O'connell Center

The Stephen C. O'Connell Center, affectionately known by students as the O'Dome, is a major multipurpose arena on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville. Named after the university's sixth president, who served from 1967 to 1973, the facility is now home to Exactech Arena, which seats about 10,500 and is one of the largest event venues in north central Florida. The building's history is closely tied to the development of collegiate athletics. After the old, inadequate Florida Gym, known as Alligator Alley, was demolished, the new arena came about through a collaboration with the University of South Florida. The two universities shared the architectural design to make more efficient use of state funds. Construction began in 1977 and was completed in late 1980; the original roof was an inflatable Teflon system that was later replaced with a conventional hard dome.

For visitors and sports fans, the arena is best known as the home of the Florida Gators. It hosts men's and women's basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, and swimming. The atmosphere is shaped above all by the student section, the Rowdy Reptiles, which commentators say helps make this one of the toughest places to play in college basketball. The arena has already seen historic moments, including several national championship basketball games with record attendance. Following a comprehensive renovation in 2016, in which the interior was gutted down to the foundation and modernized, the arena now offers luxurious club areas, new video boards, and improved training facilities for swimming and gymnastics.

Beyond sports, the O'Connell Center plays a central role in the university's cultural and academic life. As the region's largest concert venue, it has hosted numerous well-known artists, including Tom Petty, who played here shortly after it opened. The facility also serves for commencement ceremonies, political rallies, trade shows, and large private events. Its flexible design allows capacity to be adjusted to the type of event, from intimate lectures to major sporting events or concerts, making the arena a versatile hub for the Gainesville community.