Jacksonville Jaguars Build Huge Fanbase In London With Pub Takeovers

Tealwood pub takeover in London

Jacksonville Jaguars fans gathered at the Greenwood sports pub on Victoria Street in Central London on Thursday night. For three hours, the location was renamed Tealwood. The event was one of three pub takeovers organised by the team for fans living in the United Kingdom or travelling for the upcoming game at Wembley Stadium.

The team has hosted similar events before. Another gathering took place before last week's match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the Jaguars won 19-17 against Philadelphia thanks to a 57 yard field goal by Cam Little as time ran out.

Growing British fanbase

Jacksonville began playing games in London back in 2013 and has now played 15 matches in the city. The franchise runs several initiatives to grow its local presence, including an official fan club called Union Jax and a youth flag football program called JagTag.

JagTag started in 2016 with about 1,200 kids. By 2024, the program reached 100,000 participants across 360 schools. Local fans have embraced the culture completely. Fans like Francis Sweeney attend London games dressed in full gear with wrestling belts, while Jamie Phillips, nominated for International Fan of the Year in 2024, has supported the club for 15 years.

Activities and trivia night

The pub takeover included appearances by team cheerleaders and mascot Jaxson de Ville. Fans also tested their knowledge in a team trivia contest. Questions covered topic areas such as past London matches and notable plays, including Parker Washington scoring on a 97 yard punt return, the longest touchdown in international game history.