Jacksonville on short list for NASL franchise

[copperfiend]

Mark July 25 as a possible red-letter day on Jacksonville’s soccer calendar.

That’s when the North American Soccer League is set to hold a board meeting on expansion — a meeting that could mean the return of a professional soccer club to Jacksonville after a 15-year hiatus.

Last Wednesday, NASL commissioner Bill Peterson announced that Jacksonville was being considered for an expansion team that would begin play in 2015. Barring an unforeseen setback, Jacksonville’s bid is expected to come up for a vote at the meeting in Dallas.

Strong support for four major matches within the last 14 months — U.S. men’s and women’s games against Scotland, an MLS preseason contest and Wednesday’s game between Mexican clubs Tigres and Cruz Azul — bolstered the city’s case.

http://jacksonville.com/sports/other-sports/2013-07-07/story/jacksonville-short-list-possible-cities-get-expansion-team-nasl

Alot of things playing in favor of the city here in terms of fan support for soccer friendlies played here. There also seems to be a good support system in place with Frisch. Not sure about a venue but I assume UNF stadium could probably work until a soccer-specific stadium could be built. I wonder if something like that could be built at the Shipyards.

[fieldafm]

Or Mark could send a very welcomed check to JU and host his new team's games amongst the picturesque and pristine oaks on campus

[blizz01]

So is this the same NASL that the Tea Men were a part of?  Is there an ownership group?

Sunshine Soccer Group, formed in May. The group’s chief executive officer is Mark Frisch, executive vice president of Beaver Street Fisheries. Dario Sala, a former goalkeeper who played over a decade in MLS and Argentina, serves as president.

[copperfiend]

This is a new league. Some of the franchises are ones that left the USL. There are teams in Tampa, Ft Lauderdale and Atlanta among other major North American markets.

It is just under MLS in the US soccer hierarchy. One thing worth noting is that the commish of the NASL lives in Ponte Vedra, which can't hurt.

[Tacachale]

Very cool. I wonder if we could get the "Tea Men" name back.

[Charles Hunter]

Very cool. I wonder if we could get the "Tea Men" name back.

Naw, "Tea Men" has no real local tie - that was the name of the team that moved from the Boston area.
No, we need something with a more local connection.  Perhaps maintaining the rhythm/sound of the old name ... let's see, we're a Navy town, lots of sailors ... anything come to mind?

[funwithteeth]

The J-ville Seamen

[Cheshire Cat]

The J-ville Seamen

Well there is a name quite "fertile" with possibilities.  lmao

[Tacachale]

Hahaha. At any rate, here's some links for the proposed ownership group, Sunshine Soccer Group. They're evidently behind the game last week between Mexican teams, which evidently drew over 4,000 people:

http://www.sunshinesoccergroup.com/
https://www.facebook.com/SunshineSoccerGroup/info

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=539943

[KenFSU]

Jacksonville United has a nice ring to it.

Classy, and kind of plays off of the whole consolidation thing.

[cline]

^There is already an NPSL team here called Jacksonville United.

[CityLife]

I'd get season tickets and join a supporters club. Show of messages....How many here would get season tickets and how many friends/acquaintances would as well? I play on two adult league teams, and I'd imagine at least half the guys would get tickets. Also know a lot of other random soccer players/fans. I'd guess that I know at least 25 people that would get season tickets and another 25-50 that would regularly go to games and tailgate.

[comncense]

I would have a mild interest and probably would go to a few games. However being that it seems that the NASL season runs on while the Jaguars play, I doubt I'd get my money's worth.

I saw someone above mention putting a soccer stadium at the Shipyards. How much of that property would a soccer stadium take up? And what would happen to that stadium if the league or team doesn't survive here.

[icarus]

I saw someone above mention putting a soccer stadium at the Shipyards. How much of that property would a soccer stadium take up? And what would happen to that stadium if the league or team doesn't survive here.

I saw the same comment.

Not everything needs to be 'Downtown.'  We already have a Prison, a Coffee factory, vacant courthouse and school board on prime waterfront land or with river views.

It would make a hell of a lot more sense to do something in conjunction with local universities and colleges to maximize any $$$ put in to a stadium.

I know a lot of effort was put into proposing a swimming and diving facility several years ago.  Perhaps, there is another part of town where a 'sports complex' would make sense especially if it was in a location that could be tied into mass transit. Just sayin'.

[Tacachale]

The colleges have their own stadiums on campus. Something like this should be downtown if it's anywhere. A soccer-specific, multi use stadium wouldn't be a bad fit for the Shipyards, or for the stadium district. You could combine high-level minor league soccer, an outdoor concert and event venue, and a municipal field for amateur football and soccer, marquis high school games, rugby and the like. There are a million things we could do with some forward thinking.