The developers of a proposed 8,000-seat United Soccer League stadium have purchased about 54 acres of wooded property off the south side of NASA Boulevard from the Melbourne Airport Authority, marking a key milestone.
The buyer, Stadelon District Holdings, LLC, paid just more than $9 million for the land, said Melissa Naughton, the airport’s assistant director of business development and marketing. The transaction closed on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
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“We are excited about the new owners’ vision for the property and the potential for a professional soccer stadium and mixed-use development to bring new activity to the area,” Greg Donovan, airport executive director, said in an email.
USL soccer: United Soccer League stadium, Space Coast team proposed near Melbourne airport
“We also hope a destination like this will attract visitors from outside the region and ultimately generate additional passenger traffic for MLB. Now that the sale is complete, we look forward to seeing their plans move through the development and approval process,” Donovan said.
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A group led by Orlando City SC founders plans to launch a Space Coast professional men’s soccer club and debut in USL play in March 2028. The 54-acre parcel lies off the south side of NASA Boulevard, east of Broadband Drive, west of Woody Burke Drive, and north of Hibiscus Boulevard.
Melbourne City Hall officials continue to review the soccer stadium site plan and a conditional-use permit that would allow outdoor recreation in a light-industrial zoning district. The Melbourne City Council would cast decisive votes on the complex, which includes 55,000 square feet of development such as retail, restaurants, bars and other consumer-oriented outlets.
According to a five-page business plan on file at City Hall, the stadium may host up to 27 USL regular-season and playoff matches, U.S. Open Cup matches and preseason friendlies per year. High school and college matches; rugby, lacrosse and track and field events; music concerts and festival-style events; graduation ceremonies; charitable fundraisers; and business expos could also happen there.
“One of my priorities throughout this process has been making sure this project benefits our community — especially our youth. I have been working behind the scenes to help ensure that our local soccer programs will have access to fields and opportunities to play at this facility,” Mayor Paul Alfrey said in a Wednesday, Sept. 2, Facebook post.
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“Professional soccer is exciting, and this project has the potential to bring together professional sports, youth athletics, local businesses, dining, entertainment, and community events in one destination right here in Melbourne,” Alfrey said.
Donovan said the 54-acre property had never generated revenue for the airport. Previous plans to develop Lakoona Beach, a resort-style destination anchored by a manmade Crystal Lagoon, at the site generated news headlines from 2022-2024 — but the project failed to materialize.
John Bonner, who co-founded Orlando City SC in 2010, and Adrian Heath, who coached Orlando City SC to two USL championships, lead the Space Coast Pro Soccer executive team.
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Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY, where he has covered news since 2004. Contact Neale at Rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: $9M land sale moves Melbourne pro soccer stadium closer to reality
