Armada Owners/City Talk Downtown Soccer Stadium

[Ken_FSU]

https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2019/11/08/jacksonville-chases-2-deals-aprofessional-soccer.html?iana=hpmvp_jac_news_headline

The city is in talks to land two major developments: a professional soccer stadium and a $542 million liquefied natural gas facility, according to materials for a meeting of the Mayor's Budget Review Committee on Nov. 12.

The city is working to enter into an option agreement to sell land to RP Sports Investments Inc., owner of the Jacksonville Armada. RPSI would pay $5,000 to enter the option agreement, which would give it the right to purchase about 5 acres for $1.

RPSI would have to close on the land, located along A. Phillip Randolph Blvd and the Arlington Expressway, by Jan. 31, 2023, or ownership would revert back to the city.

The company would also have to begin construction on 25,000 to 175,000 square feet of office space and a soccer stadium "suitable for professional soccer play" with at least 2,500 seats and 100 to 200 parking spaces by Jan. 31, 2024 and substantially complete construction by Jan. 31, 2025.

If RPSI closes on the land and doesn't substantially complete construction by this deadline, it would have to pay the city the fair market value of the land.

[Tacachale]

RP Funding would make a $5,000 payment with the option to hold the land for three years. If RP Funding moves ahead and decides to build, it can buy the land for $1 but the stadium would have to be completed by 2025.

That's a big ask. Essentially freezes the property for 6 years for $5,000 and the potential for a small soccer stadium for what's now an amateur team, and an office building. 2,500 seats also suggests they have no intention of joining a professional minor league.

[Charles Hunter]

RP Funding would make a $5,000 payment with the option to hold the land for three years. If RP Funding moves ahead and decides to build, it can buy the land for $1 but the stadium would have to be completed by 2025.

That's a big ask.

But It's Easier Here ... to extend deadlines

[blizz01]

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/jacksonville/plan-would-bring-new-soccer-stadium-to-downtown-jacksonville

Looks like they're aspiring for 10k.

[thelakelander]

I'm seeing Parramore style déjà vu...

[Tacachale]

I'm seeing Parramore style déjà vu...

At least it’s on an empty lot. And there’s not a league forcing us to destroy a neighborhood and spend millions on a redundant stadium.

[thelakelander]

True but that doesn't mean that it's the right fit for the community. I wonder if there's been any neighborhood input. Putting the use issue aside (a use and end user base that's just about as culturally incompatible as they come),  the plan itself is horrible. A massive parking lot on the Avenue?! This thing needs some work.

[MusicMan]

I went to the game last night, USA Womens Team. Perfect evening for soccer.  Now I've been to LOT J twice this weekend, for Sting Concert and Soccer game. Absolutely cannot imagine how this (aka Event Parking) is going to work with a $500 million development in the middle of that parking lot. 

[landfall]

Feels like another Jacksonville project that has quietly disappeared....

[Ken_FSU]

Per an Orlando MLS beat writer, Armada leadership was in Minnesota for the MLS All-Star game to meet with league officials.

Sounds like there might be a plan brewing for the Armada to move into MLS NextPro (MLS' feeder system) when the new stadium is completed.

https://twitter.com/GavinEwbank/status/1557713690253819905?s=20&t=IJ6d8i3gCVJ9Fv5hHql7Lw

[thelakelander]

Cool update!

[marcuscnelson]

Per an Orlando MLS beat writer, Armada leadership was in Minnesota for the MLS All-Star game to meet with league officials.

Sounds like there might be a plan brewing for the Armada to move into MLS NextPro (MLS' feeder system) when the new stadium is completed.

https://twitter.com/GavinEwbank/status/1557713690253819905?s=20&t=IJ6d8i3gCVJ9Fv5hHql7Lw

The Armada have until Jan. 2023 to initiate the land option agreement with the city on the land for their downtown stadium. Would expect, if this agreement with MLSNP gets done, a formal announcement around that time.

Would definitely be interesting. I do hope they give a little more thought to the layout of whatever they ultimately build, especially knowing that the fairgrounds will be moving out. Lot happening on APR and it'd be a shame to squander the opportunity of really well connecting to that potential even if the expressway divides things a bit.

[thelakelander]

^ Luckily, the Eastside community has been engaged!

[marcuscnelson]

A step forward for the Armada stadium plans:

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/sports/mls/2024/02/27/jacksonville-armada-stadium-city-council-extends-soccer-deadline/72765768007/

[thelakelander]

Sounds like this is going to be equivalent of a privately owned park that happens to have a soccer field with bleachers and a huge surface parking lot as its only amenity.