O’Connell Center

Who doesn’t love coming to the O’Dome? It is well built and absolutely beautiful. This was my home away from home during college and you can go watch some of the best athletes in the country practice there sport here including the men’s and women’s college basketball teams, gymnastics, swimming and diving, indoor track and volleyball teams. How great is that?!
Or you can hang out here in between classes to get out of the heat. The best part is going in and out of the entrance doors getting sucked in from the powerful air vents that poof up and inflate the dome. Really fun!
In addition to its use as a basketball arena, the O’Connell Center also contains both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and is regularly used to host other events on campus, including career fairs, graduation ceremonies, concerts, and public speakers. Very impressive.
Banquet capacity is 2,800, and concert capacity is 6,300 for a half-​stage show, 9,300 for an end-​stage show and 12,000 for a center-​stage show. Amazing space indeed!
Overall, this multi-​purpose arena located in the heart of the University of Florida campus is an exciting and entertaining place to visit and something not to miss if you’re ever on campus.
Go Gators! :) 5-​Stars

The O’Dome is one of the premier destinations for a college basketball game. Everyone loves the Gators and the «Rowdy Reptiles» are in my opinion one of the loudest students sections in the country. This is such a fun place to go and see a game. Billy Donovan always puts together a top squad team that is fun to watch. This year has been a tough one but looking forward to many more NCAA Tournament appearances in the future. Go Gators!

It’s hard to know how to rate the O-​Dome: it’s the home of Gators Basketball and other sports we love as fans and thus it has earned itself a position of great love and fondness in our hearts. Next to Florida Field, it is probably the best-​known physical symbol of UF athletics.
On the other hand, when compared to top-​notch college and professional arenas where you’ll see NCAA or NBA games, the O-​Dome is showing its age and is much in need of the renovations planned for it in 2016. The court itself is fine, but crowded: there is hardly room for the press and scoring tables. The spectator stands though really need help and the lighting seems in need of improvement too, but I’m not sure just how.
All that said, this is Gator Country and it shows: the staff is exceptionally helpful and nice and there are no fans like Gator fans – anywhere. Being there for our victory over Tennessee and Coach Billy Donovan’s 500^th Gator win was simply magical.

I REALLY enjoy coming here to watch the basketball games! I’m a little sad that in 2016 it will close for quite a few months for renovations and we would have to drive 2hrs to Jax for a game??? The fans here are like no other (GO GATORS!!!) and that to me is the biggest part of the experience. I think the O-​Dome is great as it is. Leave it and let us Rowdy Reptiles have a blast screaming, cheering and stomping on our own turf! You will not be disappointed or bored at a Gator game, it gets in your blood!
GO GATORS!!!

The O’Connell Center is also known as the O-​dome aka the Gators basketball arena aka FANNNNNNTASTIC! This place rocks (literally) during basketball season, even during gymnastics season! There are plenty of places to sit but the lower you go the more likely you are to rock (literally)! I LOVE IT! During basketball season, if you attend 10 regular season games as a student, you become a Rowdy Reptile. The Rowdy Reptiles have their own student section in the lower area of the O-​dome. WARNING: It gets very loud and most of the time you are standing on your seat, not sitting so wear comfortable sneakers and cheer loud!
There are many events held in the O-​dome throughout the year. For example, they have concerts, speeches, graduation ceremonies, and sporting events. Looking at the banners hanging from the ceiling really puts a smile on my face. The basketball coach, Billy Donovan, does a great job recruiting talent and building team players!
Back-​to-​back champions 2006 and 2007 and more to come! GO GATORS!!!

Right across from Ben Hill Griffin! This is home to Billy D and the Rowdy Reptiles! It’s the main venue for career fair as well. It’s right across from the college of engineering so I was able to stop by frequently when I went to school here!

One of the nicest, most comfortable, and most energetic and fun sports arenas in the nation. I had never attended an NCAA basketball game, and the wife had bought me tickets to a Gators Men’s game for Christmas. Since we had never attended a game, parking was a bit of an issue– we walked past a large parking garage after the game was over But we ended up finding a nice spot on one of the side streets– and we headed towards the dome.
There were a few entrances, all of which were handled by friendly security guards and UF staffers. Getting in was quick and easy. I was surprised at how much room was available once you got inside the arena– large walkways, plenty of areas to buy concessions and merchandise, and easy to find the restrooms.
The arena is not overly huge, but big enough so that it sits plenty of people comfortably. The wife and I sat almost near the top tier of seats, and we could see the court just fine. Nice addition with the four jumbo screens in each corner of the arena so you could watch replays and get stats. The arena was loud and cheering for the Gators, but never got out of hand, which makes this a great venue to bring children and watch as a family. The seats, aisles, and restrooms were clean and well-​maintained. Very nicely done by everyone at UF.
Overall– had a blast checking out my first game here. One of the nicest arenas I’ve ever been to, if not the nicest. Highly recommended if you’re in the area, or especially if you’re a Gator fan. It was worth the 4 hour round trip for me! Go Gators!

4 stars.
Love the O Dome.
As a not UF alumni, but big UF fan I always enjoy coming here.
The seats are comfortable and well spaced. The views from all over are really good regardless of how high up you sit. The staff seems to be chomping (excuse the pun) at the bit to help any and everyone they possibly can.
I also heard they have been approved for renovations which will be excellent because they do need some new screens and a new sound system.
1 bonus star because GO GATORS!