Jacksonville Armada in trouble?

[FlaBoy]

You can't help but feel pretty optimistic after this press conference. If he is looking for a practice facility similar to a lot of MLS squads, it seems like this would not be in the urban core but pretty exciting nonetheless.

Palmer said the team may be interested in someday building its own stadium if the club and UNF don't continue their agreement past 2018. He said that he has looked into building a stadium of 6,000 to 8,000 seats. He's looking for land to begin a long-term project, one he hopes will start to take shape as early as 2018 with new practice fields.

Ultimately, Palmer envisions ambitious plans: a building that will house the offices of both the Armada and RP Funding, along with an apartment complex that includes player housing, a gym and a "world-class kitchen with a chef to cook for these guys."

Is Hodges, with some upgrades, considered a soccer specific stadium considering it is only used for soccer and track?

On the marketing note...

Palmer said he has more than enough capital to fund the club, saying that the Armada's entire operating budget represents less than 20 percent of RP Funding's television and radio advertising budget.

He expects to put his advertising experience to work at once in Jacksonville.

"You'll have to be under a rock to not know that the Jacksonville Armada are playing a game on any given Saturday," he said.

And building on the partnership with UNF...

The Armada also extended its UNF deal through next season, part of what Palmer hopes becomes a broader alliance with the college.

"The relationship that we're going to build with the university will span well beyond the Armada playing at Hodges," Palmer said.

Happer said that the club is exploring upgrades to the fan experience at Hodges Stadium, including a video board. He said the team is in discussions with the university and the cannon master of the National Park Service to bring back the Armada's once-famous cannon, which was silenced last August.

And his wife is a Providence grad and Jax native. This could work out pretty well.

[TimmyB]

Is Hodges, with some upgrades, considered a soccer specific stadium considering it is only used for soccer and track?

Unfortunately, any field that is shared with track is not going to work as a sport-specific stadium.  The distance away from the field caused by the track itself, plus the curve of the ends of the track, means the fans are going to feel a mile from the action.  In a crowd of this size, that will seem like you are in a cavern.  I did PA work for about 30 years in the sport of volleyball and I can tell you, it's 100 times more exciting to have a crowd of 1000 in a 900-seat arena than to have a crowd of 2500 in a 6000 seat venue.  I never got to see the Armada play at the BB grounds, but having attended a few Suns' games there, I knew that could not be a good situation.  There is no way the crowd could feel as though they were part of the action.  If Jax is going to have a long-term soccer franchise, it will need a better place than a track and field venue.

[copperfiend]

I agree with that. I don't see Hodges ever being a long term solution because of the track.

In college football, you used to see it a lot. But almost all of the tracks in stadiums have been removed.

If Palmer is able to build an entire complex with a soccer specific stadium, that would be great. But I will believe it when I see it.

[mtraininjax]

I'm Robert Palmer and I'm here to help.....No sir, you are no Ronald Reagan.

[Tacachale]

Had an interesting conversation about this. Apparently the USL was pushing hard to put a team in Jax anticipating the Armada would fold without an owner and their lease expiring (and probably the NASL shortly after). UNF is seen as the only adequate soccer facility in the metro and they put out a solid offer. But when Palmer stepped in UNF accepted his bid. Palmer is a realist who has no delusions about how much it costs to run such a team. He views it as an opportunity to promote RP Funding and expand it from Orlando to the Jax market. He thus expects to spend a lot more on marketing to promote both the Armada and the business, which is really what they need more than anything.

[Snaketoz]

Watched the Armada yesterday play at Carolina.  They got off to a quick 2-0 start, but wound up with a 2-2 draw.  The Armada's passing is bad.  They need to work on their passing. 

[TimmyB]

Watched the Armada yesterday play at Carolina.  They got off to a quick 2-0 start, but wound up with a 2-2 draw.  The Armada's passing is bad.  They need to work on their passing.

How was the attendance?  Does the league seem to be stable?

[Snaketoz]

Watched the Armada yesterday play at Carolina.  They got off to a quick 2-0 start, but wound up with a 2-2 draw.  The Armada's passing is bad.  They need to work on their passing.

How was the attendance?  Does the league seem to be stable?

The attendance in Cary, NC seemed to be decent.  I think the league would do best to merge with the USL. Jacksonville needs a dedicated soccer pitch.

[remc86007]

^ I agree, I don't see what is gained by having the USL and NASL separate. I think building a soccer stadium should be a priority for the city. Anybody have any ideas where it should go?

[TimmyB]

Watched the Armada yesterday play at Carolina.  They got off to a quick 2-0 start, but wound up with a 2-2 draw.  The Armada's passing is bad.  They need to work on their passing.

How was the attendance?  Does the league seem to be stable?

The attendance in Cary, NC seemed to be decent.  I think the league would do best to merge with the USL. Jacksonville needs a dedicated soccer pitch.

Yeah, a real (dedicated) stadium would make it a whole lot more attractive and give the impression that this is legitimate.  As for where, I'm not a local (yet) so I won't be an expert until two days after I arrive!   

[Snaketoz]

^ I agree, I don't see what is gained by having the USL and NASL separate. I think building a soccer stadium should be a priority for the city. Anybody have any ideas where it should go?

I think somewhere near the sports/entertainment complex would be great.  If they ever get a true destination zone down there with bars, restaurants, and entertainment, that would be great.  Anywhere but the Town Center area.

[pierre]

^ I agree, I don't see what is gained by having the USL and NASL separate. I think building a soccer stadium should be a priority for the city. Anybody have any ideas where it should go?

I think somewhere near the sports/entertainment complex would be great.  If they ever get a true destination zone down there with bars, restaurants, and entertainment, that would be great.  Anywhere but the Town Center area.

My guess. And this is strictly a guess.

If a soccer stadium is ever built here, it would be part of a larger complex with multiple multi-use fields and a lot of parking. I don't see it being anywhere near the existing sports complex.

[tufsu1]

More on Palmer's realistic financial plan for the Armada

http://jacksonville.com/metro/business/2017-08-12/new-jacksonville-armada-owner-sees-team-extension-his-financial-services

[ProjectMaximus]

^ I agree, I don't see what is gained by having the USL and NASL separate. I think building a soccer stadium should be a priority for the city. Anybody have any ideas where it should go?

I think somewhere near the sports/entertainment complex would be great.  If they ever get a true destination zone down there with bars, restaurants, and entertainment, that would be great.  Anywhere but the Town Center area.

My guess. And this is strictly a guess.

If a soccer stadium is ever built here, it would be part of a larger complex with multiple multi-use fields and a lot of parking. I don't see it being anywhere near the existing sports complex.

^^That would probably mean Patton Park, near Beach and Hodges. Which is by far the most professional and extensive soccer complex in the region, managed and operated by First Coast Soccer. Interestingly, I haven't been to their website in at least 6 months and when I clicked on it just now I was redirected to armadafcyouth.com.

[Snaketoz]

^ I agree, I don't see what is gained by having the USL and NASL separate. I think building a soccer stadium should be a priority for the city. Anybody have any ideas where it should go?

I think somewhere near the sports/entertainment complex would be great.  If they ever get a true destination zone down there with bars, restaurants, and entertainment, that would be great.  Anywhere but the Town Center area.

My guess. And this is strictly a guess.

If a soccer stadium is ever built here, it would be part of a larger complex with multiple multi-use fields and a lot of parking. I don't see it being anywhere near the existing sports complex.

^^That would probably mean Patton Park, near Beach and Hodges. Which is by far the most professional and extensive soccer complex in the region, managed and operated by First Coast Soccer. Interestingly, I haven't been to their website in at least 6 months and when I clicked on it just now I was redirected to armadafcyouth.com.

I'm not familiar with Patton Park, but lived in the area years ago.  That might make sense in that the infrastructure is in place, but the area is much too congested.  I think an old industrial site around or near Everbank Field would be a good candidate because of it's central location.