Sports Venues
From little league to professional championships.
We understand that the venue is everything. The right size. Ideal amenities. Lodging proximity. Affordability. We're here to assist you in finding the winning location.
Choose from venues like the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center or give your event a special twist by hosting it in one of our unique venues, perfect for a cheerleading, gymnastics or wrestling tournament. Feeling one with nature? Try one of our outdoor venues such as Abbey Hanna Park. Or, for an all-around sporting experience, host your group in one of Jacksonville's professional sports facilities, which include EverBank Stadium, VyStar Ballpark or the Jacksonville Equestrian Center, to name a few. Whether you're looking for an intimate setting or space to fit thousands of athletes and spectators, Jacksonville is sure to have the perfect space for you.
Baseball & Softball
From little league to the big leagues, Jacksonville has the fields to let you swing for the fences.
VyStar Ballpark is one of the premiere minor league ballparks in North America. Featuring an old-fashioned design, brick façade and a grass seating berm, the Ballpark reminds fans of the days of yesteryear and preserves all of the wonderful tradition baseball has to offer. The vivid sightlines capture the action up-close while providing fans with comfortable seating and easy access to concessions and restrooms. The Ballpark sits on a little more than 9 acres and includes a 112,000-square-foot field, 12 luxury skyboxes, four skydecks, a large scoreboard and videoboard, a playground, and the “knuckle” – a unique nine-foot high mound for seating at the left field corner. In addition to six concession stands, six portable kiosk locations, three dressing rooms, a media room, weight room and kitchen, the Ballpark also features a place for players to practice indoors.
Drew Park is a four diamond city complex with 5 fields that has hosted numerous men's and women's national and regional tournaments.
Cecil Field is 2,000+ acre site with 2 adult softball fields, 1 youth softball field and 2 lighted youth baseball fields.
Burnett Park boasts several lighted baseball and softball fields.
Ed Austin Park is a 144 acre site that includes 2 youth and 2 adult fields.
Ringhaver Park is a 600 acre site that includes 4 adult lighted softball fields
Palmetto Leaves Regional Park is a 400 acre site with 4 lighted softball fields.
HIGHLIGHTS
- VyStar Ballpark has nearly 6,000 stadium-style chairs and can accommodate more than 11,000 fans.
- The ACC Baseball Tournament is hosted annually at VyStar Ballpark.
- Professional baseball has been played in Jacksonville since 1904, and continuously since 1946, dating back to the Tars of the South Atlantic League.
Basketball
The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena is an up to 15,000 seat multi-purpose arena in Jacksonville, Florida. Built in 2003, the Arena is home to the Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame, and has hosted events such as the 2006, 2010, 2015, 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Several area colleges offers facilities with ample parking, seating, locker rooms, concession areas and much more. The University of North Florida (UNF) is the largest university in the region with many modern facilities for tournament and exhibition use. Others have unique, world-class facilities including Edward Waters University (EWU), a Historically Black College; Jacksonville University (JU), a private college on the St. Johns River with a NCAA Division 1 program; and the five campuses of the Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ), each with its own specialties and attributes. Combined, these facilities have been used to host intercollegiate football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, crew and sailing, tennis, wrestling and track and field.
Football
Home of the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars, EverBank Stadium is adjacent to the St. Johns River in the heart of downtown Jacksonville. The stadium is the result of a $135 million renovation project; this 76,000 seat facility also hosts the annual NCAA University of Florida vs. University of Georgia and TaxSlayer Gator Bowl football games.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Super Bowl XXXIX was held at EverBank Stadium in 2005 (then Alltel Stadium)
- The Taxslayer.com Gator Bowl, the annual battle between the SEC and Big 10 is held at EverBank Stadium
- In 2010, arena football returned to Northeast Florida with the Jacksonville Sharks, playing at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena
Golf
Jacksonville and its surrounding areas boast world-class golf courses for every level of play in beautiful ocean-side and riverfront settings. Courses throughout the area were designed by the likes of Tom Fazio, Pete Dye, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Mark McCumber. With more than 70 public and private golf courses, North Florida also offers glorious golfing weather and 320 annual days of sunshine. It's easier to golf here!
Visit Florida's First Coast of Golf for exclusive offers on area courses and view their Annual Golf Visitor Guide!
Soccer
Patton Park is a 120-acre public park in conjunction with First Coast Soccer Association, Inc. The park consists of twelve year round soccer fields, a football field, enclosed concessions, restroom facilities and paved parking.
The Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena is an up to 15,000 seat multi-purpose arena. Built in 2003, the Arena is home to the Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame, and has hosted events such as 2006 & 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Ringhaver Park offers 6 lighted soccer fields and is a longtime popular destination for soccer fans. Ringhaver Park is one of JaxParks premiere locations for team sports. In addition to its soccer fields, the park also offers visitors colorful play areas and picnic facilities.
The Bob Hayes Sports Complex includes several youth soccer fields, a football field, a pavilion/concession building, restrooms, playground and picnic equipment, bleachers, sidewalks, an asphalt trail and parking. The Legends Center was added in 2012, which includes an indoor gymnasium, computer lab, auditorium/community room, restrooms/locker rooms, fitness center, elevated walking track, fully equipped kitchen.
HIGHLIGHTS
- EverBank Stadium has hosted several Team USA soccer matches, including USA vs. Israel and USA vs. Germany
- The TAAC Soccer Championship has been hosted at EverBank Stadium
The Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena hosts an array of events such as concerts, family shows and sporting events. With 16,250 square feet of arena floor and 15,000 seats, the arena is versatile enough to accommodate meetings, competitions and tradeshows. It also includes reception and banquet areas for up to 800.
Since opening in 2004, the Equestrian Center has quickly become one of the country's most premiere equestrian facilities in the country. From rodeos and horse shows to automobile derbies and monster-truck shows, this multi-purpose facility is home to a calendar full of exciting events. The sprawling 2,000-acre complex offers fun throughout the year.
The Sports Complex
The Sports Complex is the home to three of the professional sports venues in Jacksonville. It's made up of EverBank Stadium (ideal for football, soccer, large scale events), VyStar Ballpark (suited for baseball/softball) and the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena (ideal for hockey, basketball and arena football). Above and beyond the state of the art facilities, there is plenty of surrounding parking lot surface space which can be used for all types of events.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Over 19,000 guest rooms are located throughout the Downtown, beaches and suburban areas.
- Area resorts offer an additional 11,000 rooms to visitors.
- All facilities share the area's sun-drenched tropical climate and boast inviting Southern hospitality.
Track & Field
Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida boasts an arena with 12,000 seats, press box, track and field lighting and a 9-lane Olympic quality track with Mondotrack SX surface. The track has full markings for all NCAA and IAAF events, including the ability to run directional events in either direction on either straight. All field events may be held in the stadium, including 4 horizontal jump pits, 8 pole vault locations, and multiple areas for each throwing event. The facility also includes a full 400m, 3 lane warm-up track and brand new IAAF certified equipment provided by UCS.
Hodges Stadium has been host to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field East Preliminary in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
Hodges Stadium joined an exclusive club when it became one of 7 facilities in the U.S. to receive IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) certification in December of 2008, allowing it to host all NCAA and IAAF events within its grounds. It is currently certified as a Class II facility though it is built to Class I standards.
The facility additionally includes classrooms, offices, and the Browning Athletic Training and Education Center.
Universities
Jacksonville is not usually described as a college town, but with five acclaimed schools in the area, it should be. Each college offers facilities with ample parking, seating, locker rooms, concession areas and much more.
The University of North Florida (UNF) is the largest university in the region with many modern facilities for tournament and exhibition use. In January 2008, the International Rugby League used UNF's Hodges Stadium to host the first match up on U.S. soil between Leeds Rhinos of the United Kingdom and Australia's South Sydney Rabbitohs. The university is also home to a state-of-the-art arena, boasting parking for 3,000 and a convenient location in the heart of Jacksonville's Southside region. Other facilities include the Aquatic Center, the UNF Tennis Complex, a fast pitch softball stadium, a competition-sized soccer field, a multi-purpose recreation field, a golf management and learning center along with the UNF Track/Soccer Stadium, which boasts a 9-lane Olympic quality track.
Other Jacksonville colleges and universities have unique, world-class facilities including Edward Waters University (EWU), a Historically Black College; Jacksonville University, a private college on the St. Johns River with a NCAA Division 1 program; and the five campuses of the Florida State College at Jacksonville, each with its own specialties and attributes. Combined, these facilities have been used to host intercollegiate football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, crew and sailing, tennis, wrestling and track and field.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The University of North Florida features an aquatic center, tennis complex, and competition sized soccer field.
- There are 5 acclaimed colleges & universities in the Jacksonville region.
- Hodges Stadium routinely hosts intercollegiate events and championships.
Alternative Venues
Jacksonville Fairgrounds - In the heart of Jacksonville's downtown sports complex is a versatile gathering place with over 12 acres of landscaped grounds, 50,000 square feet of exhibition hall space and a 44,000 square-foot Agricultural Complex.
Kona Skate Park - Built in the late 70’s, skaters from across the nation made the trek to the sprawling concrete mecca and helped shaped skateboarding to the way it is today. Since 1977 Kona Skatepark has been one of the most iconic skateboarding parks in the world.
WW Ranch Motocross Park - Florida's top motocross park and in process to become a national-caliber motocross facility. Host of Round 5 2019 Pro Motocross Championship, the 2017 MXGP USA, home of the FASTEST IN FLORIDA: State Championship/Pro Am and regular host of Spartan Race, the industry leader in obstacle course racing.
Seawalk Pavilion - An outdoor oceanfront plaza in Jacksonville Beach that is available for reservation for special events, festivals, and other public gatherings. Home to Super Girl Surf Pro, the world's largest women's annual surf event.