UNF Arena Adding Hospitality Suite and Premium Balcony Seating Enhancements
10/20/2021 11:30:00 AM | General, Osprey Boosters
JACKSONVILLE – North Florida Athletics announced some exciting enhancements coming to UNF Arena highlighted by the creation of a hospitality suite, bar and lounge and premium balcony seating on the west end of the facility.
The Bank of England Hospitality Suite will provide UNF Athletic donors a semi-private area within the arena with a focus on creating a premier game-day experience. The suite would also be available for other University events along with providing rental revenue opportunities for additional external and corporate gatherings. Additionally, the suite will be available to all 19 Osprey programs for use during recruiting.
“The Bank of England Hospitality Suite will provide a game-changing experience for our fans which will translate to an incredible game-day experience for our student-athletes," said UNF Athletic Director Nick Morrow. "The Arena atmosphere will forever be changed with the completion of this project.”
The hospitality space will serve a vital role for the entire athletic department on non-event days as well with the capability of dividing the area into two separate rooms. One room would serve as a conference room for use by teams and administration for meetings. The other room would become a film/video room allowing coaches and teams important evaluation and opponent scouting opportunities.
“The newest Arena enhancement will positively serve all 19 UNF Athletics teams," Morrow added. "The area will provide meeting spaces and will create a recruiting room equipped with the best audio-visual technology. I expect the Hospitality Suite to be a great recruiting tool for on-campus visits.”
The Brix Taphouse Bar will be the centerpiece to the suite providing a casual and relaxed atmosphere for donors before, during and after the game.
The John & Gerri Hayt Osprey Outlook is the balcony area extending off the front of the hospitality suite and above the west baseline providing a unique view for its 72 premium chair back seats.
In conjunction with the hospitality suite, a new arena sound system will be installed as another enhancement to continue growing the overall fan experience. The latest enhancements will be coupled with the recent installation of new seatback bleachers along the sidelines and new LED lighting.
In addition to the naming right partners, the Arena enhancements are being made possible by generous contributions from Travis and Deidra Shore, Chris and Heather Patterson, Chuck and Jennifer Ged, John Gol, Robert and Tammie Talley, Scott and Jennings Clingan, Mark and Micah Cagnassola, Dwight and Christine Cooper, Mark and Becky Walden, Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q and Two Titmice Foundation.
“I am so thankful to Bank of England, John Hayt, Brix Taphouse and the many donors who are committed to making this project become a reality. With the support of the community, the opportunities for UNF Athletics are limitless," Morrow concluded.
Final fundraising for the project is expected to be complete by the end of the calendar year. Anyone interested in donating towards Arena enhancements can contact Josh Baker (josh.baker@unf.edu) or Nick Morrow (nick.morrow@unf.edu)
WORDS FROM OUR SPONSORS…
“Bank of England Mortgage is excited to further our partnership with UNF Athletics through establishing a first-class hospitality center where coaches, student athletes, administration and donors can congregate and continue to grow this amazing university.”QUINTON HARRIS, Vice President of Northeast Florida, Bank of England Mortgage
Brix Taphouse is very proud to partner with UNF. The new hospitality area is going to be amazing and we are excited to be part of it."BRIX TAPHOUSE
“We are extremely excited about this much needed and outstanding addition to UNF Arena.”JOHN HAYT, UNF Athletic Hall of Fame member and longtime Osprey supporter
