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[QUOTE=newjakecity;3526846][B]I feel very strongly about this. I sent this to the NFL and the Jets and am posting this on any board I am a member of.[/B]
I had intended to send this email a few weeks ago. Although I did not expect to actually be taken seriously, I was hoping that as a fan I could pleed my case just so you could hear both another side of the argument (in case the message had not gotten across before).
Although I will admit that I am far from unbiased in my sentiments, I have to say I think the Jets should be the ones to host the first regular season game at the new meadowlands stadium. Here are my reasons:
1) The last time the Jets opened at home was 2007. This was three years ago, meaning that if the Jets open up on the road again, it will be a minimum of four years between home openers (minimum of five if there is a lockout). A home opener is overdue.
2) Within the last ten years, the Jets have only opened at home four times. This means they've only opened at home 40% of the time. Consider that before the year 2000, the Jets only opened up at home four times previously since the move to the Meadowlands in 1984 (1989, 1991, 1993, 1999). When taking that account, the Jets have only opened up at home 30.7% of the time. Again, a home opener (and a true balance of home openers) is overdue.
3) I remember reading in the 90s a person who made the following comment about the old stadium(I'm paraphrasing): "Giants fans call the stadium Giants Stadium, whereas Jets fans call the stadium the Meadowlands. The name on the stadium says Giants Stadium so that is what it should be called." However the official name on the new stadium is "New Meadowlands Stadium" (temporary I know), but this has not stopped many people from calling the stadium the "New Giants Stadium" even though the Jets (and the fans like myself who are paying PSLs btw) the bill. Some do it with malice (such as Mike Francessca) whereas others do it out of carelessness (such as Howard David on Sirius NFL radio). If the Jets do not open the season at home, it will re-emphasize this even further. Put it this way, do you really think anybody will call it "Jets Stadium" if the Jets opened at home?
Again I know I'm looking at this from a biased stand point but to me there is only one argument the Giants have on their side in terms of why they should open and that is "The Jets closed out the old stadium". However, it is my contention that when the schedule was made it was assumed that the Giants would host a home playoff game (as they were super bowl contenders this time last year) and therefore the intention was they would host the last game anyway (a playoff game). The Jets should not be penalized because of this assumption.
I have to say that when I look at these arguments, I really can't see one solid reason the Jets should not open the year at home to christen the new stadium. I've always tried not to think about this, but it almost seems like the NFL holds the Giants organization and their fans in much higher regard than the Jets and their fans. The debacle that happened with last year's schedule (with the week 2 and 3 Giant games both being scheduled around the Jewish holidays, and the Jets not being extended that same courtesy) further adds to this perception.
I've now gotten word (I'm hoping is not true) that the NFL conducted the coin toss already without team officials present and the Jets lost. I have to say that considering the rumors the Giants were going to get the home opener anyway, I'm skeptical that there actually was a coin toss. If the Jets are to open 2010 on the road without at least a fair process to determine who opens at home (such as a coin toss that is witnessed by officials from both teams), than to me this will cement my opinion (and frankly the opinions of many others) that the NFL holds the Giants and their fans in higher regard. If this is the case, as a Jet fan:
-Why am I investing thousands of dollars in Personal Seat Licenses?
-Why am I investing thousands of dollars in season tickets?
-Why do I invest hundreds of dollars per year to watch the NFL and listen about the news (NFL Sunday Ticket, Sirius NFL Radio, etc)?
-Why do I invest hundreds of dollars per year on NFL gear (jerseys, shirts, etc)?
-Why do I invest time and effort in other activities involving the NFL (such as fantasy football)?
-Why do I invest time and effort to watch games that don't involve the Jets or their rivals (such as watching a Bears-Packers game for instance) when there are other programs that I could be watching (or other activities not involving television I could be doing)?
Why am I doing all of this if you're making it clear that you don't think as highly of me as you do a Giants fan in a similar position? And given this, why should I continue to support a league that takes any of its fans for granted (and not simply cash out the PSLs and move on to another league or sport)?
BTW, I'm posting a copy of this on all Jets message boards and sending out an email to as many people as I can. If you really want to make it clear that the Jets and their fans are held in the same regard that you hold Giants fans, I strongly urge you to reconsider.[/QUOTE]
Well done!!!
Send it to all the NY papers, NY TV stations, NY Jets, ESPN, NFL Network too.
Get alittle ground swell of outrage going especially since you have black and white facts to back up the inequity.
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