Demolition begins on O'Connell Center seating

Workers remove bleachers in the arena at the University of Florida's Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Thursday in preparation for a major overhaul. (Photo by Kaitlyn Czencz)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Demolition is underway at the University of Florida’s Stephen C. O’Connell Center, where workers this week began removing seating in the arena in preparation for a major overhaul.

New seating will be installed in the arena, as bleachers will be replaced with chair-back seating, and seats will be replaced throughout the entire venue, improving seat comfort.

Recommended Videos



“Our goal is to get it done and make something the community can be proud of, that the university can use and get benefit from so generations to come can enjoy coming to the events put on here,” said Josh Light, Brasfield & Gorrie senior superintendent and the general contractor for the project: 

The renovations will also enhance the fan experience for Gator home games.

"We'll have an all new sound system, new LED lighting system, a center hung scoreboard and supplemental scoreboards," said Florida Executive Associate Athletics Director Chip Howard. "We'll have expanded restrooms and 360 degree concourse. We'll also have premium seating that we've never had in the O'Connell Center."

The arena is now closed. The swimming pool will remain open until March 26 for the 2016 U.S. Collegiate Synchronized Championships, and the Florida Gators Gymnastics team will use the auxiliary training space until April 14. The building is expected to be closed until December.

To stay updated on the progress of the project, visit rising.oconnellcenter.ufl.edu and follow the O’Connell Center on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @OConnellCTR. The website will be updated regularly with the locations of all displaced events as well as progress on the building renovation.