UNF Athletics Announces Unprecedented Economic and Visibility Impact from Home Track Events
8/23/2023 4:49:00 PM | General, Men's Track, Women's Track
Over 16,000 Participants Competed on the Visit Jax Track in Spring, Summer 2023
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - UNF Athletics and the Jacksonville community's continued investment into hosting high quality and large-scale track and field events shone through in the spring and summer of 2023. Through 10 high school, middle school, collegiate and AAU events, the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium hosted over 16,000 competitors, with thousands coming from well over a 150-mile radius and many more from out of state during the NCAA East First Round Championships in May.
"What we accomplished this year was unprecedented and only an example of what we are capable of doing here at UNF in regards to track and field," Deputy AD Ervin Lewis said. "This was a combination of years of collaboration and hard work to bring championship events to Jacksonville. We're looking forward to what the future will bring to the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium."
First and Notables
The FHSAA Track and Field Championships brought in 1,572 overnight attendees and 470 day attendees between May 17-20, with over $1,200,000 in business sales being generated from the four day event.
NCAA Impact Numbers
Over 200 schools from the NCAA Division I eastern region competed at the NCAA Championships between May 24-27, with teams coming from the SEC, ACC, A10, Ivy League, Big Ten and more.
A total of 11,910 room nights with an economic impact of $9,611,349 was accrued with over 7,000 attendees.
The past 12 years of hosting track and field events at Hodges Stadium have helped generate upwards of 180,000 room nights and $145 million for the City of Jacksonville.
Events in the Spring and Summer of 2023
March 4 – River City Relays – 847 participants (high school)
March 16-17 River City Classic – 613 participants (college)
March 17 Bob Hayes Middle School Clinic – 547 participants (middle school)
March 18 – Bob Hayes Invitational – 2,347 participants (high school)
April 28-29 - East Coast Relays – 1,130 participants (college)
May 3-6 – FHSAA Regional – 3,400 total with 1,465 participants being outside of the 150-mile radius
May 11-13 - ASUN Conference Outdoor Championship - 377 participants (college)
May 17-20 – FHSAA State Championship - 3,400 participants
May 24-27 - NCAA East Championship – 2, 700 participants
June 22-25 – AAU Regional – 760 participants
Upgrades at the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium
UNF Athletics has continued to make investments into upgrading the student-athlete and fan experience at the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium. In the Spring of 2023 alone, over $1,600,000 worth of upgrades were completed at the facility.
Upgrades
"The partnership between the University of North Florida and the City of Jacksonville has fulfilled a vision of creating Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium as THE destination for track & field events at all levels," Director of Athletics Nick Morrow said. "The record-breaking numbers are just the start of the impact we will have on the Jacksonville community for many years to come."
Future Track Meets already committed
"What we accomplished this year was unprecedented and only an example of what we are capable of doing here at UNF in regards to track and field," Deputy AD Ervin Lewis said. "This was a combination of years of collaboration and hard work to bring championship events to Jacksonville. We're looking forward to what the future will bring to the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium."
First and Notables
- 10 events, nine being multi-day events, between March and June
- 16,121 participants
- Hosted the Bob Hayes Invitational for the first time
- 3,400 competitors came to the Visit Jax Track for the FHSAA State Championships
- UNF produced the ESPN+ broadcasts for all four days of the NCAA First Round for the first time
- 128,640 viewers tuned in to watch the NCAA First Round, with over 4,500,000 minutes being consumed
- Estimated 20,000 room nights and $16 million dollars generated in 2023 revenue generated from events at the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium
The FHSAA Track and Field Championships brought in 1,572 overnight attendees and 470 day attendees between May 17-20, with over $1,200,000 in business sales being generated from the four day event.
NCAA Impact Numbers
Over 200 schools from the NCAA Division I eastern region competed at the NCAA Championships between May 24-27, with teams coming from the SEC, ACC, A10, Ivy League, Big Ten and more.
A total of 11,910 room nights with an economic impact of $9,611,349 was accrued with over 7,000 attendees.
The past 12 years of hosting track and field events at Hodges Stadium have helped generate upwards of 180,000 room nights and $145 million for the City of Jacksonville.
Events in the Spring and Summer of 2023
March 4 – River City Relays – 847 participants (high school)
March 16-17 River City Classic – 613 participants (college)
March 17 Bob Hayes Middle School Clinic – 547 participants (middle school)
March 18 – Bob Hayes Invitational – 2,347 participants (high school)
April 28-29 - East Coast Relays – 1,130 participants (college)
May 3-6 – FHSAA Regional – 3,400 total with 1,465 participants being outside of the 150-mile radius
May 11-13 - ASUN Conference Outdoor Championship - 377 participants (college)
May 17-20 – FHSAA State Championship - 3,400 participants
May 24-27 - NCAA East Championship – 2, 700 participants
June 22-25 – AAU Regional – 760 participants
Upgrades at the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium
UNF Athletics has continued to make investments into upgrading the student-athlete and fan experience at the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium. In the Spring of 2023 alone, over $1,600,000 worth of upgrades were completed at the facility.
Upgrades
- Nevco video board to display sponsors, live results and live video
- Upgraded sound system
- Updated throws cage
- New LED lighting system that meets NCAA national broadcast standards
"The partnership between the University of North Florida and the City of Jacksonville has fulfilled a vision of creating Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium as THE destination for track & field events at all levels," Director of Athletics Nick Morrow said. "The record-breaking numbers are just the start of the impact we will have on the Jacksonville community for many years to come."
Future Track Meets already committed
- FHSAA State Track & Field Championships (2024-25)
- ASUN Conference Championships (2024-26)
- NCAA Track and Field East First Round Championships (2025)
- Multiple NCAA home meets
- Multiple future external events
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