Sebastian Cardona has waited almost a year and a half for Saturday.
The anticipation. The preparation. The days ticking down to Jacksonville Armada FC taking the pitch at EverBank Field for its first-ever match.
Cardona isn’t a player on the team, though. He’s one of its most loyal fans, a founder of “Section 904,” a group of Armada supporters.
While the team has signed players, the group has added diehards. While the team has practiced, Section 904 has, too. The chants, the drums, the unison.
“Ready the fleet. Beat the drums. Give no quarter. Man the guns.”
It’s one of many chants fans can expect to hear, others paying tribute to the U.S. Navy, U.S. football and soccer from countries far away.
He’s in charge of the game-day experience, while others handle tailgating and attracting members.
It isn’t Cardona’s first experience with a supporters’ group — he’s helped with Once Caldas in his native Colombia. Now 23, he’s been in Jacksonville for more than a decade and ready for a local team to support. Section 904 has been preparing the past few weeks at a more hectic pace.
“It’s been nerve-racking,” Cardona said about the group’s efforts in recent weeks. “There is so much to get prepared … it’s become real.”
It’s become a reality for Mark Frisch, too.
The Beaver Street Fisheries executive vice president was awarded the franchise from the National American Soccer League in July 2013. Since then, he has started from scratch, putting the pieces in place for what he expects to be a successful debut.
“We’re ready for the big day,” he said. “I’m just really thrilled it’s almost here … watching the team get on the pitch and see a match, it’s going to be a great moment.”
He’s thought a lot about where he’ll be Saturday. He’s fearful of becoming distracted and missing the action during the match, so he’s planned his day.
He’ll meet pre-match with fans and sponsors, stop by the Section 904 tailgate to celebrate with them. During the match, he’ll be with his family with his eyes glued to the pitch.
“I don’t want to miss it,” he said.
It’ll be slightly different for team President Steve Livingstone. He’ll be keeping in touch with the 30 front office staff to ensure the event goes off without a hitch, the culmination of long hours, nights and weekends. He’ll record the match to watch later to make sure he catches all of it.
“I’ll be able to stop for a moment and kind of take it all in,” he said. “There hasn’t been really any time to think about it. … It’s almost surreal … everybody has worked so hard.”
The day also will be known as Armada FC Day after a proclamation by Mayor Alvin Brown. Friendship Fountain will be lit in the team’s colors of navy blue and gold to commemorate the return of professional soccer to the city.
On Saturday, gates will open at 2:30 p.m. for autograph sessions, music and entertainment. That will lead into the first Armada March at 5 p.m. — a time for Cardona and Section 904 to shine.
The group will lead fans inside the East side of the stadium leading to the first raising of the Armada flag by Arnie Mausser. The former U.S. National Team goalkeeper and U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame member was part of the Tea Men, Jacksonville’s former professional team.
“It’s really a passing of the torch moment,” said Livingstone.
For Frisch and the team, it’s payoff for months of hard work. For Cardona, Section 904 and the 10,000-plus expected to attend, a time to finally cheer.
“We finally see professional soccer alive,” Cardona said. “It’s going to be great.”
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