The Jacksonville Armada FC received a permit on January 30, 2025, to begin construction on its new $18.2 million soccer stadium in Downtown Jacksonville, located at 1041 Albert St., north of the Jacksonville Fairgrounds [1]. The initial phase of the stadium will be 14,000 square feet, featuring 2,545 seats and an office facility, with plans for a second phase to expand capacity to 9,472 seats [1]. The team anticipates the stadium will be completed in time for the start of the 2026 Major League Soccer Next Pro season, in which the Armada will play [1] [4] [5].

According to www.iAsk.Ai - Ask AI: The Jacksonville Armada FC's new stadium project is a significant development for the team and the city. The team, owned by Robert Palmer through RP Sports Investment Inc., acquired 6.56 acres of vacant properties from the city of Jacksonville for $1 on December 20, 2024 [1] [2] [3]. These lots are situated in the Sports and Entertainment District, specifically on Spratt, Van Buren, Albert, Grant, and Georgia streets, and A. Philip Randolph Boulevard [1] [2] [3]. The city's agreement with RP Sports Investment Inc. stipulated that construction should commence by the end of January 2025 and be completed by September 2026 [2].

Beyond serving as the home for the Jacksonville Armada FC, the stadium will also house the headquarters for LPT Realty, a real estate brokerage owned by Robert Palmer [1] [3]. LPT Realty, currently based in Lake Mary, Florida, is one of the fastest-growing real estate companies in the U.S., with 15,000 agents across 46 states [1] [3]. Approximately 100 employees are expected to work at the new headquarters within the stadium [1] [3]. While LPT Realty will relocate, Palmer's other companies, including RP Funding, HomeValue.com, and RP Title and Escrow, will maintain their headquarters in Lake Mary [1] [3].

The development team for the stadium project includes Stewart Green of Colt-Green Construction leading the development, Gilbane Building Co. as the contractor, Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow for legal services (led by Steve Diebenow and Cyndy Trimmer), Waitz & Moye as the civil engineer for site planning, and Kasper architects + associates as the architect [1] [3] [4]. The estimated construction cost for the stadium is $30 million [3]. Prior to the construction permit, the city issued a permit in October 2024 to clear approximately 4.84 acres at a cost of $11.5 million [1].

The Jacksonville Armada FC has a history of playing in various venues since its founding in 2013, including Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida, the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, and EverBank Field [2] [4] [5]. The move to a dedicated soccer-specific stadium addresses a long-standing desire from fans for a permanent home, as the team has frequently faced venue changes for its matches [6]. The team's president, Nathan Walter, confirmed that groundwork for the new stadium was expected to begin within 90 days of his statement in early 2025, following the design and site phase [6].

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