The arena was designed, using state-of-the-art techniques, to have the acoustical characteristics necessary for concerts. The first artist to hold a concert in the Arena was
Elton John in November 2003. Since that time, dozens of groups, including country, rap, rock, and others, have performed at the arena.
Ice hockey The arena was home to the
Jacksonville Barracudas ice hockey team from 2003 to 2007 until they relocated to a smaller hockey arena in the area.
Olympics Sporting events hosted include the
2004 USA Men's Olympic basketball team in their only game played in the
United States, as well as some early round games of the
NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in
2006,
2010,
2015, and
2019.
UFC The arena held
UFC 249: Ferguson vs. Gaethje,
UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira, and
UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris, and three consecutive
Ultimate Fighting Championship events in May 2020, the first major sporting events to be held in the country after restrictions to slow the
COVID-19 pandemic went into effect in March. In April 2021 it hosted
UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2, in front of the largest crowd for an indoor sport in more than a year after Florida lifted their restrictions. In April 2022, it hosted
UFC 273: Volkanovski vs. The Korean Zombie. The UFC returned to the arena in June 2023 for
UFC on ABC: Emmett vs. Topuria.
Professional wrestling On October 17, 2006, an episode of
ECW on Sci-Fi was held in the arena. In 2007, the arena held the
WWE pay-per-view event
One Night Stand in
2007. , it is the only WWE pay-per-view the arena hosted. However, the arena still hosts various
Raw and
SmackDown shows.
AFL The arena found huge success when the arena became the home of the Jacksonville Sharks in 2010 when they were introduced as an expansion team of the Arena Football League. The team was founded by former Orlando Predators executive Jeff Bouchy, who is also the brother of former Orlando Predators owner Brett Bouchy. The Sharks generally have maintained the highest attendance among the arena's regular tenants.
ABA The arena hosted the
2011 ABA All-Star Game, which took place on February 26, 2011.
PLL In 2012, the arena was home to the
Jacksonville Bullies of the
Professional Lacrosse League.
LFL In 2013 and 2014, it was home to the
Jacksonville Breeze of the
Legends Football League.
Concerts In 2016,
Rihanna opened her
Anti World Tour at the arena, which attracted an audience of 11,000 people. On December 1, 2019
Ariana Grande held a concert at the arena, which was part of her
Sweetener World Tour.
Monster Jam came to the arena in 2018, and again the following year.
Other events The arena was scheduled to host days 2-4 of the
2020 Republican National Convention from August 25 to August 27, originally to be held in
Charlotte, North Carolina. However, these plans were ultimately cancelled to the
COVID-19 pandemic. The arena was the host for the
Davis Cup first round tie between the US and Brazil on the weekend of February 1–3, 2013. It has hosted
PBR Built Ford Tough Series events in the past. ==References==