Gainesville

Gainesville, FL

HOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND ELITE SPORTS VENUES WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF MUSEUMS AND STATE PARKS, THERE’S ALWAYS SOMETHING TO DO IN ALACHUA COUNTY

Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center

Scan to discover more of what Gainesville Sports Commission offers sports planners at SportsPlanningGuide.com

PLANNER PERSPECTIVE

“It is our mission to continue to build leaders through teamwork, sportsmanship and citizenship, and there is no doubt in our mind that our partnership with the GSC gives us the ability to follow through with that objective. One of our biggest goals is to find quality venues for our state championship events. We believe that when our student-athletes enter the venues the GSC has to offer, including the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, they immediately think they are on the world’s biggest stage.”

— Kellie Doucette, Director of Athletics, Florida High School Athletic Association

Legacy Park

Champions Park

Gainesville is accessible via a number of local roads, though Interstate 75 at its western edge connects motorists on the road from Atlanta to Tampa. If you’re flying, Gaineville is serviced through Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV), which offers flight through American Eagle, Delta and Delta Connection.

FACILITY SPOTLIGHT

Legacy Park

Baseball, basketball, football, gymnastics, karate, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, softball, volleyball

Legacy Park is a major hub for sports tournaments, including the USA Gymnastics Men’s Florida State Championship, USA Gymnastics Men’s Southeast Regionals and the Sunshine State Basketball Championship. The 100-acre facility was awarded the Florida Sports Foundation Mid-Market Venue of the Year Award in 2019. The outdoor part of the complex is joined with the Hal Brady Recreational Sports Complex. Teams will have access to fie baseball and softball field equipped with lighting and six other multisport fields plus a band new amphitheater. The Championship softball field ffers an air-conditioned press box and seating for up to 2,500 spectators. Planners can also host competitions indoors, where they will fin 40,000 square feet of space, 30,000 of which is open wooden floor spae.

Stephen C. O’Connell Center

Multipurpose

Host sports competitions of all levels at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. This popular venue is home to University of Florida sports as well as the USA Synchronized Swimming Collegiate Championship, the USA Weightlifting National University & Under 25 Championships, and the Florida High School Athletic Association Competitive Cheerleading State Championship. This 292,000-square-foot facility houses a variety of sports arenas, including a main court that seats a maximum of 12,000 guests. Athletes will also find 20,000 square eet of open space and an eight-lane indoor pool.

Alachua County Event Center at Celebration Pointe

Basketball, volleyball, pickleball, baseball, cheerleading, track

This 210,000-square-foot indoor facility will consist of an indoor banked track, 13 basketball courts, 24 volleyball courts, 21 pickleball courts, six basketball cross courts, six MLB batting cages, competition cheer studio, PT and recover room, speed, weight and a conditioning room. Its estimated date of completion is December 2022.

Easton-Newberry Sports Complex

Multipurpose, archery

The Easton-Newberry Sports Complex is comprised of 100 acres of multi-recreation use and archery-specific propert. The archery program focuses on training archers and coaches and provides a world-class venue to host archery events of all sizes and styles.

GAINESVILLE SPORTS COMMISSION

Joleen Cacciatore Miller Executive Director 352-338-9300 jcacciatore@gainesvillesportscommission.com www.gainesvillesportscommission.com

POPULAR ACTIVITIES

Explore more than 30 miles of single-track mountain bike trails through Florida hammock woodland at San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park.

Hang loose with more than 200 bats on the premises of the Lubee Bat Conservancy.

The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention is an immersive and interactive museum named after Dr. Robert Cade, the lead inventor of Gatorade.

Tubing down one of Gainesville’s freshwater springs and rivers is a popular activity that all can enjoy.

Tour the University of Florida and the Gateway of Champions at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.