Media Guide - UNCWsports.com - UNC Wilmington Athletics

Seahawk Track & Field
• Wilmington, N.C.
Population ► 95,944
- Picked by CNN.com as one of the top 10
fastest growing cities in the country.
Weather ▼
Average high temperature 74 degrees
Average low tempterature 54 degrees
Number of days over 90 degrees 46
Number of days under 32 degrees 42
Notes ▼
Screen Gems is one of the largest movie
studios outside California.
First city in the country to switch to digital
television.
Home of the North Carolina Azalea Festival.
Designated Coast Guard City.
Picked by Surfer Magazine as one of the top
places to surf in the United States.
Wilmington: Gem of the Coast
Founded more than 250 years ago on the
Cape Fear River, Wilmington has developed
into one of the fastest growing deep-water ports
on the East Coast, combining economic potential
with an abundance of outdoor recreational
opportunities.
Wilmington has a historic legacy that begins
before the Revolutionary War and runs
through its stance as the last Atlantic port
open to blockade runners during the Civil
War. Today, the continuous restoration and
preservation in the Historic District is a tribute
to the city’s proud heritage.
Historic Wilmington affords visitors the unique opportunity
to enjoy a bustling seaport rich in shopping, dining, culture and the arts, while being only minutes away from barrier
islands, broad beaches and the intracoastal waterway.
The 200-block Historic District highlighting the downtown area opens into a scenic riverfront park that overlooks the USS North
Carolina Battleship Memorial.
A beautifully restored battleship, the USS North Carolina was considered the greatest sea weapon in the world when commissioned
in 1941. During World War II, “The Showboat” earned 15 battlestars and participated in every major naval offensive in the Pacific from
Guadalcanal to Okinawa. A memorial since 1961, the battleship is dedicated to the men and women of all U.S. military services who
defended our country during WWII.
One of Wilmington’s most unique features is the city’s status as the leading entertainment production center in the Southeast. The
city’s evolution into “Hollywood East” began when Dino DeLaurentis shot Stephen King’s Firestarter in 1984.
One year later, Dino DeLaurentis constructed a studio facility in the Port City and the complex, now owned by EUE/Screen Gems,
is the largest production studio east of Hollywood, offering nine sound stages on a 32-acre site near the Wilmington International Airport.
Numerous movies, television series and commericals have been filmed in Wilmington. The popular show, “Dawson’s Creek,” was
produced in Wilmington and shot frequently on the UNCW campus as well as Warner Bros. hit “One Tree Hill.”
A film-friendly community, Wilmington residents have embraced the industry, often appearing as “extras” in movies. It’s not uncommon
for celebrities the likes of Sandra Bullock, Nick Nolte, Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise and Dennis Hopper to be seen dining at a
restaurant, shopping at the mall or just simply walking along the shore.
Wrightsville Beach, just minutes away from Wilmington’s downtown area, is a year-round island resort. Wide, uncrowded beaches,
full service marinas and a variety of accommodations are complemented by excellent seafood restaurants, specialty shops and exciting
nightlife.
32 • UNCWsports.com