Jacksonville-based Haskell will serve as Sporting Club Jacksonville’s exclusive partner for predevelopment services, preconstruction planning, estimating and budgeting and horizontal infrastructure of the soccer club’s planned mixed-use development near the St. Johns Town Center, the club announced July 13.
Sporting JAX, as the club is colloquially known, said in a news release that Haskell will advance “project planning, cost certainty and development readiness” for the project, called “Centre JAX.” Haskell provides design, engineering, construction and professional services to clients worldwide.
“Centre JAX is rooted in the idea of creating a lasting legacy for Jacksonville by building a place where people can gather, celebrate and connect through sport,” Michael McNaughton, president of Sporting JAX Development Co., said in the release. “Haskell has been involved in the project from the earliest stages, helping us advance planning, engineering, budgeting and development strategies.”
Haskell will also work with the city of Jacksonville Small and Emerging Businesses (JSEB) program, according to the release.
“Our relationship with Sporting JAX reflects a shared commitment to building something truly impactful for our community,” Peter M. Kinsley, chief operating officer of Haskell, said in the release. “Having been involved since the early stages of the development, we are honored to support Centre JAX through predevelopment services, infrastructure planning and preconstruction leadership.”
In June, the Daily Record reported on a preliminary site map published by Sporting JAX showing how it has divided its plans for 150 acres of development.
Published on centrejax.com, plans show six “districts” across about 375 acres of land, each with specified uses. The map shows one space as undeveloped wetlands, with five others that include the Sporting JAX stadium. Other spaces are for entertainment, hospitality, healthcare, residential and retail.
The website describes Centre JAX as a walkable, year-round destination built around a multipurpose stadium that would host Sporting JAX’s men’s and women’s professional soccer along with football, lacrosse, rugby, concerts and community events.
Plans for the site call for a 15,000-seat stadium that would meet the requirements for Sporting JAX’s men’s team to compete in the upcoming United Soccer League Premier, the highest level of competition the United Soccer League will offer. That stadium could expand its capacity, McNaughton said.
The men’s side competes in the United Soccer League Championship, which serves as the USL’s highest competition until the planned debut of the USL Premier in 2028.
Sporting JAX’s women’s team plays in the Gainbridge Super League, the highest level of women’s competition offered by the USL.