New York Jets Invites

     On April 18, 2017, I had the distinct pleasure of attending a function at the New York Jets headquarters within the Atlantic Training And Rehabilitation Center in Florham Park, New Jersey. It was a nice experience and I am glad I went. It does not change my opinion of the product on the field, largely because we did not interact with the Jets' players.

     How did I get selected to attend this limited seating event? While the team representatives said the invitation to this Fan Advisory Board event was by random selection, I did not really believe that. Looking at those who were in attendance and listening to them speak, I knew I was with educated, knowledgeable individuals  who were long-suffering Jets fans.

      Actually, I think my invitation to this meeting, which included a very nice dinner, was based upon events which occurred at the start of the 2016 season. I called the Jets to inquire what they do for season ticket milestones. This was, after all, my 40th year with the Jets, having started my association with the team in 1977 at Shea Stadium. With no Super Bowl appearances and no home AFC Championship games. I was starting to feel like Chicago Cubs' fans who were accustomed to losing teams--something which would change dramatically later that Fall for those Windy City diehards.

     The sales rep listened patiently and said she would get back to me. She did inquire what I thought would be some activities which would be suitable for someone like me, a season ticket holder who had not really asked for much from the team but who was loyally rooting for the chance to support a winner. My thoughts went to a lunch or dinner with team officials to discuss the organization's treatment of its fan base, what could be improved and of course, the quality of the on the field product. The answer I received in a subsequent phone call was that the Jets don't do much for season ticket milestones and they were conducting internal talks about involving the fans a bit more. She did ask me if I wanted to be the first to sound the Jets siren as the team entered the playing field at Met Life Stadium. I politely declined.

       What I did subsequently receive was a surprise. The Jets sent me a regulation football, with a side painted white, and an autographed message to me from Head Coach Todd Bowles congratulating me on my 40th season as a Jets' season ticket holder. That ball sits prominently in a beautiful (and expensive) plastic case on a shelf in my den, a constant reminder of my loyalty to the New York Jets, especially when I watched the games during an underwhelming 2016 season which ended with the 6th worst record in the National Football League. It was a beautiful gesture by the team.

     Fast forward to March, 2017. I had already renewed my tickets for the upcoming season. All I was waiting for was the release of the schedule for this year plus the Jets' selection in this year's draft (to be held this week, outdoors, on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art--those same steps immortalized by Rocky Balboa/Sylvester Stallone--overlooking the city).

     Out of the blue came an email asking me to come to the Fan Advisory Board event on April 18th. I quickly responded with my acceptance, as my son and wife had plans in New York that evening. It was, if nothing more, a free dinner from the Jets.

     I traveled to the Jets' Florham Park grounds, the site of a former Exxon research facility across from Fairleigh Dickinson University's Florham campus. At first, the security guard at the gate house did not know what to do with the cars that were arriving 20 minutes early for the 5:30 start. Once informed via walkie-talkie that it was okay to admit us, those of us in queue were told to go to the parking lot in front of the entrance to the building and wait in our cars until near 5:20. I did exactly that, and when I emerged from my vehicle, another security guard nearby inquired if I was told to stay in my car until 5:30. I advised him what his colleague had said and I was permitted to head towards the entrance. I was feeling a little less welcome than I figured I would be.

     At the entrance to the massive building which includes an indoor practice field which is of regulation length and width as well has a roof high enough to permit punters to practice without hindrance when they skied a punt, many others bean to congregate. The group. predominantly white males at least 50 years of age, were well-dressed in suits or sports jackets, as the dress was described as business casual (I opted for a light green dress shirt and grey pants, the green an homage to the Jets' green and white colors).

     The chatter outside of the building was naturally about the Jets. How bad they were. How the devalued the seat licenses that many of those ticket holders had purchased to obtain better seats in the lower two-thirds of Met Life Stadium, a new, gray-themed, shared venue for the Jets with the New York Giants, built adjacent to the former stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Giants Stadium. The Jets became a co-tenant at Giants Stadium in 1984 after not renewing its less-than-favorable lease at Shea Stadium, predominantly built to satisfy the New York Mets ownership.

     The fans did not want a new stadium. Most felt that, despite its age, Giants Stadium did not require replacement. Jets' management had envisioned a new stadium, constructed over the rail yards on the West Side of Manhattan. This building would have had a retractable roof, and the seat licenses would have been much more valuable for those buyers; seat licenses in a shared venue are worth very little other that the ability to pay for seats that are not in the upper deck. For this venue, I would have strongly considered the investment.

     Sadly, the New York stadium never came to fruition, a combination of resident opposition to the traffic it would create, along with the opposition of the then-most powerful man in the New York legislature, Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver. I felt that he was in politics for something more and the death of the stadium project through his unwillingness to commit enough state money to the project was due to his not getting enough of whatever he wanted in return. Silver sits in prison now, the result of a Federal corruption conviction. It would have been nice to take the train to Penn Station, walk the 8-9 blocks to Jets Stadium, and not have to wear thermal underwear and heating pads to endure the weather in December and January. Sheldon Silver always will have a prized place in my heart.

     So, when we attendees were permitted to enter the Jets' gleaming practice site, the group had much to say to those from management who came to greet us during a very nice dinner of penne pasta, beef tenderloin, chicken piccata and salad. While we were eating, the first Jets' dignitary entered our room--Coach Bowles. A former player, he was no small man; he dwarfed my 5'5' frame.

     I had the opportunity to talk with Coach Bowles, an Elizabeth, NJ native. Since I was a Public Defender in that city for over 22 years, I knew it well, and I had interacted with his former football coach, who doubles as the Vice Principal or disciplinarian at Elizabeth High. That made Coach Bowles smile. We also discussed the projects--where he grew up--a notorious, crime-ridden place where this suburban Jewish short guy felt way out of place when I had to visit the scene of a crime at that locale. I liked my talk with the soft-spoken and humble Coach Bowles, who gladly posed for a picture with me before he floated around the room to meet the others.

     I also met Team President Neil Glat, who, with team owner, Woody Johnson (of the Johnson & Johnson money), had returned from the Pittsburgh funeral of the Steelers' owner, Dan Rooney, son of league patriarch Art Rooney. Rooney was so powerful in Pittsburgh as well as beloved. Glatt reported that former President Obama attended the service. Nice name dropping.

     I did not have the chance to meet with General Manager Mike Maccagnan. Others monopolized his time, discussing the Jets' past and future. Maccagnan looked studious and formidable. He, along with Coach Bowles, represent the opportunity for the franchise to escape mediocrity and to contend for the Super Bowl. I was impressed by their poise and willingness to talk to the fans. Obviously, I am rooting for the Jets to become winners. I now have an idea who the movers and shakers are in the organization, and I liked them. I will be hoping that they can resurrect the team mainly because they appeared  to be decent men.

     I did get to share my table with other Season Ticket holders from Westchester County, along with two very nice and informative young representatives for the Jets. So nice that, in fact, one offered me the chance to return and have lunch and watch a practice.

     After dinner, we left for a well-appointed video room that the team uses on a daily basis. We met with those individuals who run the game day operations at Met Life Stadium.  A lively give and take ensued, discussing things like the loud, droning music played constantly at the games, the quality and content of the optics on the video screens inside the arena, the true lack of Jets colors inside the bowl, plus the need for "organic" chanting of the franchises' signature cheer--J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS!! The personnel on the dais were very receptive to many of the suggestions. I did not feel as if they were merely giving us lip service.

    A tour of the building was the finale. This facility cost millions of dollars to erect and to operate. It is nicely appointed--there are pictures of fans taken in 2009 at Met Life Stadium lining the walls, along with memorabilia from Jets" teams, including uniforms and awards and the team's one Super Bowl trophy prominently displayed near the lobby. There are off-limits team dining areas; an enormous weight room; training and physical therapy areas; offices and the aforementioned practice field which we were able to walk on its artificial turf. The entrance to the practice area narrows to the door, partially replicating the tunnel at Met Life Stadium.

     Our knowledgeable tour guide gave us incites and information--for instance, the Jets have nutritionists who provide the diets for the players, who eat most of their meals there. However, since they are not allowed any sugary desserts, it is commonplace for those craving sugar to meander up to the employees' dining area and leave with some cake or other delights. Just hungry big boys being hungry big boys it seems. Also, we ascended to a large balcony overlooking the indoor practice area (there are other outdoor fields with lights); this was Mr. Johnson's private viewing area, that he shared with the press on occasion. The perks of ownership and wealth are many.

     The tour ended and we were rewarded with green Jets Season Ticket Holder water bottles as souvenirs. It was impressive and educational. I had fun and it stoked my juices for a productive season, even if logically I have prepared myself for more ineptitude. I went home with a positive mindset.

     I am looking forward to that lunch and practice. Thanks, New York Jets, for making me feel that while I opted not to sit downstairs and pay for a seat license, that my two seats 9 rows up in Section 340 at the 31 yard line, as opposed to my former seats at Giants Stadium, 4 rows from the field at the 32 yard line behind the visiting team bench, are as worthy as any others in Met Life.

     For 3 plus hours, it was a bit of Jets fan ecstasy. Now please give me a winning team.