Sporting Club Jacksonville
Sporting Club Jacksonville, commonly known as Sporting JAX, is an upcoming American professional soccer club based in Jacksonville, Florida. The club is planning to debut in the USL Championship in 2026. HistoryFoundingA USL Championship franchise in Jacksonville was announced on August 30, 2022, led by venture capitalist Ricky Caplin and former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow. The group partnered with Florida Elite Soccer Academy, rebranding it as the Sporting JAX Soccer Academy, to form a full development pathway.[1][2][3] The club expanded its leadership team on November 30—coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the NFL awarding Jacksonville its franchise—by adding former Jacksonville Jaguars star Fred Taylor to the ownership group.[4][5] Sporting Club Jacksonville, branded as Sporting JAX, was officially unveiled on December 12, 2023, along with its logo and team colors.[6] USL Championship eraMark Warburton, best known for leading Rangers FC back to the Scottish Premiership in 2016, was named Sporting Director and Head of Soccer on March 20, 2025. He oversees both the men’s and women’s teams.[7] Women's teamOn May 16, 2023, the JAXUSL group was awarded a conditional franchise in the USL Super League, contingent upon completing their soccer-specific stadium.[8][9] The club's women's team debuted in 2025. They are coached by Stacey Balaam, former Associate Head Coach of Vanderbilt Commodores women's soccer.[10] Ownership and staff
Ownership Minority Owner  Minority Owner  Head of Soccer, Sporting Director
Technical staff
StadiumThe club has announced plans to construct a new soccer-specific stadium in Jacksonville. The new facility is expected to accommodate approximately 15,000 spectators and serve as the long-term home for both the men's and women's teams.[12][13][14] The club has not announced a home stadium for its inaugural USL Championship season in 2026. UniformsSporting JAX unveiled its inaugural home kit for the 2025–26 season during a public launch event and Fan Fest at Friendship Fountain on May 13, 2025. Designed in collaboration with Adidas, the kit features a custom light blue jersey accented with bold orange Adidas three-stripe detailing. Caplin Ventures, owned by majority owner Ricky Caplin, appears as the primary shirt sponsor. The launch marked a major milestone for the club as it enters USL competition and aimed to unify its professional, pre-professional, and academy teams under a single visual identity.
The home kit will be worn across all Sporting JAX teams, including those in USL League Two, USL W League, and the Sporting JAX Academy. The event also showcased goalkeeper kits, alternate and youth academy kits, as well as training wear and equipment. Players from the club's men's and women’s pre-professional teams modeled the kits, with the event drawing hundreds of fans and featuring appearances from club executives, coaching staff, and adidas representatives.[15] MediaSporting JAX maintains a growing presence in local media through strategic partnerships with television, radio, and digital platforms in the Jacksonville area. These outlets provide fans with comprehensive coverage of Sporting JAX, the USL Championship, the USL Super League, and global soccer news.
In addition to traditional media coverage, the club produces a podcast titled, The Sporting Pod, hosted by Cole Pepper and featuring regular appearances from team officials and players. It's available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Emerson Burris serves as the club’s official team reporter. On April 25, 2025, Sporting JAX expanded its outreach by partnering with Norsan Media to deliver Spanish-language broadcasts. As the club’s exclusive Spanish-language media partner, Norsan Media offers coverage via La Raza 92.9 FM, Kaliente 94.1 FM, and Hola News, aiming to engage and grow the local Hispanic fan base.[19] References
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