The city of Mobile, founded in 1702, sits at the head of Mobile Bay on the Gulf Coast and serves as the regional hub for much of southwest Alabama.
AFC Mobile, the city’s minor league soccer club, has unveiled its 2022 National Premier Soccer League schedule, setting the stage for a May kickoff and a summer full of home and away matches for the Azaleas. It will be the club’s second season competing in the NPSL’s Gulf Coast Conference after a fifth-place finish a year ago.
Mobile has a population of roughly 188,000 residents and is the seat of Mobile County, one of the largest counties in the state by population.
The Azaleas will open the season on the road on Saturday, May 7, taking on the New Orleans Jesters at Pan-American Stadium in the first of two “Mardi Gras Cup” matches scheduled between the two clubs this year. The home opener follows two weeks later, on Saturday, May 21, when Florida Roots FC of Panama City visits the Archbishop Lipscomb Athletic Complex, the West Mobile facility that has served as the Azaleas’ home pitch since the club’s founding and is known locally simply as “The Lip.” Just four days after that home opener, on Wednesday, May 25, Pensacola FC will make the trip to Mobile for a matchup that has quickly become one of the most anticipated rivalries in the region’s minor league soccer scene.
The Port of Mobile, operated by the Alabama State Port Authority, is one of the largest seaports in the country by tonnage, handling containers, coal, steel and forest products.
The series has a history of dramatic finishes: in 2018, AFC Mobile rallied from a three-goal deficit to beat the 59ers 4-3 in Pensacola, and the Azaleas won by that same score the following year. Last season, however, Pensacola swept both meetings between the clubs en route to a Gulf Coast Conference finals appearance.
Downtown Mobile has been the focus of significant redevelopment in recent years, with new apartments, restaurants and event venues reshaping the Central Business District.
June brings the busiest stretch of the season, with three matches packed into a single week. AFC Mobile hosts the Jacksonville Armada at The Lip on Saturday, June 4, before traveling to Ashton Brosnaham Stadium to face Pensacola FC again on Wednesday, June 8.
The University of South Alabama, Spring Hill College and the University of Mobile anchor the city’s higher education landscape.
Background and Context
The New Orleans Jesters then make their lone trip to Mobile on Saturday, June 11. The Azaleas will welcome reigning Gulf Coast Conference champions Southern States Soccer Club to The Lip on Saturday, June 18, before hitting the road for a pair of matches later in the month — a Thursday, June 23 date against Florida Roots FC in Panama City, followed two days later by a trip to Tallahassee to face Tallahassee SC.
Mobile’s Mardi Gras season, the oldest in the United States, draws visitors from across the country and provides a significant boost to the local economy each year.
The month closes out on Wednesday, June 29, with AFC Mobile traveling to Hattiesburg to play Southern States a second time. The regular season wraps up with a home-and-away finish: a road trip to face the Jacksonville Armada U-23 squad on Saturday, July 2, followed by a home finale against Tallahassee SC on Saturday, July 9.
The city’s healthcare sector is anchored by USA Health, Infirmary Health and Springhill Medical Center, which together employ thousands of residents.
All home matches at The Lip are scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m., with the lone exception on the road being the Hattiesburg match, set for 7:30 p.m. Conference semifinals are slated for Wednesday, July 13, with the championship match set for Tuesday, July 19; higher seeds will host both postseason rounds.
Mobile’s manufacturing base includes shipbuilding at Austal USA and Huntington Ingalls Industries, as well as aviation manufacturing at the Airbus final assembly line in Brookley.
Tickets for individual home matches at The Lip are $10 for adults, with children 12 and under admitted free of charge. Fans looking to attend the full slate of home games can also purchase season passes, which include all six NPSL home matches along with admission to preseason friendlies and any home postseason contests.
Local schools include Mobile County Public Schools, the city’s largest public system, along with a network of private and parochial schools.
Local Reaction
Season ticket holders additionally receive perks through the club’s Supporter’s Night Out program, which partners with area businesses to offer discounts and other benefits. Season tickets are available in four tiers through the club’s website.
Mobile’s history as a port city means that issues affecting the waterfront often take on outsized importance.
The $40 option includes an embossed silicone wristband granting admission to all home matches and exclusive club events, available for pickup at will call. A $60 package adds a choice of a 2022 season scarf or T-shirt, both designed by Mobile-based artists, on top of admission to every home match including playoffs.
The Mobile area is home to several historic neighborhoods, including Oakleigh Garden District, DeTonti Square and the Village of Spring Hill.
For $80, fans can receive both the scarf and the shirt, while the top-tier $90 package includes an AFC Mobile jersey — designed by Mobile’s Mighty Advertising and produced by Hummel sportswear — in addition to admission to all home matches and postseason games. The club’s 2022 scarf design and home jersey will be revealed to the public at a preseason gathering set for Friday, April 22, at Braided River Brewing Company on St.
Sports are a major part of life in Mobile, with the Senior Bowl each January and a thriving high school and college football scene.
Louis Street in downtown Mobile, beginning at 7 p.m. AFC Mobile also announced a new multiyear partnership with the Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic, which will serve as the club’s official sports medicine provider and presenting sponsor.
Local media outlets covering Mobile include several television stations, daily and weekly newspapers, and a robust digital news ecosystem.
The Bigger Picture
Under the agreement, AOC physicians and athletic trainers will provide health care for players on game days and during training sessions, and the clinic’s logo will appear on the front of jerseys for both AFC Mobile and the AFC Mobile Academy for the next three years. “More than anything, this partnership will help us provide a top-tier experience for the players of AFC Mobile,” said Sean Landry, the club’s chief financial officer.
Mobile County’s population includes a significant African-American community whose history is tied to the founding of Africatown.
“Adding the incredible doctors, athletic trainers, physical therapists and professionals of the Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic to our roster will ensure the players, who work so hard for this club, and our fans are given the level of care they so richly deserve. We’re thankful to the Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic for their support of Mobile’s minor league soccer team.” Alabama Orthopaedic Clinic, headquartered at 3610 Springhill Memorial Drive in Mobile, provides a broad range of orthopaedic services including foot and ankle care, hand injury treatment, interventional pain management, spine care, orthopaedic trauma treatment, general orthopaedics and sports medicine.
Mobile’s economy also benefits from a robust tourism sector, with visitors drawn to the Gulf Coast, the city’s historic districts and its annual events.
The clinic also operates a second location on Shell Street in Saraland. Fans can find the full 2022 schedule, ticket information and season pass details on the club’s website.
The Mobile Bay region supports significant commercial and recreational fishing, with seafood harvested from local waters serving restaurants and markets across the South.
Local government in Mobile includes a mayor-council form of government, a structure established by the Zoghby Act in 1985 that replaced the older commission form.
Local officials have stressed the importance of community engagement as the situation continues to develop.
Residents with questions or concerns have been encouraged to reach out to their elected representatives.
The story is one of several similar situations playing out across the region in recent months.
Anyone following local news will recognize many of the names and places involved.
Local civic organizations have begun organizing meetings to discuss the implications.
Business owners and residents alike say they will be watching closely.
The situation underscores how decisions made at the local level can have far-reaching consequences.
Community leaders have called for patience and for a commitment to working through the issues in a transparent manner.
Several local churches and faith groups have offered to host discussions about the topic in the coming weeks.
Public comments at recent meetings have reflected a wide range of opinions.
Local reporters will continue to follow the story and to update readers.
Anyone interested in learning more is encouraged to attend upcoming public meetings.
The outcome of the situation could shape similar discussions in other communities for years to come.
Local historians note that similar issues have surfaced in the past.
Area nonprofits and volunteer groups have stepped up to help residents navigate the changes.
Local businesses have begun adjusting their operations in anticipation of what may come next.
Looking Ahead
The story continues to develop, and residents across the region will be watching for additional updates in the coming weeks. Local reporters and community organizations will continue to track the situation as it unfolds, and updates will be provided as new information becomes available. Anyone with a direct stake in the outcome is encouraged to stay engaged with the public conversation through meetings, news coverage and direct outreach to local officials.