Sunshine Classic Comes to the Ancient City: Check out this awesome event!
Jacksonville Florida – It was just this past April when Jacksonville University’s director of athletics and I sat down at a local Cracker Barrel for breakfast to discuss a wild idea. Having seen major lacrosse in stadiums across the north during months of the year when the temperature makes the sport tough to enjoy (it is a spring sport in most places), I thought it would be really great to have some big games in a stadium in the southeast.
JU being the new kids on the block for men’s lacrosse in the southeast had a great inaugural season under the leadership of Matt Kerwick. Coach Kerwick is one of the best college coaches at being accessible to the local lacrosse community and building the sport. Having a stadium event would provide access to thousands of lacrosse people to a quality stadium event while exposing the event to thousands in Florida and the south who may have never heard of the event.
Duke and Notre Dame signed on, Georgetown agreed to be a part of the program, and the city of Jacksonville stepped up and embraced the idea and the rest is history. The Moe’s Southwest Grill Sunshine Classic is born! Now there is an exciting lacrosse event in Florida that can take the sport of lacrosse to new heights. As many as 100 high school boys and girls teams are planning on attending the event as a team. Local people who have never seen lacrosse are signing on, with ticket prices starting at just $25.50 (for two games), the price is right.
EVENT PARTICULARS
February 20th may be a bad time to play lacrosse in Detroit, Boston, and Philly, but in Florida, 2.20.2011 is just fine!
Teams will have a chance to tailgate in the parking lots and team bond before the event, sit together inside the stadium and see two great lacrosse games up close and personal, and for some, enjoy a ride home full of memories. What is not to like about that?
Check out this seating map. EverBank Field has never been used for lacrosse before, but the stands are right on top of the field. It’s going to be a great event. For more information on how you can get your team involved, contact the stadium box office for group tickets. Club seats are the way to go for lax fans – they are right behind the benches for the teams and have premium amenities. There are no team discounts for club seats, but the seats are just 20% of the cost of a normal club seat. Unreal.
Gold: $39.50, Orange: $34.50, Green: $25.50 (both games included. ALL ticket fees included)
To buy tickets for a group, call 904-630-3958. If you are bringing a charter bus, parking is $40 for the bus, and a special tailgate lot will be set up for your team!
The event is being sponsored by Moe’s Southwest Grill. Florida lax-buff Brad Chasteen, a Moe’s franchisee, has been spearheading growth of the sport over the past five years. The event will bring together the southern lacrosse community in a venue reflective of the growth and strength of this rapidly expanding sport. It will be great to bring everyone together in fellowship of the sport.
