Jacksonville's Unexpected Sports Venues
Jacksonville is known for hosting championship football, baseball, golf and fishing events, but the city's sports story goes far beyond the traditional playing field.
Whether you're planning an esports tournament, skateboarding competition, BMX race, sports championship or endurance event, Jacksonville offers a diverse collection of venues that have already proven themselves on the national stage.
For an event planner, where do you go when you have unique requirements for a burgeoning competition? With Jacksonville’s mild climate and easy geographic location, it’s an excellent locale for almost any spectator sport. Here’s a few facilities that warrant some attention in Jacksonville.
The Conference Center at the Hyatt Regency Riverfront is the largest meeting facility in Northeast Florida at over 116,000 square feet. The Conference Center includes 30 meeting rooms, a/v equipment rentals, high-speed Wi-Fi, customized catering and 20,000 square feet of deck space overlooking the St. Johns River.
In 2026, the Predator Group hosted their Pro Billiard Series at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, proving that the Hyatt Regency is able to transform its space for many different groups and their unique needs.
Esports has quickly become one of the fastest-growing segments in sports tourism, and Jacksonville is ready to compete. The University of North Florida's Esports Arena, The Flight Deck, provides a purpose-built environment for collegiate competitions and gaming events with high-performance equipment and dedicated competition space.
Its location on UNF's campus in the Southside neighborhood also gives organizers access to meeting rooms, nearby hotels and a vibrant college atmosphere, making it an ideal venue.
Jacksonville's Downtown riverfront has become one of the city's most versatile outdoor event spaces. Riverfront Plaza provides an open canvas for everything from festivals and concerts to large-scale sporting events.
The venue famously hosted Street League Skateboarding's Super Crown Championship, complete with a custom-built skate course overlooking the St. Johns River. In 2026, IRONMAN Jacksonville used Riverfront Plaza's space to support their endurance event with scenic waterfront courses and spectator-friendly viewing areas.
For ice sports, the Community First Igloo remains one of Jacksonville's premier facilities. Home to the Jacksonville Icemen's practice rink, the complex offers NHL-sized ice sheets for youth and adult hockey tournaments, figure skating competitions, learn-to-skate programs and public skating sessions. With multiple sheets of ice under one roof, the facility has become a year-round destination for ice sports in the Southeast.
Few cities can claim the skateboarding history that Jacksonville offers.
Kona Skatepark, the last privately owned original skatepark in the world, has been a destination for skateboarders since 1977. Legends including Tony Hawk have skated its iconic bowls, snake runs and vert ramps, while generations of athletes continue to compete and train there today. For a more urban competition setting, Artist Walk Skatepark in the Riverside Avondale neighborhood brings modern street-style features to the city's sports landscape, giving event organizers another unique venue in the heart of the city.
Jacksonville BMX gives riders a racing experience like no other and has hosted regional and national competitions. Purpose-built for high-speed racing, the facility attracts athletes of all ages and demonstrates Jacksonville's commitment to supporting emerging and action sports. Combined with the city's skateparks and cycling infrastructure, it's another example of how Jacksonville continues to diversify its sports offerings.
