Stephen OConnell Center

Stephen O'Connell Center History

The electrifying Stephen O'Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida is the home of the Florida Gators men's and women's basketball and as such really springs to life during the college hoops season. The building originally opened back in 1980 as a replacement for Florida Gymnasium. Basketball is the main draw at the gym and every year the Florida Gators go up against several of the top programs in the country as they look to make their way to the top of the SEC conference standings. This year the Florida Gators are seeking to make a return to prominence and the NCAA Tournament. Of course, they will be hoping to get all of the support they can from big time Florida Gators fans during home games to help them dominate their opposition. Be sure to get your tickets for every game at the Stephen O'Connell Center from StubHub as soon as possible while you can still score some of the best seats in the house.

Stephen O'Connell Center Events

Each year the main attraction at the Stephen O'Connell Center is Florida Gators men's and women's basketball games which pack the arena with loud and excitable fans. The Florida Gators always have games against several of the best college hoops teams in the country including SEC rivals like the Kentucky Wildcats, the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Auburn Tigers, the Vanderbilt Commodores, the Tennessee Volunteers, the LSU Tigers, the Ole Miss Rebels, and others. Aside from basketball, the Stephen O'Connell Center also hosts a variety of other school events along with concerts and other major local events in the Gainesville area.

Jacksonville, Florida

Gainesville is located just outside of Jacksonville, and there is always plenty to do in Jacksonville which is the most populous city in Florida. If you are in the city during the right time of year you can catch an NFL game featuring the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Lovers of the performing arts will definitely want to check out the historic Florida Theatre, Theatre Jacksonville, or the Ritz Theatre which has seen performances by many of the greatest names in the history of American music including Ray Charles, Duke Ellington, and Ella Fitzgerald. Local traditions like Gate River Run, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, the World of Nations Celebration, and the Jacksonville Film Festival are also events not to be missed. The city, which is the largest in the United States in area, also boasts an abundance of parks including the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens, Hemming Plaza, Jessie Ball DuPont Park, and Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail.

Stephen O'Connell Center Seating Layout

The Stephen O'Connell Center admits nearly 12,000 fans for all of the biggest Florida Gators games and when the gym is sold out there is not a more exciting venue in all of college hoops. Game day at Stephen O'Connell Center is something no die hard college basketball fan would want to miss.

Trivia

In addition to basketball, the Stephen O'Connell Center is also home to Florida's gymnastics, swimming, diving, volleyball, and indoor track teams.