Hodges Stadium
Encyclopedia
Hodges Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium
at the University of North Florida
(UNF), and the home field for the North Florida Ospreys
soccer, track and field
, and cross country
teams. It is located on the university's campus in Jacksonville, Florida
, U.S. It is named for George and Kernan Hodges, who donated $2 million to upgrade the facility in 2006.
The stadium opened in 2004 and underwent renovations in 2006 and 2008 that installed additional seating, a press box
, and a 9-lane Olympic
quality running track. The facility additionally includes classrooms, offices, and the Browning Athletic Training and Education Center. Following the completion of the current track, it became one of seven facilities in the U.S. certified by the International Association of Athletics Federations
(IAAF), allowing it to host all NCAA and IAAF events within its grounds. In addition to its use by UNF the stadium has become a center for rugby league football, serving as home field for the Jacksonville Axemen
of the USA Rugby League
(USARL), and hosting several international matches and training camp
s.
men's and women's soccer, cross country running
, and track and field
teams. In 2006 Jacksonville philanthropists George and Kernan Hodges issued a $2 million donation to UNF to improve the facility. The donation funded the construction of seats for nearly 10,000, an eight-lane 400-meter
track, a press box
, lighting, and classrooms and offices. The nameless field was renamed Hodges Stadium after them. Other additions included a press box
and the Browning Athletic Training and Education Center, a strength and conditioning center.
In 2008 the stadium underwent another renovation to install a new state-of-the art running track. The university spent another $3 million to complete the 9-lane, Olympic
quality track. It was designed by the Italian company Mondo, and features a Mondotrack SX rubber surface, and was the third facility in the world to have such a surface. It was built to meet National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) and International Association of Athletics Federations
(IAAF) standards, and is one of only seven facilities in the U.S. to be certified by the IAAF. It is the third largest stadium in the United States dedicated to track & field and soccer.
matches, and has hosted training camp
for several international teams. Academy Award-winning actor Russell Crowe
visited UNF to organize preparations for an international club rugby league played at UNF. Crowe's South Sydney Rabbitohs
played against the Leeds Rhinos
on January 26, 2008. In 2009, the Leeds Rhinos returned to UNF to play the Salford City Reds
in an exhibition game.
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
at the University of North Florida
University of North Florida
The University of North Florida is a public university located in Jacksonville, Florida. A member institution of the State University System of Florida, the university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s...
(UNF), and the home field for the North Florida Ospreys
North Florida Ospreys
The North Florida Ospreys are the athletic teams of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida. The Ospreys compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference in NCAA Division I. UNF is in its third academic year as a full-fledged member of Division I; previously, the Ospreys were members of the...
soccer, track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, and cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
teams. It is located on the university's campus in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, U.S. It is named for George and Kernan Hodges, who donated $2 million to upgrade the facility in 2006.
The stadium opened in 2004 and underwent renovations in 2006 and 2008 that installed additional seating, a press box
Press box
The press box is a special section of a sports stadium or arena that is set up for the media to report about a given event. It is typically located in the section of the stadium holding the luxury box. In general, newspaper writers sit in this box and write about the on-field event as it unfolds...
, and a 9-lane Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
quality running track. The facility additionally includes classrooms, offices, and the Browning Athletic Training and Education Center. Following the completion of the current track, it became one of seven facilities in the U.S. certified by the International Association of Athletics Federations
International Association of Athletics Federations
The International Association of Athletics Federations is the international governing body for the sport of athletics. It was founded in 1912 at its first congress in Stockholm, Sweden by representatives from 17 national athletics federations as the International Amateur Athletics Federation...
(IAAF), allowing it to host all NCAA and IAAF events within its grounds. In addition to its use by UNF the stadium has become a center for rugby league football, serving as home field for the Jacksonville Axemen
Jacksonville Axemen
-Southeastern Rugby League Championship:In 2011 the Axemen launched a reserve grade competition, the Firehouse Subs Southeastern Rugby League Championship, which acts as a feeder club system for the Axemen to further develop players...
of the USA Rugby League
USA Rugby League
The USA Rugby League is a semi-professional rugby league football competition based in the United States. The league was founded in 2011 by clubs that had broken with the established American National Rugby League , plus expansion franchises...
(USARL), and hosting several international matches and training camp
Training camp
A training camp is a place, usually with an army-camp-type environment, where people go to learn skills, usually skills involving physical action rather than book subjects, usually for an armed force or an action sport...
s.
History
The University of North Florida's field was first opened in 2004 in order to serve the North Florida OspreysNorth Florida Ospreys
The North Florida Ospreys are the athletic teams of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida. The Ospreys compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference in NCAA Division I. UNF is in its third academic year as a full-fledged member of Division I; previously, the Ospreys were members of the...
men's and women's soccer, cross country running
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, and track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
teams. In 2006 Jacksonville philanthropists George and Kernan Hodges issued a $2 million donation to UNF to improve the facility. The donation funded the construction of seats for nearly 10,000, an eight-lane 400-meter
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
track, a press box
Press box
The press box is a special section of a sports stadium or arena that is set up for the media to report about a given event. It is typically located in the section of the stadium holding the luxury box. In general, newspaper writers sit in this box and write about the on-field event as it unfolds...
, lighting, and classrooms and offices. The nameless field was renamed Hodges Stadium after them. Other additions included a press box
Press box
The press box is a special section of a sports stadium or arena that is set up for the media to report about a given event. It is typically located in the section of the stadium holding the luxury box. In general, newspaper writers sit in this box and write about the on-field event as it unfolds...
and the Browning Athletic Training and Education Center, a strength and conditioning center.
In 2008 the stadium underwent another renovation to install a new state-of-the art running track. The university spent another $3 million to complete the 9-lane, Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
quality track. It was designed by the Italian company Mondo, and features a Mondotrack SX rubber surface, and was the third facility in the world to have such a surface. It was built to meet National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) and International Association of Athletics Federations
International Association of Athletics Federations
The International Association of Athletics Federations is the international governing body for the sport of athletics. It was founded in 1912 at its first congress in Stockholm, Sweden by representatives from 17 national athletics federations as the International Amateur Athletics Federation...
(IAAF) standards, and is one of only seven facilities in the U.S. to be certified by the IAAF. It is the third largest stadium in the United States dedicated to track & field and soccer.
Notable events
The stadium has also held three international rugby league footballRugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
matches, and has hosted training camp
Training camp
A training camp is a place, usually with an army-camp-type environment, where people go to learn skills, usually skills involving physical action rather than book subjects, usually for an armed force or an action sport...
for several international teams. Academy Award-winning actor Russell Crowe
Russell Crowe
Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander Australian actor , film producer and musician. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a...
visited UNF to organize preparations for an international club rugby league played at UNF. Crowe's South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
played against the Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
on January 26, 2008. In 2009, the Leeds Rhinos returned to UNF to play the Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
in an exhibition game.
- February 2005- Practice for the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
before Super Bowl XXXIXSuper Bowl XXXIXSuper Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played on February 6, 2005, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 2004 regular season...
. - January 26, 2008 - Australian rugby league club South Sydney RabbitohsSouth Sydney RabbitohsThe South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
vs. English Super League club Leeds RhinosLeeds RhinosLeeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
for the Australia Day Challenge. - January 19, 2009 - English Rugby league match between Salford City RedsSalford City RedsSalford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
and Leeds RhinosLeeds RhinosLeeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
. - April 2009- UNF Rugby Football Club hosted their annual Alumni Game for the first time in the stadium.
- November 14, 2009 - International rugby match between the United States and JamaicaJamaica national rugby league team-See also:* Rugby League in the West Indies* West Indies National Team-External links:*...
. - 2009 Atlantic Sun ConferenceAtlantic Sun ConferenceThe Atlantic Sun Conference is a college athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I; it does not sponsor football. The conference was established in 1978 as the Trans America Athletic Conference...
Track and Field Championships - December 19, 2009 - North America Bowl between Jacksonville Knights and Team CanadaRugby union in CanadaRugby union is a minority team sport in Canada; it is relatively strong as a participation sport, particularly in several hotspots like British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador, but does not attract the same level of spectator support...
a traveling all-star team. - November 2010 - Hosted the 2010 Atlantic Cup2010 Atlantic Cup-Canada vs Jamaica:-United States vs Canada:...
rugby league tournament.