City faces crossroads on future of Ybor-Alvarez soccer fields

The fate of a new Ybor-Alvarez soccer field complex is coming to a head, as city officials weigh options for relocating the facility amid growing Federal Aviation Administration pressure and rising property and constructions costs.

The reconsideration of the project is driven by a federal requirement to prioritize aviation use on airport land. The current soccer fields sit on FAA-obligated property, and a private proposal to build airplane hangars and storage units on the current soccer field site has increased the urgency.

Akramoff outlined three main options: proceed with the existing plan to purchase 10–12 acres of airport land for $1.8 million; explore a partnership with Nassau County to expand soccer facilities off-island in Yulee; or identify a completely new site for a future complex. The estimated cost to build new fields is at least $1.3–1.7 million, and construction could be complicated by stormwater and environmental concerns on the airport site.

Although Nassau County confirmed its willingness to contribute up to $1.7 million, those funds must be allocated by September 2027.

"They're building three fields that are targeted to be delivered in late 2026. They have additional property there that if we were to reverse the flow (of funds) and help them with the partnership or just give them the money back for that purpose, then they could build an additional three fields on that site. That is a lower cost for us, there's no doubt about that," Akramoff said.

Part of the new Ybor-Alvarez soccer field complex is the FAA requirement that the city purchase the property now being used for softball fields adjacent to the current soccer site. That land was valued at $1.8 million two years ago.

Others questioned whether a more strategic, long-term plan is needed, especially with a new city parks and recreation master plan in development.

"I think it's a little premature to start making the decision on something like this when we're getting ready to do a plan. Buying back property from ourselves to pay the airport over $2 million is an awful lot of money when we've got other land that we potentially could use. And, that in addition to the cost of building it out and it could be more than that," said Commissioner Tim Poynter.

“Uncertainties surrounding Ybor fields have presented planning challenges for years,” Soccer Director Toby Lentz told the commission. “As the process advances, we respectfully request the commission provide a framework within the next 90 days, outlining the proposed direction for these facilities and establishing some key milestones and target dates for decision points. We need a new, consolidated facility that is ready before we’re forced to leave.”

"I think we need to have a good understanding in our analysis of what does the demographic population look like in terms of growth of children that would be using soccer or softball or baseball or any of these, you know, facilities that we're building out because my feeling is the majority of the growth is already off island," Commissioner Genece Minshew said.

With the FAA’s timeline looming and soccer demand surging, the city must now decide: double down on a familiar location, invest in a regional partnership, or start from scratch.