The City Council unanimously approved a land option agreement for a lot north of the Fairgrounds in a move that could set the stage for a new stadium for Jacksonville Armada soccer.
WJCT News partner The Florida Times-Union reported the score struck 18-0 at 6:54 p.m., but for Nathan Walter, the finish couldn’t have been more exciting.
“This is rewarding... this is not just two hours tonight,” the Jacksonville Armada president said. “This has been more than a year now that we’ve worked to get to this point.”
The City Council unanimously approved Tuesday a land-option agreement that clears the way for the Jacksonville Armada to pursue a soccer-specific stadium less than a mile north of the downtown sports complex.
The team’s hope: On that property, a 5.83-acre plot north of the Fairgrounds to the east of A. Philip Randolph Boulevard, the Armada could someday play in a still-to-be-constructed stadium of its own.
The land is bordered by A. Philip Randolph, Georgia Street, Albert Street and Grant Street, with an additional 0.83-acre strip just north of the expressway from the Mathews Bridge added via amendment.
All 18 voting members of the council backed the measure, 2019-0853, which last week cleared committees by votes of 6-0 and 5-0.
Under the deal, RP Sports Investments, headed by Armada owner Robert Palmer, can enter the agreement for $5,000. RP Sports would then have the option to close on the land for a nominal cost of $1.
An expanded version of this story is at Jacksonville.com.
