to last year, so I really appreciate it, and I think you can tell by the fans, unfortunately when we lose, people aren't leaving really angry," said Jaguars fan Jim Yackee. "They've had a good time and are getting their money's worth when you see all this stuff."

Lynn Caruso, a New York Giants fan, and Joan Kiley, a Patriots fan, traveled from Connecticut just for the game.

"We want to go where we heard the fans are outrageous. They don't give up. The Patriots fans are all about the winning," Kiley said. "These fans are in it for the long haul, win or lose, and we were like that. … We wanted to come down and experience that, especially at Christmas time."

"This was on our bucket list, so at our age, when we're approaching 60, you gotta start knocking down that bucket list," Caruso said. "Time's going to run out."

Some of the people who make the ultimate fan experience happen inside the stadium shared a behind-the-scenes look at the Clevelander Deck on Thursday. More than 3,000 fans enjoyed the party deck, dance performances and a live DJ.

"It pretty much revolutionizes the experience of coming to a game," said bartender Morgan Christiansen. "You can come and watch the game on the scoreboard or on the field, walk around, have drinks."

Cheryl Lapoint also bartends at the Clevelander Deck and said she knows exactly why the stadium has been rated the best in the NFL.

"We have the pool, the big screen TV, what more can you ask for?" Lapoint said.

Many fans said it's the lights, tasty food and even watching other fans jump into heated spa pools that keep them coming to every home game. And DJ Kid Nemesis said it's the fans who make the entire experience possible.

"That's what I love most about my job," he said. "It's the interaction we get with the fans. Maybe this person likes this song and then this person likes this song, and they both start dancing, and I made it happen."

Along with the popular Clevelander Deck, the Jaguars' food services and concessions were ranked second in the NFL's Voice of the Fan survey.

"Pimiento cheese, steak burgers, gourmet hotdogs, spicy wings, fruit baskets, gourmet cupcakes, you don't get that at NFL games," said Jaguars fan Paul Jenkins.

On the field, the Jaguars are one of the youngest teams in the NFL, and fans are hopeful one day soon they'll be one of the best.

"I'm looking forward to next year," Yackee said. "I think we really have the nucleus of a good team going into next year."