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Sporting Club Jacksonville unveils stadium plans. What we know
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- Sporting Club Jacksonville unveils stadium plans. What we know
Sporting Club Jacksonville plans to build a privately funded, 15,000-seat soccer stadium less than a mile north of St. Johns Town Center, marking a major step forward after more than three years of site searches and feasibility studies.
Owner Ricky Caplin unveiled the proposed Southside location on March 2, calling the project a long-term commitment to professional soccer in Northeast Florida.
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"We're not pursuing something temporary," Caplin said. "We are establishing permanence."
Here's what to know about the Sporting Club Jacksonville project, why the Town Center area is the prime location, and what the facility will bring to Jacksonville's soccer community.
Renderings of the proposed Sporting Jax soccer stadium and surrounding businesses near the St. Johns Town Center.
Sporting Club Jacksonville stadium to anchor 300-acre mixed-use development
The proposed stadium would anchor a sweeping 300-acre, multi-use development west of the University of North Florida, creating what team officials describe as a year-round "stadium district."
Michael McNaughton, newly appointed president of the Sporting Club Jacksonville Development Company, called the vision a "world-class project with world-class architecture" that would be transformational for Jacksonville.
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Where is the proposed Sporting Jax stadium?
A map shows the planned Sporting Club Jacksonville stadium and development site.
How long has the property been under contract?
Caplin said the property has been under contract for eight months while the club conducted due diligence, including environmental and land viability studies.
Why is a soccer stadium being built in Jacksonville?
1. Supporting expansion and Division I ambitions
The stadium is being designed with 15,000 seats, a key benchmark under U.S. Soccer Federation standards for clubs pursuing future Division I status in a planned top-tier USL men's league.
McNaughton said the design will allow for future expansion beyond 15,000 seats if demand warrants.
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"Once we validated that, we already knew this was the best spot in Jacksonville," he said.
McNaughton added that ownership studied comparable mixed-use stadium districts in cities such as Tampa, Miami, Chicago and Atlanta before finalizing the Jacksonville concept.
2. Sporting Club Jacksonville will serve as a home for men's and women's professional teams
The new venue would provide a permanent home for both Sporting Jax professional teams:
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The women's team competes in the Division I Gainbridge Super League and currently leads the league in its inaugural season.
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The men's team begins play on March 7 in the Division II USL Championship.
Both squads currently play at Hodges Stadium on the UNF campus.
The club received franchise approval from the United Soccer League in August 2022. Its ownership group includes former NFL players Tim Tebow and Fred Taylor.
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"For me, it means so much because I love this city so much," Tebow said.
3. Provide more stability for the future of soccer in Jacksonville
Jacksonville's previous pro soccer ventures have struggled to achieve long-term stability. Teams such as the Jacksonville Tea Men and Jacksonville Cyclones folded after short runs, while the Armada has not competed in a fully professional league since 2017.
Club leaders believe a permanent stadium and surrounding district will provide the infrastructure and financial foundation that earlier teams lacked.
"This will not only be a stadium anchor district," said USL deputy CEO Justin Papadakis, "I think this is going to be one of the best in the United States."
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4. Beyond professional matches: Supporting youth and community events
More than just a soccer stadium, Caplin said the stadium could host:
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Youth tournaments
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High school championships
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Community events
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Non-soccer entertainment programming
"If we do our jobs right," McNaughton said, "we'll be looking at 150-plus days a year of excitement at the site."
Caplin believes the project will become one of Jacksonville's defining destinations.
"We've seen incredible projects out there right now in our city," he said. "I think this will be one that will be one of the first two or three things you think of when you think of Jacksonville."
What amenities and activities will Sporting Club Jacksonville offer?
Renderings released by the club show:
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Entertainment venues
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Restaurants and retail spaces
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Hotels and lodging
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Walkable trails for biking and pedestrian use
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Public gathering areas
Caplin said the goal is to activate the district 365 days per year, not just on matchdays.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Sporting Club Jacksonville planning new stadium in 2028. What it means
