JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — *Correction: A previous version of this article stated the incorrect name of the team owner.
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, joined by team owner Robert Palmer and club president Nathan Walter, announced Thursday that the Jacksonville Armada FC stadium will begin construction in January 2024.
During the press conference, officials also announced the team will be joining the MLS Next Pro league, a third tier league associated with major league soccer.
The team previously played for the National Premier Soccer League, a fourth tier league.
The MLS Next Pro league launched in 202 with 21 teams and now has 27 teams.
The city sold Palmer a plot of land on the Eastside for $1 in March. That land will be turned into the stadium. Palmer says the facility will double as a coworking space for his company, LPT Realty and other local companies.