City of Jacksonville working to become top sports destination

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The city of Jacksonville is working to become a premier destination for sports.

It’s all thanks to a new $350,000 boost to the Duval County Tourist Development Council.

The group Visit Jacksonville said it is using the funds to help bring more amateur and professional sports to Jacksonville.

That gives fans like Zach Rowser something to look forward to.

“Anything that’s helping the city, anything that’s helping build up the city, it’s always great to me,” Rowser said.

Visit Jacksonville told Action News Jax that sports tourism is one of the fastest growing industries.

They want to be a part of it by bringing more tournaments, conventions and conferences to the area.

“NCAA Basketball tournament, for example, is probably the most recognizable to the citizens in what we’ve done in the past. We’re looking at massive events that are extremely large and on the national stage, but as well as events that don’t make the media or anything,” Visit Jacksonville President & CEO Michael Corrigan said.

The funding will expand Visit Jacksonville’s efforts to pursue bids and offer incentives to bring sports to our area.

With nice weather year-round, future hotels planned and major sports complexes like TIAA Bank Field, Visit Jacksonville said downtown is an ideal location for sports tourism.

Action News Jax told you about the possibility of a new soccer field in downtown for the Jacksonville Armada FC. Sky Action News Jax flew above the piece of land just north of the fairgrounds. City council approved the move late last night.

Details are still being worked out, but fans are looking forward to seeing more sports options in the future.

“I watch the UNF games. I used to play soccer in high school, so I know the sport really well and I like being able to watch it. So if I were able to go downtown and watch a big team, I might as well,” Sydnie Steele said.

Visit Jacksonville said more sports will also benefit restaurants and bars by bringing more people to downtown.

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