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Jaguars ‘Khan-struction’ has more on horizon

By WTOP Staff

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — All the upgrades at EverBank Field have been dubbed “Khan-struction,” and they’re nowhere near complete.

While delivering a somewhat somber state-of-the-franchise presentation Tuesday that outlined the small-market team’s problems and pitfalls, team president Mark Lamping also unveiled several potential improvements to EverBank Field — commitments that could lead to increased local revenue.

“You’ve got to focus on a few that you can turn into a reality,” billionaire owner Shad Khan said.

Lamping released a rendering of renovated club seats that would decrease capacity while increasing comfort and luxury. The project would cost at least $15 million. He floated the idea of an indoor practice facility, which could be built as part of a nearby shipyards project. He also showed a drawing of a retractable roof at EverBank, but said that it’s a discussion topic right now and not part of any short- or long-range plans.

“The most important thing we can do is put a better product on the field,” Lamping said.

Indeed, the Jaguars have won six games the last two years and haven’t finished above .500 since 2007. As a result, they rank near the bottom of the league in local revenue and television ratings.

General manager Dave Caldwell and coach Gus Bradley have been charged with getting things turned around on the field. Lamping might have the tougher task of getting things turned around in the stands.

While contrasting the size of the stadium with Jacksonville’s population, Lamping said the franchise has “unique challenges” to address.

“This is our problem to fix,” Lamping said. “We have to fix it to have a sustainable team.”

Khan is doing his part. He already has committed $31 million, including $20 million to help pay for $63 million scoreboards the Jaguars call the largest in the world. They are being installed this month and will be unveiled later this summer. Khan also paid to revamp the locker room and the training room.

“We don’t want to be delusional,” Khan said. “I think we’re doing better than we were a couple of years ago, but there’s a lot of work to be done. We’ve got to understand where the opportunities are and where the challenges are.”

There are signs the Jaguars are headed in the right direction.

Local revenue is up 8 percent and projected to continue to improve in 2014.

The big reason for the boost is London, and the Jaguars are trying to expand their presence overseas. Jacksonville, generally considered the least popular team in the NFL, agreed to play one game annually for four years in London, beginning last season.

In one year playing overseas, Lamping said Jacksonville moved from 31st to ninth in popularity in the United Kingdom.

While ticket sales accounted for 63 percent of the team’s local revenue in 2012, that figure dropped to 48 percent in 2013 — mostly because of new, overseas revenue streams.

So it’s likely the Jaguars will try to maintain a presence in London and play games there beyond 2016.

“We have been surprised with the impact,” said Khan, who said bought the Jaguars from majority owner Wayne Weaver in November 2011 for $770 million. “But there’s nothing like that. We’re just moving right along and taking full advantage of the opportunity that’s been given to us.”

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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