Armada Stadium Update

[KenFSU]

When it comes to the Armada and cleaning up the Shipyards site, both of which are tied into the mayor's capital improvement plan, the city council needs to find a way to makes these two things happen. Opportunities like these don't come around every day, and to potentially sacrifice dollars for pennies, we just can't afford to do that.

[KenFSU]

Well they may be looking for a new place to play. On news tonight was a story that when they city council cut funding it included the money to convert stadium from baseball to soccer.  Some money still there but does not appear to be enough. Story stated no contract had been signed yet between the city and Armada.

Per someone very close to the situation, there's a handshake deal in place between the city and the Armada for funding for the Baseball Grounds.

[Noone]

Appears that there will be a joint committee meeting at 2pm of Finance and RCDPHS 3 hours prior to the city council meeting. A contract was not made available for Finance committee meeting. There are time crunch conditions that are the basis of the emergency.

[jaxcpa]

When it comes to the Armada and cleaning up the Shipyards site, both of which are tied into the mayor's capital improvement plan, the city council needs to find a way to makes these two things happen. Opportunities like these don't come around every day, and to potentially sacrifice dollars for pennies, we just can't afford to do that.

Actually, I believe the funding for the Shipyards environmental cleanup was just approved by Council in August through Ord. 2014-555.

[KenFSU]

Funding for Armada to play at Baseball Grounds approved by City Council tonight.

[I-10east]

The Armada will debut (regular season) on April 4, 2015 against FC Edmonton at EverBank Field.

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2014/12/17/jacksonville-to-play-fc-edmonton-in-home-opener-at.html

[Gamblor]

^^That's so MLS/US Club soccer 1.0... that big empty stadium is gonna really show how far they got to go

[tufsu1]

^ stupid.  The Baseball Grounds is not available at that time...all other matches will be there.

[Gamblor]

^Sorry I didn't read the article I just assumed they were playing there because they thought they could fill it being the inaugural game. By the way playing in a big empty NFL stadium is a defining characteristic of the MLS 1.0 era so maybe we should recognize the lesson already learned that 10 thousand fans in a 70k stadium doesn't make for a good experience. Was UNF not available also?

[Tacachale]

Not many other options till they get their own stadium. This has happened with several teams at various levels without many problems. And also, Seattle and Vancouver play in football stadiums to huge success.

[Gamblor]

Not many other options till they get their own stadium. This has happened with several teams at various levels without many problems. And also, Seattle and Vancouver play in football stadiums to huge success.

I don't know, plenty of teams have gotten creative playing one off games at local universities. It's actually a pretty great way of getting the product out in the community and exposing it to new segments. Also Vancouver's football stadium is modified for soccer games to make the environment more intimate (which has been successful as you said, so much so ATL is copying the mechanism for their stadium). As for Seattle. What can one say? It is hard to argue that the Pacific Northwest isn't the most passionate soccer region in North America, and Seattle is definitely doing its part putting 45 thousand fans in the seats every game. It should be said though Seattle does have some major problems with their field once the NFL preseason starts.


(the black bits on the field are small rubber pellets used to try and make the field behave like a natural surface)
http://www.sounderatheart.com/2014/8/11/5991761/centurylink-turf-awful-bad-statement-quidditch

Also in regards to NFL stadiums, we can take Washington off the bad NFL stadium list soon (and they had it real bad playing in RFK). Congratulations to DC for unanimously passing the new United stadium today. The new facility in Buzzard Point is going to be one of the best in the nation, with the team and city both really stepping up to bat.

[ProjectMaximus]

That is one sweet looking stadium!

[Gamblor]

^I know. I can't wait to catch a national team game there! Watchin the stars and stripes play in a soccer-specific stadium actually in the capitol, I never thought the day would come. Really the new wave of MLS 3.0 stadiums opening in Orlando, San Jose, and D.C. are going to be outstanding. Each is really unique, and they all seem to really fit the civic community and their immediate surroundings. Atlanta's is going to be spectacular from the stadium as a whole stand point, but I'm waiting to see how well it really does adapt to soccer games. Then there's still Frank Lampard stealing Man City 2 drifting out there. You know there gonna end up with something ace. On top of that, word is the Kraft's are moving hard to get a soccer-specific stadium more in urban Boston. And don't even get me started on what Division 2 teams and cities are doing to get MLS's attention... Speak of which, yesterday Vegas passed their funding for a soccer specific stadium pending being awarded the 24th MLS franchise. Good for you as well Vegas.

[pierre]

I still have my doubt that we will ever see a soccer stadium here in Jacksonville. Who is going to pay the 50-100 million? Certainly not the Frisch family.

[Tacachale]

^It doesn't have to cost that much. Portland and San Antonio have very nice stadiums in the range of $35 million (and Portland is MLS). Depending on the land costs you could probably build a really nice NASL stadium for $20 million.