Hodges Stadium is a 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.
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 camps. Sporting Club Jacksonville, a USL Super League (USLS) expansion team, begins play at the stadium in the 2025–26 season.
History The University of North Florida's field was first opened in 2004 in order to serve the North Florida Ospreys 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 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 the Browning Athletic Training and Education Center and 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 was the third facility in the world to feature the company's Mondotrack SX rubber 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.
Amenities The 12,000-capacity stadium opened in 2004 with a capacity of 9,400 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.
Notable events The stadium has held several international rugby league football matches and has hosted training camps for international teams. Academy Award-winning actor Russell Crowe visited UNF to organize for a club rugby league match to be played at Hodges Stadium. Crowe's South Sydney Rabbitohs played against the Leeds Rhinos on January 26, 2008, with 12,500 people in attendance. In 2009, the Leeds Rhinos returned to UNF to play the Salford City Reds in an exhibition game.
February 2005 – Practice for the Philadelphia Eagles before Super Bowl XXXIX. April 2009 – UNF Rugby Football Club hosted their annual Alumni Game for the first time in the stadium. 2009 Atlantic Sun Conference Track and Field Championships December 19, 2009 – North America Bowl between Jacksonville Knights and Team Canada a traveling all-star team. July 23–26, 2015 – Hosted the USATF Masters Outdoor Track & Field Championships. July 27 – August 2, 2015 – Hosted the USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships.
Rugby league matches Date Home Final score Away Competition Attendance Ref. 26 January 2008 South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 – 26 Leeds RhinosAustralia Day Challenge12,500 18 January 2009 Leeds Rhinos 12 – 10 Salford Red DevilsExhibition 14 November 2009 37 – 222009 Atlantic Cup3,500 16 November 2010 36 – 262010 Atlantic Cup500 18 November 2010 32 – 122010 Atlantic Cup2,500 20 November 2010 46 – 122010 Atlantic Cup2,800 4 December 2015 20 – 142017 RLWC qualifying 12 December 2015 34 – 242017 RLWC qualifying 22 July 2017 48 – 62017 Americas Rugby League Championship 13 November 2018 38 – 82018 Americas Rugby League Championship 13 November 2018 62 – 02018 Americas Rugby League Championship 17 November 2018 62 – 122018 Americas Rugby League Championship 13 November 2018 10 – 162018 Americas Rugby League Championship 16 November 2019 16 – 382021 RLWC Repechage150
USA Tomahawks Record at the Hodges Stadium Competition Played Won Drawn Lost % Won Americas Rugby League Championship 3 2 0 1 % Colonial Cup 3 3 0 0 % RLWC Qualifying 3 2 0 1 % Total 9 7 0 2 % Updated 24 April 2021
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