Stephen C. O'Connell Center

The University of Florida's Stephen C. O'Connell Center will play host to the Southeastern Conference Championships for the sixth time in the meet's 20-year history on March 18, 2000. The O'Connell Center's main arena has showcased every possible collegiate championship event on multiple occasions. Most recently, the 1997 NCAA Championships were contested in the O'Connell Center, drawing the then third-largest total attendance (22,699) in the history of the event. The NCAA Championships also drew well in its first appearance in the O'Connell Center in 1986, drawing the fourth-highest two-day total of 14,299. In addition, the O'Connell Center has played host to NCAA Southeast Region and Southeastern Conference Championship events several times.

Both meet and practice facilities are held in the $14 million building, which covers 3.6 acres and contains 292,000 square feet of space. The O'Connell Center had an $8.1 million facelift in the summer of 1998 to add a new roof and improvements to the Gator gymnastics practice facility. The project also upgraded the sound and lighting systems to give the Gators a state-of-the-art capability for pre-meet and competition activities. Another $2.5 million project upgraded concessions, restrooms and entranceways in the summer of 1999, while a pair of state-of-the-art Daktronics Scoreboards was installed in the fall of 1999.

The arena seats 11,120 for gymnastics meets and is home for the Gator basketball and indoor track teams, as well as the Gator volleyball team. An indoor pool, home to Florida's swimming and diving teams, can also be found in the O'Connell Center. The upper level track is considered one of the fastest in the country and the Olympic size swimming pool has also been cited as one of the world's fastest, having several American records set in its waters. A five-lane, 50-meter outdoor warm-up and training pool, constructed in the fall of 1987, sits adjacent to the O'Connell Center. The O'Connell Center played host to its first NCAA Championship in the pool, as the Florida women won the championship trophy in 1982.

Ted Crom Gymnastics Studio

The Ted Crom Gymnastics Studio, practice site of the Gator gymnasts, can also be found in the O'Connell Center. The studio stretches over 9,000 square-feet and contains state-of-the-art AMF equipment. The Gymnastics Studio was redesigned during the 1997 off-season to accommodate a 16'x40'x6' free foam pit. The pit has a tumbling strip on one end, while the other side features vaulting and a tumble trak. In just the past few months, the Gators received four new balance beams, a rod tumbling strip, new uneven bars, a Palmer spring floor exercise and new mats throughout the Ted Crom Gymnastics Studio. Other additions over the past five years include a state-of-the-art trench bar, a cast-handstand trainer, trampoline, a double-mini trampoline and a bungee system.