Owner of Jacksonville Armada FC says he's committed to fielding a team

The owner of the Jacksonville Armada FC is committed to having the team on the field this year, but what division they’ll play in is not clear.

Robert Palmer says he knew about the potential troubles for the soccer club and their league- the NASL- when he bought the team back in July. Specifically, he says the Armada was losing money, there was uncertainty about where they would play, and the NASL- who owned the team prior to Palmer- wasn't sure what the future would hold for itself.

“When I made the decision to buy the Armada, I fully understood the risks,” Palmer says, adding “I decided to move forward because I was committed to this team, I was committed to the brand, and I was committed to the potential.”

The US Soccer Federation decided not to sanction the NASL as a Division II league back in early September, which Palmer admits was sooner than he had hoped or expected. Later that month, the NASL filed an anti-trust lawsuit, claiming the “Division” structure is not competitive, is based on arbitrary criteria, and is manipulated in favor of MLS. That case is currently at the Second Circuit US Court of Appeals.

Palmer says if the NASL is successful in that lawsuit, and if owners decide to come back together, then the Armada will remain in the league- but he’s already speaking with other teams and leagues about the other options that exist.

“The most important thing is that the Armada play, and that the Armada get out there so our fans can cheer us on,” he says.

The NASL announced Monday that there would not be a Spring 2018 season, and instead, they’re moving to the international calendar, which will run August 11, 2018 through June 1, 2019.

"We find ourselves in a difficult position due to the Federation's decision and the impact that decision has had on our players, fans, and front office members is unfortunate. That said, we believe the change to a fall-to-spring format will be very exciting for American soccer as it will better align the NASL with the best soccer in the world,” says a statement from NASL Interim Commissioner Rishi Sehgal.

Palmer says the options he’s exploring would put the Armada on the field sooner than that August timeframe, although without the NASL the team will be playing lower than Division II. He knows they could potentially lose some support by moving down, but doesn’t think it will matter for the true supporters.

“The people that I’ve met, the fans that I’ve met, the general consensus among fans in Jacksonville is one of team over league, is one of team over division,” he says.

He believes the current divisional system is “arbitrary” and not truly representative of the caliber of team and program. As a result, Palmer is looking at how to create change within USSF. He says he’s been meeting with owners at the lower levels that also want to see change and see get more opportunities to move up.

“There has to be a way for a successful local club to make a step up to playing a longer season and getting in to a bigger league, and we want to be a part of that,” Palmer says.

He believes the Armada can be a “flagship” for that vision.

In the meantime, he’s asking fans to stay committed, and vowing he will. He says he still has plans for a soccer-specific stadium in the area, although the team will play at Hodges Stadium in 2018. He says everything about the game day experience will be the same for fans this year, except that they’ll see the Armada playing different teams than prior seasons.

“My goal is to fight our way back up. My goal is to find a way to get back in to Division II,” Palmer says.

He knows the Armada was better insulated against these changes, because his investment means they weren’t worried about losing sponsors, media deals, and similar things. Regardless, Palmer believes there is an appetite overall for change within USSF.

Armada President Nathan Walter says the Head Coach and staff are all behind Palmer’s vision for the future. In fact, Palmer says he gave everyone the option to leave because of all the uncertainty- despite any existing contracts- but nobody took the out, and all decided to stay on instead.

Cox Media Group