In recent years, a burgeoning soccer market emerges, serving to illustrate the voracious and growing appetite for the sport in the United States and North America.

Last year, it was Sacramento, Indianapolis and Orlando City garnering headlines. From 2011-13, Cascadia emerged, with Seattle, Portland and Vancouver demonstrating the potential for soccer in this country. Recently, Minneapolis and San Antonio have also impressed with tremendous growth from their budding soccer audiences.

So which city will be this year’s next American soccer success story?

For that answer, you may want to look just north of Orlando.

While the Lion’s Purple Nation continues to grow and David Beckham garners national headlines in his quest for a Miami MLS franchise, the North American Soccer League’s Jacksonville Armada have quietly laid down the foundation for what promises to be a vibrant soccer club.

With nearly 5,000 season ticket holders in tow, and nearly 10,000 tickets sold to their inaugural match against FC Edmonton, Jacksonville looks all but poised to become this year’s Cinderella soccer success story.

“There is definitely a buzz,” Armada President Steve Livingstone told EOS earlier this week. “When I moved about ten years ago, youth soccer was about it. Then, it was almost like an explosion when Scotland came here and the US played their friendly here. The whole atmosphere changed. A big crowd came out, it was a festival atmosphere all weekend and that put Jacksonville on the map.

“It’s an exciting time to be involved in Soccer in Florida, at every level, carrying on to youth soccer. Things are changing here and the game is getting more exposure.”

Pages: 1 2 3 4