Jacksonville is an Oasis for Athletes and Sporting Events
College-grade venues, an expansive lake and facilities for nearly every sport beckon tournament planners to Central Illinois.
Introduction
JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS
Home to well-stocked lakes, NCAA-grade facilities and tournament-friendly gymnasiums, Jacksonville Illinois offers plenty of facilities in the heart of the Midwest. The city’s small-town friendliness, vibrant business districts and enthusiastic sports community will make the decision to your next tournament destination simple.
Located west of Springfield, Jacksonville serves as an oasis for sports with facilities with the state-of-the-art Future Champions Sports Complex and Midwest Athletic Center, just to name a few. And not only that, there is also the serene Lake Jacksonville that is surrounded by hiking trails and docks for fishing and beautiful sunset views to admire.
Browse some of Illinois’ premier antique galleries, enjoy tasty coffee creations and cuisines, and admire beautiful greenspaces of Central Park in historic Downtown Jacksonville. The 86-acre Nichols Park offers well-equipped playgrounds and an Olympic-sized swimming pool for recreation opportunities. There are gazebos, a newly added RC Car Track Speedway and picnic facilities big enough for any group outing. Also located in the park is The Links Golf Course where you can catch a round of golf overlooking the beauty of the park.
Peaceful Lake Jacksonville is surrounded by hiking trails for guests to admire, the deer that reside in the region, and docks for fishing and beautiful sunset views. Lake Mauvesterre is another favorite located right next to Nichols Park where you can find a great spot to fish, but also its most commonly known as a spot for kayaking with its new Kayak launch!
BRITTANY HENRY
Telephone: 1-217-243-5678
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Get a Planner’s Perspective
Don’t just take our word for it, hear what these planners had to say.
“The Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is a wonderful asset for the Jacksonville community. We began operating Future Champions Sports Complex in March 2020 – the same month COVID-19 caused businesses throughout the United States to close. We are thankful for this partnership as we continue to navigate the challenges of owning a small business.”
— Kristin Jamison, Future Champions Sports Complex
Find Your Perfect Jacksonville Facility
Facility Spotlight
FUTURE CHAMPIONS SPORTS COMPLEX
Sports Covered: Baseball, softball
Future Champions Sports Complex caters to all levels of baseball and softball competition, ranging from youth recreational leagues to collegiate contests and including all levels in between. Not your ordinary ballpark, all six infields are turfed, making it virtually rain-out proof and allowing for play from February to November. The stadium-lighted facilities boast electronic scoreboards, concrete dugouts, a professional sound system, and a concession stand that offers everything from hot sandwiches to and adult refreshments.
ILLINOIS COLLEGE
Sports Covered: Swimming, track & field, basketball, volleyball, football, soccer, baseball, softball, tennis
The Bruner Center on the Illinois College campus includes the Coultas Natatorium (an eight-lane, 25-yard pool for competitive and recreational swimming), King Fieldhouse (which houses a six-lane indoor track, four rubberized courts and two batting cages) and the Sherman Gymnasium (a hardwood court that can host basketball and volleyball). Other facilities include England Stadium (an artificial turf field surrounded by a track that can host soccer and football), the Bellatti Tennis Complex (which consists of six hard-surfaced courts, lighting fixtures and a windscreen) and Joe Brooks Baseball Field.
LAKE JACKSONVILLE
Sports Covered: Boating, fishing
This 500-acre, man-made lake is filled with bass, bluegill, red-ear sunfish and channel catfish. It is the perfect location for boating, water skiing, fishing, and other water activities. Camping and boat dock are available, and a new walking path and trails were added in 2019. The lake is known for their fishing tournaments and was once named the #1 Fishing Spot in the State of Illinois by Field and Stream.
JACKSONVILLE SPEEDWAY
Sports Covered: Biking, racing
Jacksonville Speedway is a high-banked, quarter-mile dirt oval track located at the Morgan County Fairground, corner of East Westgate Avenue. Classes include Sprints, Micro-Sprints, Street Stock, Midgets, Modifides and late models.
JHS BOWL
Sports Covered: Basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, dance and wrestling
This historic semi-subterranean gymnasium was constructed in 1952 and continues to host Jacksonville High School Crimson basketball, volleyball and cheerleading competitions. The venue offers changing rooms, a scoreboard, concession stands and parking.
MIDWEST ATHLETIC CENTER
Sports Covered: Basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, dance and soccer
Located in the Jenkins Education Complex on the former MacMurray College campus, this indoor facility includes two basketball courts that can also accommodate volleyball, floor hockey along with other variety of athletic sports.
