The professional sports world is no stranger to expansion. This is certainly true of the United Soccer League, whose history is packed with rapid growth and development. JAXUSL will have a unique opportunity to be a part of the next chapter in the USL’s exciting story.

The USL was founded just 12 years ago in September of 2010, making it one of the youngest professional sports leagues in the United States.

The initial USL Championship campaign saw two divisions of six clubs compete. Some of those included the likes of modern-day USL mainstays Charleston Battery and the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Since then, the USL Championship has doubled in size. Now boasting 24 clubs, the league stretches all the way from Miami to Sacramento. Many of these are located in markets that aren’t typically hotbeds for professional sports, giving cities like Colorado Springs and Tulsa a chance to root on a pro team of their own.

As to be expected, the USL isn’t done just yet with expansion. Along with JAXUSL, expansion clubs are also on the way in Iowa, Milwaukee and Rhode Island. North Florida’s new club will not be on its own, but will accompany these other newcomers as the USL powers ahead into the future of American soccer.

With a few exceptions, professional soccer has had a hard time catching on in the United States. The sport has historically lacked stability at the pro level in the US, which makes the rapid growth of the USL ever more impressive.

While the soon-to-come women’s USL Super League hasn’t taken the pitch yet, the league and JAXUSL’s team further exemplifies the rich history of the United Soccer League. Serving as a new form of professional women’s soccer, this is yet another example of expansion and the importance that the USL places on soccer for all.

As the USL continues to grow, both on and off the pitch, it’s hard to ignore the excitement that this inherently brings about. Thankfully for Jacksonville locals, they too can soon indulge and be a part of the fascinating tale that is the USL.