JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Armada FC, Jacksonville's new professional soccer team, return to Community First Park at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville this Saturday for a vital clash with defending North American Soccer League Champions San Antonio Scorpions (kickoff 7:30 p.m.) presented by Community First Credit Union.
The Armada is encouraging fans to arrive early on Saturday to enjoy the three-hour, pre-match build-up at the Armada Matchday Experience on Duval Street, presented by PRI Productions. The pre-match party, which is FREE for match goers, continues the World of Nations activities taking place in downtown Jacksonville this weekend with a "World Celebration on Dos de Mayo" theme, and includes a live performance from Jacksonville's "hottest" Latin band Ritmo y Sabor, a nine-piece ensemble that features musicians living on the First Coast of Florida, playing Latin sounds usually heard in the clubs of New York, Miami, Puerto Rico or L.A.. The Armada FC will also be teaming up with the YMCA and World of Nations to support activities ahead of the match on Saturday morning.
The Armada Matchday Experience, which runs from 4-7 p.m., will also be offering select $1 beers from 4-6 p.m. Fans will be able to take in all the entertainment from the Armada Beer Garden inside the Matchday Experience while the kids will enjoy the Armada Soccer Experience inflatables.
The Armada's traditional "March to the Match," led by supporters group Section 904, will begin from in front of the main stage at 7 p.m. All fans are encouraged to join the march to get into the stadium in good time prior to the 7:30 p.m kickoff. Fans will be presented with free Armada Kraken Tentacle Sticks, supplied by Community First Credit Union, on entry to the stadium, while supplies last.
The Armada will unveil two 12-pounder Dahlgren Boat Howitser Civil War-era cannons, provided by the U.S. National Parks Service at Fort Caroline, which will fire off at the start of the match and to signal Armada FC goals. A U.S. Naval Air Station JAX-Sector Color Guard will present the Colors and the National Anthem will be sung by Ritmo y Sabor lead-singer, Yanira Cardona; before the Armada - which features 16 nationalities on its roster - get the soccer action underway with a crucial match against the defending champion Scorpions. The Armada are currently five points behind NASL leaders New York Cosmos in the sprint for the Spring Championship, which qualifies for post-season play.
Halftime will feature a number of spectacular "Big Ball" promotions and the announcement of the new name for "The Kraken," which is currently being voted on by Armada FC fans at the club's website. The Armada players will sign autographs at pitch-side immediately following the match.
Match tickets, available from $10, and parking, available from $5, can be purchased at armadafc.com or by calling 1-844-2-ARMADA.