JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sporting JAX, the area’s newest professional sports franchise, took the wraps off its much-anticipated stadium plans on Monday, announcing that the soccer club will plant its permanent home in the Town Center area.
Billed as a “transformative mixed-use sporting and entertainment district,” the hub will feature everything from residences, retail and entertainment. The crown jewel is the 15,000-seat stadium that will serve as home to the women’s and men’s club. The women began played last year in the Gainbridge Super League; the men play their first game on Saturday in the USL Championship league.
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It’s been a long process to get to this point. Sporting JAX announced it was launching in Aug. 30, 2022 behind a leadership group that included former football star Tim Tebow, Ricky Caplin, former Armada team president Steve Livingstone and Tony Allegretti. Former Jaguars star Fred Taylor joined the ownership group in 2023.
“This project is deeply personal to me because Jacksonville is home,” Tebow said in a statement. “As we bring this vision to life, we’re committed to building more than a stadium. We’re creating a place where families feel welcome, where the special needs community is intentionally included, and where young athletes can see a pathway to pursue their dreams. This space will reflect the heart of Jacksonville and bring people together year-round.”
Last week, Sporting JAX hired Michael McNaughton as the president of the development arm of the club. McNaughton is the founder of M2 Real Estate Advisors and has served in roles across essentially every real estate asset class. McNaughton has been in his field for more than three decades and has served in an advisory role including redevelopment of the World Trade Center.
“The real estate landscape is ever changing. Large scale projects today require a curated blend of uses that expand the reasons a project is relevant to more people – for more reasons. What we are building in Jacksonville promises to be truly unique,” McNaughton said in a statement.