The Florida Times Union, the newspaper for the city of Jacksonville reported today that the mayor of the city, Alvin Brown, has been in talks with MLS about an expansion team. Currently, there are no MLS teams in the Southeast, with the closest one being 700 miles away in DC. Jacksonville was once home to a professional soccer team in the 1980’s as the Tea Men played in the NASL.
While MLS has made it clear, the first target of expansion will be another team in the actual City of New York, they have also stated the desire to expand into the Southeast. The Southeast has been home to two MLS clubs in the past, one in Tampa, the other in Miami, both of which folded because of lack of support.
Atlanta, Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Tampa and Orlando City have been expressing interest in being targeted for future expansion. The mention of Jacksonville is a bit of a surprise actually. This came off the recent success of hosting a US International friendly with Scotland where there were 44,438 seats sold at EverBank Field. That compared to a US Qualifier versus Antigua & Barbuda that drew only 23,971 in Tampa.
It is no secret, the key to being considered for expansion in MLS is to have a private ownership group that would build a soccer specific stadium. The mayor has said there have not only been “positive conversations” with MLS but that there are business leaders interested – “Absolutely. That is a fact.”
The thought of an MLS team possibly coming to Jacksonville is especially interesting to me since I just recently moved to the city. I do believe Jacksonville deserves a shot before Miami or Tampa. I think putting a team in those cities again would be a mistake. They have proven that they have not been supportive in the past. My wish is that MLS will not only expand into Jacksonville, but into possibly Atlanta (most likely) and Orlando. That would give the Southeast a group of natural rivalries that could only spur interest.
But maybe I’d have a better chance of enjoying MLS soccer by either purchasing MLS Direct Kick or moving. I’m up for moving to Seattle, Portland or Vancouver – love those atmospheres!
Uncle Monkey's Blog 
You and I seem to be the only MLS believers. Every time I talk to my friend about football, and I bring up MLS, he laughs and thinks of the league as a joke. Jacksonville might work, I honestly can’t say, I just think the one thing that needs to change is less big names, more prospects. I completely get why they’ve taken the route they’ve taken in signing Beckham and rumours of Lampard and even Kaka going to LA. However, the real way to gain respectability is a combination of stars and young players. One player I think that represents that is Brek Shea, who’s blossomed into a star for FC Dallas and the USMNT.
The thing is that you have to see it as it is…it’s a very young league as compared to those in Europe. They have done what they needed to do to survive and now are really developing something decent. Yes, it’s still behind Europe but you just can’t compare. I think they should do both…develop young talent but bring in the older players at the end of their careers…it makes a great mix. What a better way for a young player to learn than from the likes of Henry.
I see what you mean, I just think divided attention and rumours such as Henry going back to Arsenal, etc. isn’t going to help matters much.
There is a great article on Sports-Glutton which has some eye opening numbers for MLS…check it out! – http://sports-glutton.com/2012/12/14/americans-finally-embracing-the-beautiful-game/