Jacksonville businesses saw a surge in customers as fans flooded shops before Monday Night Football.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The excitement wasn’t confined to the football field during Monday Night Football. Local Jacksonville businesses also felt the surge as fans flocked to shops and restaurants ahead of the primetime event.
For Mathew Smith, owner of Sportsmania in Jacksonville Beach, the surge was both exhilarating and exhausting.
“I’ve been working nonstop all day, making sure all these wonderful Jaguar fans are ready to go,” Smith said. “In just ten seconds, thirty to forty people crowded in. We’ve had nonstop lines at the register. It’s been overwhelming.”
Sportsmania, a family-run shop that has been equipping Jaguars fans with jerseys and gear for many years, experienced some of the biggest crowds and longest lines seen in a long time.
Smith noted the high demand for vintage throwback jerseys and new-logo items, as many customers grabbed apparel at the last minute before heading to the game.
“It’s just been an amazing response from the city of Jacksonville,” Smith said.
On the streets outside the stadium, the mood was electric.
Maxwell Twardowski, who traveled from Tampa for his first-ever Jaguars game, said the trip was absolutely worth it.
“I’m very excited to be here,” Twardowski said. “I think the defense is really the reason that we’re 3-1.”
Fans like Christian Zeidan, a Jacksonville native, reveled in the national spotlight.
“It’s Monday Night Football,” Zeidan said. “The whole country is watching this game tonight. There’s something different about the Duval atmosphere.”
However, not everyone in attendance was cheering for the Jaguars. Eight-year-old Luke, visiting from Virginia, wore Chiefs attire to his first NFL game.
“Go Chiefs!” he shouted.
But for most, the chant “Duuuvaalll, let’s go baby!” echoed up and down the streets.
Fans insisted that, despite the out-of-town visitors, Jacksonville pride was impossible to miss.
“There are plenty of Chiefs fans here tonight who think they’re in charge, but Duval is where it’s at,” a group of Jaguars fans declared. “We’re loud, we’re proud, and we’re going to shout.”
Smith, meanwhile, says Sportsmania is already restocking for another rush. More gear is set to arrive this week, and his team is gearing up for next Sunday’s home game.
