Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
CSI Companies Court @ UNF Arena
11852 University of North Florida Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32224
Year Opened: 1993
Capacity: 5,800
Birds of Trey
The University of North Florida is a relatively young school, being founded in Jacksonville, Florida in 1965. Today it boasts over 16,000 students and athletic teams that compete at the Division I level of the NCAA. The North Florida Ospreys have been competing in men’s basketball since 1992 when they began in NAIA. They quickly moved up to Division II and in 2005 they moved to Division I. The Ospreys have settled in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they have won the regular season title three times and the Atlantic Sun Tournament, granting their only berth in the NCAA Tournament, in 2015. During their tenure, the Ospreys have leaned into their identity as a 3-point shooting team, dubbing themselves the Birds of Trey.
Home for the Ospreys is UNF Arena. Located on campus in Jacksonville, UNF Arena opened in 1993, just after the Ospreys began their first season, and has a capacity of 5,800. Inside UNF Arena is CSI Companies Court, which is named after a local staffing and recruiting company.
Food & Beverage 3
The concession stand is located in the main lobby. It has a simple menu that provides the basics in arena fare. Fans will find hot dogs, burgers, pizza, pretzels, nachos and popcorn. Beverages include soda, water, coffee along with wine seltzer and beer. The selection is basic and fans won’t go hungry, but there is also nothing that will peak the imagination.
Atmosphere 3
UNF Arena is located on campus at University of North Florida and is a solid venue for mid-major college basketball. The exterior consists of brown brick and concrete trim in a cube-like shape. The main entry is from the west side where a large courtyard, perfect for pre-game gathering, is found. The courtyard hosts a large osprey fountain. Entering from the west, fans will pass under a large, corrugated concrete overhang. After entering UNF Arena, fans will find themselves in a clean and bright lobby with plenty of Ospreys logos. A plethora of display cases are found in the lobby and there is plenty to peak the attention of fans before heading in to find their seats. One of the more unique cases finds itself under the landing of the staircase. This large display case is mostly dedicated to the North Florida rivalry with crosstown Jacksonville University. The Ospreys and Dolphins share the River City Rumble and play for the Old Wooden Barrel. Although too new to hit the consciousness of the average college basketball fan, it is a great attempt by both schools to stoke interest in their teams. A set of stairs takes fans up to the club section where the athletics Hall of Fame display can be found.
Upon entering the main part of the arena, fans are met with CSI Companies Court, which is east-west oriented. That perfect center court picture is going to come from the north side. Again, there are plenty of North Florida Ospreys markings inside the arena, which is clean and attractive. The east end is the student section and the west end is where the perch, or club seating, is found. The north and south seating is divided into upper and lower levels, with the retractable lower levels featuring cushioned arena seats and the upper levels, contoured plastic bench seats. The championship banners hang above the club section on the west end including the tournament berths, three Atlantic Sun regular season championships and 2015 Atlantic Sun Tournament Championship. There is also a banner honoring Dallas Moore, who has the distinction of a career 2,437 points, most by any player at a Florida Division I school. There are simple scoreclocks that hang at the east and west ends and videoboard above center court. However, they lack any statistics, including points by players.
The gameday production is typical of a mid-major college basketball game. The game that was reviewed was during the winter break and the UNF campus was very quiet. This was definitely not the typical gameday environment. The team is led on the court by flag bearers and the cheer team performs stunts during pregame and play stoppages. The mascot, Ozzie the Osprey, and the UNF Pep Band are normally at Osprey games, however, they were not present at the game that was reviewed. During a North Florida free-throw, the cheerleaders and fans raise their hands up and if the shot is good, everyone yells “Swoop!” For those who are new, it is even indicated on the court. Of course, the 3-point baskets are tracked with an intern hanging a “3” on the railing that separates the upper and lower levels on the south side.
Neighborhood 4
UNF Arena is located on the campus of the University of North Florida in the Sans Pareil neighborhood of Jacksonville. There are a number of options for pre or post game food and drink that are not too far away. They include RH Rooftop Restaurant, Ted’s Montana Grill, Prata Italia and Bazille. There are a number of other sporting events in Jacksonville. Of course, checking out the cross-town rival Jacksonville Dolphins is a plan when in town. Other options include the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, and Jacksonville Icemen. Annually, Jacksonville hosts the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and the Florida-Georgia College Football game.
Other tourist options in the area include the Jacksonville Zoo, St. Augustine Alligator Farm, Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Gardens and of course, the beaches. For fans wishing to stay in the area, the Holiday Inn is very close to campus.
Fans 3
The game that was reviewed was during winter break and campus was very quiet. That being said, the North Florida Ospreys typically average over 1,600 fans per game. This ranks them 7th in the Atlantic Sun Conference at the time of writing. With a capacity of over 5,000 at UNF Arena, there is plenty of room to grow and more fans in the stands will help provide a better college basketball environment. The fans that were in attendance were knowledgeable and supportive of the Ospreys.
Access 4
UNF Arena is located on the campus of the University of North Florida in the Sans Pareil neighborhood of Jacksonville. Campus is located east of I-295, south of US-90 and north of US-202. Getting to campus and the arena is not too difficult. There is plenty of parking on campus, and for the game that was reviewed the parking garage south of UNF Arena was free. For fans wishing to take public transit to the game, there are buses that travel University of North Florida Drive. Fans should consult the Jacksonville Transit Authority website for fares, maps and schedules. Getting around the arena is not difficult at all and the washroom facilities are adequate for the facility.
Return on Investment 4
Taking in a North Florida Ospreys game provides a solid return on investment. Tickets for the Ospreys start at $15 for the General Admission upper levels and $20 for the reserved lower levels. Concession prices are good and parking was free for the event that was reviewed. The product on the court is solid and UNF does a good job of presenting the game. Fans will have a good experience at North Florida.
Extras 2
An extra mark that North Florida has with Jacksonville. The schools face off in the River City Rumble and play for the Old Wooden Barrel.
An extra mark for North Florida leaning into their 3-point identity.
Final Thoughts
Taking in a North Florida Ospreys basketball game while in the Jacksonville area is a great way to get a sporting fix. CSI Companies Court @ UNF Arena is a bright and clean facility that is a solid mid-major college basketball venue. With any luck, the Ospreys will be hitting 3-pointers, proving to all those in attendance, that they truly are the Birds of Trey.
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