JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The University of Florida men's basketball team will open the 2017-2017 season with two games at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, according to JAXSPORTS.
The Gators will play against Belmont on Friday, Nov 11 and Mercer on Sunday, Nov. 13.
“Jacksonville will be a fantastic place to open our season,” University of Florida Head Coach Mike White said. “The Gators have a great history of playing in the city and it’s close to home. Jacksonville and Duval County have a huge amount of Florida fans and alumni, so we’ll be excited to have their support as we face two really high-caliber opponents.”
Due to the $64.5 million renovation of Exactech Arena at the O'Connell Center, the Gators will be playing their early-season games elsewhere.
“We are always delighted to welcome the Gators to Jacksonville,” said Mayor Lenny Curry. “We have a long tradition of serving and hosting Gators’ football fans in our city, and look forward to the opportunity to create an exciting and enjoyable experience for basketball enthusiasts.”
