Jacksonville Sports Council President & CEO Rick Catlett said that the '16 USA Curling National Championships that lasted eight days at Veterans Memorial Arena "was an offbeat attempt at expanding Jacksonville’s sports profile with a relatively low risk investment," according to Drew Dixon of the FLORIDA TIMES-UNION. He said, "What we have tried to do is try to build relationships that we had back in the 1980s that we had lost with all of the governing bodies of sport." If getting more exposure for the city means turning to offbeat sports, Catlett said that he is "willing to play ball." Catlett: “We’re trying to get sports like curling, like gymnastics and some of these other sports. The bottom line is to develop economic impact from sports." He said that the curling championships, which was "largely brokered by the city, basically amounted to market sampling." Dixon noted it was a "trial event to see how the community would react and how the athletes and their families visiting would enjoy their stay." The event "didn’t generate a massive influx of fans." Catlett said that the event "attracted about 5,700 ticket holders" over the eight days. But there was "discussion of Jacksonville that went far outside" the region, and it was also the "first time the sport’s national championship was played anywhere in Florida" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 2/18).
