The VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida is a large multi-purpose arena that can accommodate different capacities depending on the type of event being held. The arena opened in 2003 and has hosted a wide variety of concerts, sporting events, family shows, and other entertainment.
Concert Capacity
For concerts, VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena can hold approximately 15,000 people. This allows the arena to attract major touring acts and music festivals. The concert capacity can vary slightly based on the stage setup and configuration. Some concerts may have seating on the arena floor, which reduces capacity compared to a standing general admission show. But most major concerts can accommodate crowds of 15,000 or more.
Factors Affecting Concert Capacity
There are a few factors that can affect the maximum concert capacity:
- Stage size and location – A large, centrally located stage reduces floor capacity.
- Floor seats vs. general admission – Chairs set up on the arena floor limit capacity compared to open floor space.
- Behind-stage seating – Some concerts may have limited behind-stage seating which slightly reduces capacity.
- Suite seating – Most concerts utilize suite seating which does not reduce overall capacity.
So while the base concert capacity is around 15,000, the exact number can vary from 14,000 up to 15,500 depending on the specific stage setup and floor plan. The arena can accommodate the largest touring acts thanks to this substantial capacity.
Sporting Event Capacity
For indoor sporting events like basketball, ice hockey, and arena football, the seating capacity at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena is approximately 15,000. This allows the venue to host major league and college teams. There is some variation depending on the sport.
Basketball Capacity
Basketball capacity is right around 15,000 since basketball arenas generally maximize seating around the court. The NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers played exhibition games there in recent years which filled the arena to basketball capacity.
Hockey Capacity
Ice hockey may have slightly reduced capacity compared to basketball since the ice surface requires more space around the boards. Capacity is reduced by a few hundred seats for ice hockey events.
Arena Football Capacity
Arena football also may have slightly reduced capacity compared to basketball, but can still accommodate around 15,000 fans. The Jacksonville Sharks have played arena football at the venue since 2010.
Family Show Capacity
For family shows like Disney on Ice, Harlem Globetrotters, circus performances, and other shows, the capacity at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena is approximately 14,000. These shows normally have seating on the arena floor which reduces the maximum capacity compared to concerts or sporting events.
Factors Affecting Family Show Capacity
There are a few factors that can impact seating capacity for family shows:
- Floor seating vs. open floor – Chairs on the arena floor reduces capacity.
- Stage/performance area size – Larger stages take up more floor space.
- Suite seating usage – Family shows may not utilize all suite seating.
So while concerts can hit 15,000+ and sports get close to 15,000, capacity for family shows ranges between 13,500-14,500 depending on the amount of floor seating.
Smaller Event Capacity
VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena can be configured for smaller events like conferences, banquets, and speaking engagements. Capacities for smaller, theater-style events include:
Event Type | Capacity |
---|---|
Banquet seating | 6,000 |
Meeting room seating | 4,500 |
Theater-style | 8,000 |
The arena has hosted graduation ceremonies, business conferences, and other local events utilizing these reduced capacities.
Facility Specifications
Here are some key specifications for the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena:
- Approximately 380,000 square feet total
- Over 18,000 permanent seats
- 70 private suites
- 3 private club lounges
- 1 party deck
- 14 bars/concession stands
The arena has a very large footprint and modern amenities throughout the concourses and seating areas. This allows the venue to accommodate anything from small meetings to major touring events.
Notable Events
VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena has hosted many major events since opening in 2003. Some notable concerts include:
- Eagles
- Bruce Springsteen
- Elton John
- Paul McCartney
- Jimmy Buffett
For sports, the arena has hosted NCAA March Madness tournament games in addition to NBA and NHL preseason contests. The 2004 US Figure Skating Championships was also held there.
Conclusion
In summary, the maximum capacity at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena is approximately 15,000 for concerts and sporting events. Seated family shows reduce the capacity slightly to 13,500-14,500. Smaller banquet-style events can also be held with capacities between 4,500-8,000. The arena’s large size and modern amenities make it a popular venue for major events in Jacksonville and northeast Florida.