Sports Mania gears up for Jags fans as the start of football season arrives

With the Jacksonville Jaguars set to host the New Orleans Saints for their first preseason game Saturday, local fans are already in full gear at Sports Mania on Beach Boulevard. The store’s sales floor is dominated by teal, black and gold as enthusiasm builds following last season’s AFC South title and a deep playoff run. Trevor Ellsworth, the store manager, said previous Jaguars-related inventory “blew out” and that this year they nearly had to do a full reset after playoff success left their stock depleted. Fans browsing jerseys, hats and accessories said the volume of options makes decisions difficult. While supporters feel optimistic, Ellsworth also noted the pressure of matching last season’s momentum, joking that his beard could turn white if this season starts the same way the last one ended.