Jacksonville on short list of possible cities to get an expansion team in the NASL League to hold board meeting on the topic July 25 in Dallas Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/sports/other-sports/2013-07-07/story/jacksonville-short-list-possible-cities-get-expansion-team-nasl#ixzz2Yy3eTNS4
Yep, would be interesting if this happens. Jacksonville is a shit hole, but with little competition for pro sports dollars, close vicinity to several other NASL markets, etc it could be good.
I don't know where they plan on playing but,there is a very nice minor league baseball stadium right across the parking lot of EverBank Field. The stadium is home to the Jacksonville Suns,a class Double A minor league team. There are other NASL teams,Rowdies included,that play in minor league baseball stadiums. The Virginia Calvary,are owned by the same company that own the Loudoun Hounds baseball team. Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_Grounds_of_Jacksonville
George, the problem with active baseball stadiums is three fold. First, they aren't configured well to view soccer. Second, the infield creates a crap playing surface. Third, getting good weekend dates can be a problem. The Rowdies have eliminated the third by moving to ALF, but still deal with the first two. Remember GSF? I would think that the Baseball Grounds in Jacksonville would be a very similar setup. Horrible first impression for your product, even if you have a stadium plan. The best option in Jacksonville would probably be UNF with a solid stadium plan for the long term.
I agree with all of your points Jim. I don't enjoy watching soccer in a baseball stadium,the sightlines are horrible. I'm not familiar with UNF's soccer stadium. I seriously doubt that they'll play at Everbank Field,way to big and expensive for a NASL team. The reason that I thought that the Baseball Grounds could be a viable option for them was that the stadium is centrally located and it is a beautiful little stadium.
Sunshine Soccer Group would look at Downtown for possible stadium http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2013/07/11/sunshine-soccer-group-would-look-at.html
The University of North Florida's,Hodges Stadium, could serve as a temporary home for the future Jacksonville NASL team until they get their own stadium built. Unfortunately,it has a stinkin running track! Hodges Stadium http://www.unfospreys.com/sports/2008/9/19/HodgesStadium.aspx?path=msoc
All of those reasons that the Baseball Grounds would be great. But yes, all of those drawbacks would exist as well. I'm curious if the city and Khan could work out a good lease deal with the NASL team for EverBank considering Sea Best is such a huge sponsor of the Jaguars (the largest actually). But yes it is way too big. UNF screams "second rate" to me. The campus is secluded, although alcohol friendly. Building a stadium in that area would work great, but playing at Hodges doesn't really appeal to people. But the field would be the best of all the stadiums appropriately sized. All have positives and negatives to being a temporary home. The new stadium has to be constructed within a few years of the team starting. Mark has the money to make it happen and wouldn't require massive public funds.
The San Antonio Scorpions just moved into their new stadium,Toyota Field, this season. It has a capacity of 8K and can be expanded to 18,500 if needed. Something like this can be built. Scorpions finally have their 8,000-seat field of dreams http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/...ly-have-their-8-000-seat-field-of-4429684.php
haha, welcome to Bigsoccer, my friend I did see the Jim Rhodes Circus Sideshow in downtown Jacksonville, so that was pretty cool.