Jacksonville attorney Chris Campione announced Oct. 30 he will become majority principal owner and managing director of the Jacksonville Armada Football Club.
Armada owner Robert Palmer announced Oct. 30 he is selling the team, but did not say to whom.
Action News Jax first reported that Campione is acquiring the team and posted his announcement on its website. A person answering the phone at Campione’s law office confirmed he is buying the team, but then transferred the call to voicemail.
Campione said the Armada is moving forward with plans for an initial minimum 8,000-seat privately funded stadium Downtown with a groundbreaking ceremony expected to take place in December.
The city issued a building permit to the Armada on Jan. 20 for an $18.2 million stadium at 1041 Albert St. north of the Jacksonville Fairgrounds.
It acquired the land from the city of Jacksonville on Dec. 20 for $1.
“Our city deserves a club and a stadium that reflect its resilience and community pride,” Campione said.
The announcement said the stadium was designed as a multipurpose community venue for year-round activity, hosting concerts, festivals, tournaments, cultural events and major national competitions.
“We want this club to be something the community truly owns and feels part of. It’s about building a community asset that energizes not just the heart of Jacksonville or the Sports and Entertainment District, but the entire Eastside community,” Campione said.
Campione, from Eustis, is the owner and managing partner of Campione Law P.A., focused on personal injury, business and property law.
He also runs the nonprofit First Initiative, which is dedicated to community development and opportunity in Northeast Florida.
The announcement said Campione is a minority owner of multiple professional sports teams, including the Jacksonville Icemen hockey team.
Campione earned his Juris Doctor from Florida Coastal School of Law, an MBA from Jacksonville University and a business management degree from Florida State University.
The release said Nathan Walter, who has been with the Jacksonville Armada since the club’s inception in 2013 and has served as president and general manager since 2017, will transition into the role of club director and chief executive officer.
Campione said the Armada will compete in MLS Next Pro in 2027. It is Major League Soccer’s development division.
Campione said he would eventually bring Major League Soccer to the city and a National Women’s Soccer League franchise.
“With next year’s World Cup on the horizon and the Armada leading the growth of professional soccer in Jacksonville, the future of the city’s soccer community is bright,” Campione said.
“We’re going to build something enduring here, and we’re going to do it by living our club motto, Victory Through Determination. From the players to the fans to the families in our stands, this club will always belong to Jacksonville.”