FootballThe Football Practice Fields, located behind the O'Connell Center, where renovated in 2005 at the cost of $1 million. The project significantly extended and enlarged two of the three exiting fields, improved irrigation, drainage and lighting, and added an on-site building for equipment and trainers. The 4,500 - square foot building houses an air conditioned training and rehabilitation area, bathrooms, and equipment storage areas. One of three fields is surfaced with FieldTurf, a state-of-the-art infilled surface. FieldTurf is documented to result in a reduction in extremity injuries and significantly reduced neural injuries. 22 of the NFL's 32 teams have FieldTurf in their stadiums and/or practice facility, and is the only surface used in MLB stadiums. |
Golf and TennisWomen's Golf Located less than a mile from campus, the University of Florida Golf Course and the Guy Bostick Clubhouse, home of the Men's and Women's Golf Teams, is situated on 110 acres of heavily tree-lined, softly rolling terrain. The 18-hole, par 70 course plays to a length of 6,700 yards from the Gator tees, but with four sets of tees, is playable from all levels of players. The course went through a $4 million renovation in 2001, which included: new tees and fairway green surfaces, 140-plus bunkers, triple row irrigation, and a newly designed practice facility for the teams. The course is a privately owned course for UF staff, students, and alumni use. Men's Tennis - Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex Women's Tennis The Gator men's and women's tennis program has always been the benefactor of one of the nation's top tennis facilities. In 1999, though, thanks to the additional generous contributions of Dr. Alfred A. Ring, the entire facility underwent a complete facelift that has turned it into one that is unlike any other in the country. Ring has made substantial contributions over the last several years to bring the complex to its current elite status, funding several previous projects. Linder Stadium at Ring Tennis Complex was completed last spring following a $1.7 million renovation project. The focal point of the project is a new building adjacent to the courts that serves as home to the men's and women's teams. The main building of the complex encompasses 5,620 square feet and includes coaches' offices for the men's and women's teams, as well as a training room and locker rooms for both players and coaches. There is also a conference room, as well as a reception area and a 3000 square-foot courtyard. The complex has also added a locker room for opposing teams, bringing the total building areas to 7,163 square feet. The complex also includes a new main entrance that leads directly into the grandstand area. A new entrance leads into an open courtyard area that includes benched seating and concessions surrounded by attractive landscaping. The complex features a 1,000-seat grandstand overlooking six main lighted courts, in addition to a second row of nine courts. The second row combines six outdoor courts and the three covered courts in the Ring Pavilion, giving Florida a total of 15 regulation courts. The courts, which were resurfaced in the summer of 1998, are made of a hard court surface similar to the type of court found at the U.S. Open. The grandstand is highlighted by a two-level, 15-seat press box and features six electronic scoreboards over each of the six courts, providing updates on all six grandstand courts. A court-level viewing area, as well as concessions and restrooms, are conveniently located beneath the grandstand. The attractive complex is surrounded by palm trees and a lush green landscape that easily makes it one of the most inviting tennis environments for both the spectator and the competitor. |
Swimming- Stephen C. O'Connell Center Natatorium Women's Swimming and Diving The Stephen C. O'Connell Center Natatorium, home of the Gator swimming and diving program, is considered on the fastest facilities in the nation. The O'Connell Center Natatorium recently underwent a major renovation totaling approximately $850,000. A new indoor hot tub, a 1,600-square foot "Gator Champions" picture wall, a Mondo diving surface and a dry diving board and overhead spotting rig were just a few of the new amenities added. Did You Know? - The pool holds 847,000 gallons of water - The natatorium has room for more than 3,000 fans - In 1994, a $75,000 state-of-the-art color matrix scoreboard was installed - Florida also has a five-lane 50-meter outdoor pool for use at its disposal Diving Facilities - Rank among the finest in the nation - Comprised of two one-meter boards, two three-meter boards, one five- meter platform and one 10-meter platform - Features a hot tub and underwater viewing room - Training apparatus includes a trampoline set-up with an overhead spotting rig and a one-meter board over a port-a-pit Pools The pool is considered one of the fastest in the world because the water remains so calm during competition. The pool bottom slopes rapidly from five feet to 18 feet, greatly reducing the rebound of waves from the bottom. The extensive gutter system also absorbs water slapping against the sides to help eliminate waves. The 847,000-gallon pool can be used as two 25-yard courses with a warm-up area in the middle; two 25-meter courses; or at its full 50-meter long course use. Seating is good for 1,200 spectators, but as many as 3,000 have filled the confines of the O'Connell Center to watch Florida battle some of the nation's finest competition. A $75,000 12' x 13' state-of-the-art full color matrix scoreboard was installed in the spring of 1994. The scoreboard is complete with graphics, timing and scoring information that keeps fans posted on all of the swimming and diving action. The O'Connell Center, which houses the natatorium, had its Teflon roof replaced with a hard, permanent surface that was completed in August 1998. Outdoor Training Facility The five-lane, 50-meter pool is used for daily training in conjunction with the indoor facility. It is also used for warm-up purposes while competition is taking place inside. The outdoor pool sits adjacent to the indoor facility and offers easy access between the two through a revolving door on the ground level of the O'Connell Center. The warm-up and training pool is well lit for swimming at night and allows Gator swimmers to enjoy Florida's mild temperatures while training. Two hot tubs with hydrotherapy jets, a variety of pull-up bars, dip bars and VASA training equipment are also located on the outdoor pool deck. Carse Complex The Wayne and Jimmie Carse Swimming and Diving Complex officially opened in summer of 1998, giving the Florida swimming and diving programs a new home. It is a state-of-the-art building that houses the UF coaches' offices, coaches and team locker rooms, an athlete lounge, conference room and meeting area and offers access to the 50-meter pool directly behind the complex. The building is named for Wayne and Jimmie Carse of Orlando, Fla., whose generous gift of over $820,000 made the construction of the complex possible. "The Carses have been Bull Gators in support of our football team for years," said Phil Pharr, director of Major Gifts for Gator Boosters, Inc. "They are an example of our athletic supporters who ask, 'How can I help', and did with their contribution to our swimming and diving programs." Carse, who serves on the Gator Booster Board of Trustees for UF, and his wife have supported Gator athletics for the past 20 years. Diving Facilities The diving facilities in the O'Connell Center are equal to the best in the country. The equipment includes two one-meter boards, two three-meter boards, one five-meter platform and one 10-meter platform, a hot tub and an underwater viewing room for judging and photography. But what sets Florida's diving training apart is the practice apparatus. The Gators practice with a trampoline set-up with an overhead spotting rig and a one-meter board over a port-a-pit. |
Track and Field- Stephen C. O'Connell Center Women's Basketball, Indoor Track, Gymnastics, and Volleyball Florida's Stephen C. O'Connell Center has a reputation around the country - enthusiastic and friendly if you're a Gator…noisy, deafening and menacing if you're the opposition. Florida's student section, dubbed the "Rowdy Reptiles", has made the O'Connell Center one of the toughest places to play in the nation. In fact, ESPN The Magazine dubbed it the "Scariest Place to Play in the Country" in its 1999-00 college basketball preseason issue. The NCAA also selected the O'Dome as one of three arenas in the country featured through a virtual tour on its official website during the 2000 season. Built at a cost of $14 million, the O'Connell Center - named for former UF President Stephen C. O'Connell (1967-73) - has become the showplace for college basketball in the state of Florida. The O'Connell Center had an $10 million facelift in the summer of 1998 to replace the teflon coated roof with a permanent structure. The project also upgraded the sound and lighting system to give the Gators a state-of-the-art capability for pre-game and in-game activities. Another $2.5 million project upgraded concessions, restrooms and entrance ways in the summer of 1999, while a pair of state-of-the-art Daktronics Scoreboards were installed in the fall of 1999. While the O'Connell Center has a reputation as an imposing basketball arena for visiting opponents with its 12,000 seats, the Center is also part of a centrally-located athletic complex. The facilities surrounding the O'Dome include Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field, McKethan Stadium at Perry Field, James G. Pressly Stadium, the Scott Linder Tennis Stadium and the University Golf Course with the Bostick Clubhouse. Inside the O'Connell Center is the main arena, an indoor track and field facility, one of the fastest swimming pools in the world, a gymnastics area, dance studio, martial arts room, basketball practice courts and strength and conditioning facilities. The O'Connell Center also is the site of more than just Gator sporting events. It brings people together for many other sporting, entertainment, academic and business activities. Over the years, the facility has housed concerts, Disney shows, conventions, business exhibits, conferences, banquets, university and high school commencements, SEC and NCAA championship events and has served as a first and second round site for the National Invitation Tournament in 1986 and as a first round NIT site in 1992 and 1998. Women's Soccer and Track and Field - James G. Pressly Stadium Men's Track and Field During the spring and summer of 1995, the stadium underwent a major $750,000 facelift so that the facility could accommodate soccer. In order to meet specifications, the pole vault and long jump pits were moved from the infield to outside of the track, providing the new soccer field with a playing area of approximately 115 yards by 70 yards. In addition to redesigning the infield, 2,500 aluminum seats were added to the already existing 2,000-seat concrete grandstand, bringing total grandstand capacity to 4,500. The renovation effort also included adding new restrooms, permanent concession stands, ticket booths, storage rooms and an air-conditioned split-level pressbox. In March of 1996, a state-of-the-art scoreboard was added to the stadium's southeast corner. The $185,000 scoreboard serves both UF's soccer and track and field teams. Pressly Stadium is conveniently located adjacent to Florida's Lemerand Athletic Center. This multistory 43,000 square foot building, which opened in August of 1995, contains the locker room, equipment storage, training and sports medicine plus coaches' offices for the Gator soccer team. In addition, the Gator soccer team has exclusive use of the Florida Soccer Practice field, located near the Florida Softball Stadium on the corners of Hull and Museum Roads on the UF campus. |
Baseball/SoftballThe University of Florida is home to one of the top college baseball facilities in the nation - McKethan Stadium at Perry Field. The friendly confines of McKethan Stadium have been an important ingredient to the success of Gator baseball for close to two decades. Since its opening in 1988, the Orange and Blue has been one of the toughest teams in the nation to defeat at home in posting a 531-180 (.747) record during the span. Since Pat McMahon's arrival prior to the 2002 campaign, UF is an impressive 141-51 (.734) on its own turf. Over the past decade, nearly one million fans have enjoyed watching the Gators take the field against elite programs from across the nation each season. In fact, McKethan Stadium at Perry Field was ranked among the top collegiate baseball stadiums in the nation according to Baseball America in its January 1998 issue.UF's home field was listed No. 7 and was ranked as the best stadium and field in the Sunshine State. McKethan Stadium boasts a capacity of 5,500, including 5,100 grandstand seats and 400 bleacher seats extending down the outfield lines in left field. Always looking to improve its facilities, McKethan Stadium underwent a $350,000 plaza development project in 1996 that produced a new main entrance and created a plaza/courtyard atmosphere for fans surrounding the main grandstand. Construction over the previous summer had added 1,000 seats to the main grandstand to replace seating lost through prior construction and press box expansion. The press box was rebuilt during the fall of 1996 with the aid of an additional gift of $300,000 from Mr. McKethan. The actual playing field, one of the best in the SEC, underwent an upgrade during the summer of 1997, with the field leveled and new grass planted. Capacity was also increased to 5,000 at that time, with seats added along the left-field line and beyond the left-field fence. During the 2003 off-season, a brand-new Gator skin outfield fence and a padded backstop were attached. The infield and pitching mound were also graded and leveled and more outfield drainage was added. Lights were first installed at the stadium in 1977 thanks to a generous con¬tribution from New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, a Bull Gator booster. A $13-million dollar expansion to McKethan Stadium and the Lemerand Athletic Center that was completed in September of 2006 enhances Florida's complex even more. The construction project resulted in additional stadium seating and a baseball-specific building that includes a training facility, video room, offices and locker rooms, as well as a new bullpen/batting cage building with concessions and an upper deck overlooking the playing field. Women's Softball - The Florida Softball Stadium The Florida Softball Stadium was officially opened just over a year after its February 1, 1996 ground breaking as the Gators played host to Stetson for the program's first game on February 8, 1997. The $2.6 million facility, which complies with NCAA and Olympic specifications, adds to the University of Florida's reputation for having some of the nation's finest athletic facilities. Located at the corner of Hull and Museum roads on the UF campus, the Florida Softball Stadium sits harmoniously among the lush landscape. The stadium seats 1,200 fans in amphitheater style, with ample handicapped seating, large restrooms and concession areas, and features an electronic scoreboard with a matrix board. The facility includes two enclosed batting cages, a training room, and an umpires locker room area. The spacious press box includes booths for home and visitors radio broadcasts, and TV telecasts, as well as a multi-level print media seating area. The lighted field has dimensions of 200 feet down the left and right field lines and 220 feet to straight-away center field. A new locker room facility was added to the complex for the 2001 season. The new building was an addition to the west of the existing training room and clubhouse located on the third base side of the stadium. A covered walkway connects them. Aside from the locker and shower area for 20 players, the 2,300 square foot structure features a team meeting room, an equipment room and a laundry facility. The state-of-the-art facility is just one more example of Florida's commitment to being among the top programs in the nation. |
All UAA FacilitiesFlorida facilities are among the best in the nation. Since 1986 there have been more than $90.7 million in capital improvements, including two major expansions of the football stadium, a multipurpose athletic field house, new facilities for tennis, track & field, soccer, baseball, golf, softball and swimming. The University Athletic Association played a role in the $4.1 million academic advising center on the University of Florida campus, which serves UF students and Gator student-athletes and assisted in funding the $8.1 million renovation of the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. A $10 million practice facility for the men's and women's basketball teams opened in the Fall 2001. The $50 million renovation project of the football stadium press box with additional sky box seating began in May 2001 and was completed in August of 2003. A $4 million renovation project of the golf course was completed in December 2001. |
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