Pro soccer returning to Jacksonville with Tim Tebow-backed USL franchise

[fsquid]

So, whats the deal with Sporting Jax? We're coming up on three years since this announcement, when the group gave a projected 2025 start. And claimed to already be progressing on a stadium.

The women's team is playing at UNF. But there's been no news about the men's team starting anytime soon. And no news on a potential stadium other than the Regency Sears rumors from last year.

The team is very active on social media, has sponsorship deals and has added celebrity partners. But nobody mentions when and where they're actually going to start playing.

Other USL teams were up and running in less than 2 years, this does seem a bit weird.  But, they rebranded the Florida Elite club to their name and colors, so now you are seeing a bunch of those magnets around town.

[Ken_FSU]

My guess remains that Sporting Jax thought they were going to whistle into City Hall and get a boatload of taxpayer money that just isn't there at the moment for a soccer-specific stadium.

[JaxJersey-licious]

My guess remains that Sporting Jax thought they were going to whistle into City Hall and get a boatload of taxpayer money that just isn't there at the moment for a soccer-specific stadium.

Hmmm, maybe this new arrangement may get the city to rethink this.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/college-football-legend-tim-tebow-makes-100-million-decision-on-wednesday/ar-AA1MlQtl?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=68c4188b3daf4a3bb23e083163f77d20&ei=16

[copperfiend]

That's an interesting, and fairly high profile, group of investors involved. It will be interesting to see the location of the stadium. It's been three years since they announced the team. I figured we'd known the stadium location by now.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2025/sep/12/john-elway-tim-tebow-chick-fil-a-ceo-among-investors-planning-mixed-use-district-around-future-sporting-jax-stadium/

[jaxlongtimer]

^ I wonder if World Golf Village area would be a candidate.  It is adjacent to I-95, near tourist draw St. Augustine, had a similar concept of entertainment around sports and is likely closer to those that are soccer fans including the growing number of kids in St. Johns county.  Add, Bucee's, Costco, Home Depot, Bass Pro Shops and more now at that interchange plus possible St. Johns County incentives for what likely would be its largest seating venue for events.

[Zac T]

^ I wonder if World Golf Village area would be a candidate.  It is adjacent to I-95, near tourist draw St. Augustine, had a similar concept of entertainment around sports and is likely closer to those that are soccer fans including the growing number of kids in St. Johns county.  Add, Bucee's, Costco, Home Depot, Bass Pro Shops and more now at that interchange plus possible St. Johns County incentives for what likely would be its largest seating venue for events.

St Johns County just released the responses for its World Golf Village RFP and neither involved Sporting JAX or anything similar. My bet would be Regency, Southside near UNF, or Bartram Park/Durbin area

[copperfiend]

The Tebow aligned group has a stadium rendering that sure looks a lot like the Regency spot.




https://momentous-sports.com/

[MakeDTjaxGre@tAgain]

Yes, looks like regency. Would be interesting to see what happens to impact church with all of this. I like the initial renderings. As for the team, i haven't followed it much. USL is making a bid for division 1. Wonder if Jax will apply rather than compete in the Championship league - not that they can't get promoted at the end of the season? 

[thelakelander]

The rendering doesn't look realistic. Impact, Dillard's and Blackwater own most of the old mall site. Impact and Blackwater's plans for their parcels don't match these renderings.

[Jax_Developer]

Let's add this rendering to the collection.

[dorsey69]

Why is everyone so negative on this site? Don't you want soccer in Jacksonville? Maybe the rendering is unrealistic, but taking shots at a possibility it's not what I think people wanna see. At least, I hope so. Don't be so negative. It might help you feel better to be positive about something.

[thelakelander]

Here's what Blackwater is doing with their half of Regency. Not being negative. Just being real about what's being developed on a chunck of the property:

https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/regency-square-mall/XQGCV2YVIVHLND4YZQ6RK5U7L4/

[Charles Hunter]

Here is tonight's ActionNews story about the Regency connection. Still pretty iffy

https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/sporting-jax-stadium-could-revive-arlington-with-housing-retail-sports/LEJR6BCF7BB7NOF4MD7VUJXGHU/

[dorsey69]

I'd rather get excited about this project, even if it is "iffy", that a drawing of a parking lot for the location of a Circle K gas station. That rendering if you call it a rendering was put out the December 2024, what are we seeing since then? How can you be negative about the possibility of something as significant as this proposal happening? Again it's iffy, that's better than having no dream at all.

[thelakelander]

I try to live in the world of reality. We've been around for a while with renderings in this town. I have 20 years of renderings saved at this point. We may run them as an article at some point.

On this mall property, a gas station and fast food restaurant will be under construction soon on the JCPenney side of the property. Neither are exciting, but that's what the actual owner is doing with their portion of the property. I look forward to seeing the Sears property being redevelop one day. When and if that time comes, it won't be what that rendering shows. I'm not being negative, I'm just stating what's real.