• With a seating capacity of up to 16,000 people Veterans Memorial Arena is Downtown’s largest indoor sports and entertainment venue. It opened in November 2003 and Sir Elton John was the first act to go on its stage. In addition to concerts, the Arena has also been the site of sports events from ice hockey to USA Gymnastics to college basketball. Next March, the regional quarterfinal round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament will be contested there putting Jacksonville on the national stage in terms of both sports tourism and network television.