JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 18, 2017 – The JAXSPORTS Council in conjunction with Jacksonville University (JU) and the University of North Florida (UNF) announced that the 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, rounds one and two and the 2019 and 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Outdoor Championships were awarded to Jacksonville today.

The 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, rounds one and two, will be played at the Jacksonville Veteran’s Memorial Arena on March 21 & 23, 2019. This is the fourth time that Jacksonville has been selected as a host site. Jacksonville University will serve as the host institution, as it did in 2006, 2010 and 2015. Past events have generated an estimated economic impact of $5-7 million each in 2006, 2010 and 2015.

University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium will serve as host to the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Outdoor Championships on May 23-25, 2019 and May 27-29, 2021. Since Hodges Stadium was opened in 2004, it has served as host to many large NCAA and USATF sporting events, including the 2012, 2015 and 2016 NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Regional, the 2016 USA Track and Field Master’s and Junior Olympics. Previous NCAA track and field championships have generated on average a $9-11 million economic impact.

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.

“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.”

“It is an honor and privilege for Jacksonville University to again serve as host institution for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. We are committed to helping Jacksonville take its rightful place nationally as a rising sports and entertainment hub, and JU’s talent and dedication can always be counted on in service to that cause,” said President Tim Cost, who currently serves as a member of the NCAA Board of Directors.

“Having the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament back in Jacksonville is a huge benefit to our university, our great city and the sport,” echoed Athletic Director Alex Ricker-Gilbert, a recent appointee to the NCAA Division I Council. “We have a rich basketball tradition, and are excited to include our university’s presence in one of the biggest and most thrilling sporting events in the country. I am extremely pleased that Jacksonville University will again serve as cohosts with the JAXSPORTS Council, and I commend Rick Catlett and Alan Verlander for their hard work in making this happen.”

“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.”

“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.”

“JAXSPORTS continually recruits 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 first-class facilities and a team of professionals that is the best in the business elevates Jacksonville to the top of the list. We are excited to welcome the NCAA back to Jacksonville.”

For more information on either the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament or the 2019 and 2021 Division I NCAA Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships, please visit www.jaxsports.com.

About JAXSPORTS Council
JAXSPORTS is a membership-based organization that was established to showcase Northeast Florida as a sports destination for professional, amateur and youth sports. JAXSPORTS is a member of the National Association of Sports Commissions and the Florida Sports Foundation. For up-to-date information on and access to local sporting events, the public is encouraged to become a member of JAXSPORTS. More information is available at jaxsports.com.

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Media Contact:

Cheri O’Neill
cheri@jaxsports.com
(904) 798-5982