A media representative for the Sporting Club Jacksonville soccer franchise says the team has narrowed its sites for a stadium and that a building at the former Regency Square Mall is not among them.
Zoe Haugen, president of Haugen Holdings public relations and marketing firm, said that after winnowing its site list, the team was denying media reports that it had considered a Regency space once occupied by Sears along with adjoining property.
In a Sept. 17 email, Haugen said “Regency is not a possibility.”
Haugen said her firm represents the team and Momentous Sports, a newly formed partnership that is investing in the franchise and plans a mixed-use facility around its future stadium.
Partners in Momentous Sports include NFL Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow and Chick-fil-A CEO Andrew Cathy.
The group announced Sept. 10 it was developing a mixed-use district surrounding the proposed stadium for the team, whose name is commonly abbreviated to Sporting JAX.
Plans call for the district to include housing, retail and public gathering spaces.
Other partners include former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles and Orlando-based Magnolia Hill Partners Family Office investments.
The team is an expansion franchise in the United Soccer League. It has partnered with Florida Elite’s youth soccer academy, creating a system that supports more than 12,000 young players across the region.
Momentous was founded by Marley Hughes, CEO of Magnolia Hill Partners. Cathy’s involvement is through Four Stones, his private real estate investment office.