O'Connell Center
Multipurpose sports facility of the University of Florida / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, also known as the O'Dome, is a 10,500-seat[1] multi-purpose arena located on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Florida. The facility is named for the sixth president of the university, Stephen C. O'Connell, who served from 1967 to 1973. The facility is located on the northern side of the university's campus, between its football field, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field, and the James W. "Bill" Heavener Complex athletic training center.
"The O'Dome" | |
Location | 250 Gale Lemerand Drive Gainesville, Florida 32611 |
---|---|
Coordinates | 29°38′58″N 82°21′04″W |
Owner | University of Florida |
Operator | University of Florida |
Capacity | 10,500 (2016–present)[1] 12,050 (1980–2016)[2] |
Record attendance | 12,633 (all-time) 11,255 (post-renovation) |
Surface | Multi-surface |
Construction | |
Broke ground | October 1977 |
Opened | December 30, 1980 |
Renovated | 1998, 2016 |
Construction cost | $15.6 million ($57.7 million in 2023 dollars[3]) |
Architect | Caudill Rowlett Scott[4] Moore, May & Harrington[5] |
Structural engineer | Geiger–Berger Associates[6] |
General contractor | Dyson and Company, Inc.[5] Brasfield & Gorrie (2016) |
Tenants | |
Florida Gators men's basketball Florida Gators women's basketball Florida Gators women's gymnastics Florida Gators swimming and diving Florida Gators women's volleyball |
The entire facility was known as the O'Connell Center from 1980 until 2016. The building underwent a major $64.5 million renovation / reconstruction during that year, and Exactech, a Gainesville medical firm, signed a $5.9 million, 10-year naming rights deal for the main arena, which was officially renamed the Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center.[7][8]