UNF Tabbed to Host NCAA Men's Basketball and Track & Field Championship Events

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., – The University of North Florida, in partnership with the City of Jacksonville, the JAXSPORTS Council and Jacksonville University, will host the first and second rounds of the 2019 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship and the 2019 and 2021 NCAA Division I Track and Field Outdoor Championship East Preliminary as awarded by the NCAA today.

"We are thrilled to welcome NCAA Championship events back to Jacksonville," said Mayor Lenny Curry. Our community continues to demonstrate that we are a premiere destination for many of the biggest and brightest sporting events. This is another great opportunity to support and celebrate student-athletes who are competing at the highest level."

The first and second rounds of the 2019 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship will be played at Jacksonville Veteran's Memorial Arena on March 21 and 23. This is the fourth time that Jacksonville has been selected as a host site, having hosted previously in 2006, 2010 and 2015. Those past championships generated an estimated economic impact of $5-7 million each.

"The University of North Florida is proud to be selected as a host school for the NCAA Championships in Northeast Florida," said UNF President John Delaney. "I'm confident that our city and University, with its first-class facilities, will shine in the national spotlight."

Hodges Stadium will serve as host to both the 2019 and 2021 NCAA Division I Track and Field Outdoor Championship East Preliminaries on May 23-25, 2019 and May 27-29, 2021. Since opening in 2004, Hodges Stadium has served as host to many large NCAA and USA Track & Field events, including the 2012, 2015 and 2016 NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Regional, the 2016 USATF Master's and Junior Olympics. Previous NCAA track and field championships have generated on average a $9-11 million economic impact.

"We are excited to continue our partnership with the City of Jacksonville and JAXSPORTS in bringing the NCAA Championships to Jacksonville," said UNF director of athletics Lee Moon. "Being selected to host is a great honor and is a great opportunity for the city and the University of North Florida to shine on the national stage. We have world class venues at the Veterans Memorial Arena and Hodges Stadium that have proven to provide an exceptional experience for the student-athletes, coaches and fans of all the schools, and we look forward to showcasing everything that Jacksonville has to offer."

The JAXSPORTS Council continues to drive economic impact and jobs for Jacksonville through recruitment of sporting events and great partnerships within our community. In 2016 alone, sports represented over $250 million of economic impact to Northeast Florida.

"JAXSPORTS is able to continually recruit large-scale sporting events to our community because of the great partnerships with the City of Jacksonville, SMG, JU and UNF," said Charlie Tomm, chairman of the JAXSPORTS Council. "The ability to provide top-notch facilities and a team of professionals that is the best in the business continues to elevate Jacksonville to the top of the list."

###

Related News

UNF Tabbed to Host NCAA Men's Basketball and Track & Field Championship Events

Related Videos

Footer