Sports Travel Guide

TEAMS TO WATCH IN JAX:

Jacksonville Jaguars: It was always the Jags. If football is your thing, then you can’t miss a Sunday in Duval when the Jaguars are playing at home from August through December. The Jacksonville Jaguars experience is unlike any other in the NFL. Follow your team to Jax or come and become a Jags fan for the day, sample our local foods, drink our local beer and join in on the local cheers (DUUUUVAAAALLL).

Jacksonville Icemen: Grab your hockey jersey and watch Jax get icy. The Jacksonville Icemen started playing in 2017 as part of the ECHL, a development league for the National Hockey League, and are an affiliate of the New York Rangers. The team plays a 36-game regular season home schedule at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena starting in October and ending in April. Icemen games are an entertaining, family-friendly experience. Every seat in the arena is a good one and the team puts on various theme nights including Marvel Superhero Night, Star Wars Night and more.

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp: Ready for Jax to take you out to the ball game? The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp is the perfect team to do it! Bring the whole family to see the Jumbo Shrimp, AAA affiliate of the Miami Marlins play at 121 Financial Ball Park in Jacksonville from April through September. There's firework displays every Friday night and fun promotions like Swedish Furniture Night, with Swedish-furniture building competitions , I Want You, To Want Me, where fans with outstanding warrants can attend a game for free and Purr In The Park Cat Day, in which fans can bring their cat to the game for free with a paying human companion, throughout the season.

Jacksonville Sharks: Are you missing football during the Jacksonville Jaguars off season? You don’t have to miss it if you check out the Jacksonville Sharks arena football team! Attending a game is an #onlyinjax experience. Jacksonville Sharks' games are fast-paced and packed with entertainment. The Shark’s season begins in April and lasts through July. Join the crowd and feel the energy at one of their games at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.

Jacksonville Armada: Jacksonville Armada: Looking for a great soccer experience in the Jacksonville area? Look no further than Armada! Armada FC games provide a great time for both children and adults, and allow different cultures come together to provide an experience impossible to find anywhere else. The local soccer team plays at the Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida and their season beings in late April and lasts throughout July.

Jacksonville Axemen: Jacksonville has its very own rugby team, the Axemen. The Axemen offer an awesome day experience, drawing about 2,500 fans per home game. Their games are full of excitement, with $1 beer, prizes giveaways, and the always entertaining Axe-Maiden Cheerleaders. To watch them play head to Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida, on the Southside of town between June and July.

EVENTS TO WATCH

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Did you know the sixth oldest college bowl, and the first one to ever be televised nationally, takes place in Jacksonville? The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl was first played in 1946 and continues each year at EverBank Stadium with a SEC and ACC team going head-to-head. The annual game takes place around New Year’s Eve, with it being a different date each year.

THE PLAYERS Championship: THE PLAYERS Stadium Course sports one of the most recognizable and challenging holes on the PGA TOUR, the intimidating par-3, 17th hole featuring an island green. THE PLAYERS Stadium Course was not only built to challenge pros but also create a one-of-a-kind experience for spectators. THE PLAYERS Championship occurs every year in March, and fans can expect a fun week full of golf, local food and vendors, exciting experiences and more.

Florida vs. Georgia Weekend: The iconic University of Florida vs. University of Georgia college football rivalry game has been taking place in Jacksonville since 1933, bringing together two passionate fan bases and thousands of college football lovers to Jacksonville. In addition to the game, the weekend features the Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the fall baseball game between the two universities and of course, tailgating in RV City. This iconic game takes place every year at the end of October.

Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament: The annual event is a long-standing tradition in the Jacksonville area, attracting professional and amateur anglers. Every July, more than 300 boats fish the weeklong event for thousands of dollars in prizes. It is one of the largest kingfish tournaments in the Southeast and includes a Junior Angler Tournament.

Super Girl Surf Pro: The world’s top professional female surfers visit Jacksonville for the Super Girl Surf Pro, a 3-day event, each November. The event weekend is jam-packed with world-class surfing competition, and a festival village loaded with female-inspired vendors, activities, classes, speakers and amazing live entertainment. The event takes place in the fall and is free to attend.

DONNA Marathon: Did you know the 26.2 with DONNA The National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer is the only U.S. marathon dedicated solely to raising funds to finish breast cancer? DONNA Marathon Weekend is an official event of The DONNA Foundation, a private non-profit organization in Northeast Florida, providing financial assistance and support nationwide to those living with breast cancer. Marathon weekend includes a 5K, DONNA Dash, Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultramarathon and more. The event occurs every February and brings in thousands of runners from all 50 states and many countries to Jacksonville and The Beaches.

Gate River Run: The Gate River Run is the largest 15k in the nation with more than 20,000 participants making their way to Jax every March to experience first-hand the fun of the race. The racecourse starts and ends at the Sports Complex, taking participants through the historic streets of Downtown Jacksonville and the San Marco neighborhood and across the city’s most popular bridges. With many race traditions like finishing on the “Green Monster” bridge and pre, during and post-race celebrations, The Gate River Run is an experience unlike any other.

WHERE TO EAT

Downtown is the heart of Jacksonville and features of 90 restaurants, all in close proximity to the Sports Complex. From food trucks and upscale eateries to cozy bistros and rooftop dining, there is something for everyone to enjoy before the game.

Downtown dining:

• Bellwether: Polished eatery with minimalist décor serving thoughtfully sourced, farm-to-table American fare.
• Indochine: Buzzy upstairs eatery serves Asian dishes spiced-to-order in loftlike digs lined with Eastern art.
• Cowford Chophouse: Stylish, modern restaurant in a 1902 bank building offering high-end steakhouse fare & a roof bar.
• Morton's The Steakhouse: Upscale chain for aged prime beef, seafood & other traditional steakhouse fare in a clubby space.
• Bread & Board: Airy, modern joint with outdoor seating offering unique sandwiches, charcuterie boards, beer & wine.
• Estrella Cocina: Estrella Cocina is a Baja Mexican Cuisine restaurant, bar, and lounge offering an eclectic dining and nightlife experience.

Other dining options:

• Taco Lu: Tacos and tequila fire up crowds at this high-energy Mexican outfit adorned with murals and quirky art.
• Strings Sports Brewery: Originally built in 1938 as a service station, the 7,500-square-feet venue features two dining areas, a bar and a brewery built behind glass windows. The menu includes sandwiches, salads, small plates and smoked wings and rotating specials.
• Hoptinger Bier Garden & Sausage House: Beer garden with 62 revolving craft beers on tap, Bavarian inspired pub food and a full liquor bar.
• Angie’s Subs: Laid-back counter-serve lunch spot selling Peruvian-style sub sandwiches.
• Slider’s Oyster Bar: Bustling seafood establishment offering counter-serve catches in a no-frills setting.
• Dockside Seafood: Grilled shrimp, conch fritters & more offered in a relaxed spot with water views & outdoor seating.
• North Beach Fish Camp: Airy, modern spot with lively bar for creative & traditional seafood dishes, plus take-out counter.
• Biscottis: A convivial bistro serving small plates, sandwiches, salads & brunch in a historic, brick-lined space.
• Restaurant Orsay: Seasonal French food & creative cocktails meet in this dining room with plush seats & exposed beams.
• Taqueria Cinco Five Points: Mexican street food in a laid-back neighborhood haunt with eclectic decor & a cheery backyard patio.
• The Bearded Pig: Casual restaurant offering traditional BBQ options and tap brews,
• Palms Fish Camp: Easygoing hangout for local seafood, cocktails & beer in cheery digs with a waterfront deck.
• Prati Italia: Industrial-chic scene with a glam vibe plating carefully sourced Italian fare & stylish drinks.
• Brix Taphouse: Relaxed bar with a craft beer emphasis plus drink specials, live-music events & line dancing nights.

THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU AREN'T AT A GAME

• Spend some time golfing in Jacksonville.
• Tailgate before your game while enjoying local food, craft beer and spirits at Intuition Ale Works and Manifest Distilling.
• Get your passport stamped on the Jax Ale Trail.
• Visit the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
• Reach new heights at iFly.
• Get your swing on at TopGolf.
• Go fishing on the Jacksonville Beach Pier.
• Shop at St. Johns Town Center and Beaches Town Center.
• Go on a kayaking tour.
• Visit world class museums.
• Experience Jacksonville’s parks and nature preserves on a bike.
• Take surfing lessons.
• Watch games and ice skate at the Community First Igloo.
• Head to K1 Speed for high-speed go karts, axe throwing and more.
• You can also "Experience the Social Throwdown" with axe throwing in Jacksonville's oldest neighborhood at Stumpy's Hatchet House.

We hope you enjoy your visit to Jacksonville and experience exactly why Jax has game. Whether your favorite team is playing here or if your favorite athlete is competing, you’ll find plenty of destination sports options in Jax.

Check out our events calendar for all sporting events in our area.