Sporting Club Jacksonville is making partnership alliances as it prepares for its inaugural season.
The club, commonly abbreviated to Sporting JAX, will have both men’s and women’s soccer teams.
The women’s team is expected to begin play in August at Hodges Stadium on the University of North Florida campus. The men are expected to begin play in 2026.
The United Soccer League Northeast Florida expansion franchise has announced media partners, is completing the staffing of its front office and is searching for a site to build its planned 15,000-capacity stadium.
Media reports have stated the team is considering building at the former Regency Square Mall in the space once occupied by Sears along with adjoining property.
Blackwater Development of Lake City purchased the mall earlier this month but that sale did not include the Sears store, Dillard’s Clearance Center or the Impact Church, which are separately owned.
Daily Record news partner News4Jax.com reported that the Regency location has been on a list of 55 possible Northeast Florida locations for the soccer stadium.
Sporting JAX CEO Steve Livingstone said the team expected movement on the stadium deal “hopefully before the summer. Hopefully sometime in the spring.”
“Again we’ve been looking at 55 different locations around Northeast Florida. We’ve narrowed it down to a few, and we’re putting some final touches on that. The good thing is it will be one location but we’re not in a position to say where that is.”
Livingstone issued that statement April 10.
Media moves
On April 14, the team announced a partnership with iHeartMedia as its official media partner.
Already iHeartMedia’s 930 Fox Sports Radio in Jacksonville broadcasts “The Sporting Jax Soccer Hour” at 6 p.m. Thursdays. The program highlights soccer news and results from the past week and looks ahead to important games from various leagues.
“Finding partners like iHeartMedia that believe in what we are building is vital to share our club’s rise and love of soccer in Northeast Florida. iHeartMedia is not only helping us share scores – they’re helping us share impactful stories,” Livingstone said in the news release.
“This partnership gives us a powerful platform to connect with fans, highlight our players and celebrate the passionate soccer community we have here on the First Coast.”
In Spanish
On April 25, it announced a Spanish language media partnership with Charlotte, North Carolina-based Norsan Media. It has an office in Jacksonville.
Coverage will be broadcast on La Raza 92.9 FM, Kaliente 94.1 FM and on Hola News.
“Norsan Media is committed to amplifying the voices and stories of our Hispanic community,” said Natalia Alvarez Sanchez, CEO at Norsan Media, in the release.
“Partnering with Sporting JAX allows us to further engage with our audience through the passion of soccer while providing valuable exposure for the club.”
Front office
Bob Ohrablo and Marshall Happer are among 10 front office hires.
Ohrablo is an advisor to Livingstone. He is a founding partner of the Jacksonville Icemen as well as the Savannah Ghost Pirates.
Happer is Sporting JAX’s head of operations. He has more than 30 years of experience in sports leagues including the NFL, XFL, NASL and FCF. He will oversee all match day and event logistics.
The team has filled leadership roles in business management, partnership management, merchandise, ticket sales, fan engagement and digital and social media.