Condron's Gift Continues to Push Gator Boosters Initiative Forward
Friday, June 28, 2019 | Football
Through philanthropic gifts, Gary Condron and others have provided great momentum in perhaps the biggest and most aggressive drive ever undertaken by the organization.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Phil Pharr remembers walking into the newly completed indoor football facility to watch a practice back in the fall of 2015. With Pharr, the executive director of Gator Boosters, was prominent donor Gary Condron and daughter Shelby, then a student at the University of Florida.
As the three of them stood and scanned the 89,000-square foot structure, Pharr shared a thought.
"It's just amazing to me that you can put a football field under one roof like this," he said.
That's when Shelby reminded Pharr what her father did for a living. As chief executive and founder of the Conlan Company (with offices in Atlanta, Dallas and Jacksonville), Condron oversees construction of warehouses and distribution centers that more often than not top out over a half-million square feet. Example: On the next drive on Interstate-75, check out the mammoth Chewy pet supply center just north of Ocala. It's 600,000 square feet and thus big enough to hold the UF practice facility inside — plus a few Home Depots. Add that to 23 Amazon warehouses that have gone up on Condron's watch, with another currently under construction that will span — get this — 2.5 million square feet.
Back to Shelby.
"Dad builds things wayyyyy bigger than this," she said.
Now, back to Pharr.
"We were basically looking at a garage compared to one of his buildings," he said.
Yes, Condron builds things wayyyyy bigger than some of the prominent facilities used by the Gators, but he's also been instrumental in helping build those UF structures. Once a walk-on baseball player at Florida the 1970s, Condron has a passion for both the university and the Gators, and his generosity over the years has been recognized with the Gary Condron Family Concourse in Exactech Arena and Gary Condron Field at the Indoor Practice Facility. More name space in his honor could potentially be on the way after Condron pledged an additional $3 million this week, bringing his giving total for recent facility projects to more than $13 million. Condron's generosity has been critical to the University Athletic Association's capital improvement initiative that is out to raise $155 million as part of its three-phase plan to finance the renovated softball stadium and build from scratch a new baseball stadium and football facility over the next three years.
"I keep doing it because I'm blessed to have the ability to do it," Condron said of his philanthropic efforts. "I love the Gators. They've done so much for me and provided me with so much joy. The least I can do is give back."
Through philanthropic gifts, Condron and others have provided great momentum in what Pharr called the "biggest, most aggressive" drive ever undertaken by the organization.
Among the earmarked projects:
Condron has been impressed by UF athletic director Scott Stricklin's forward thinking relative to the future of the Gators' all-around program.
"I think Scott is a visionary," Condron said. "He has a fiduciary responsibility to the program, but he's going to make sure our facilities are on par with the programs we want to compete with on a daily basis — and that's the top teams in the country."
Doing so also requires benevolence from folks like Condron.
"What Gary, Bill Heavener, Don Dizney, the Farriors … what they've done is transformational," Pharr said. "These things don't get done without people stepping up to this level."
Condron, in turn, hopes his efforts can spawn similar generosity from others.
"For me, it's an easy choice. While I've actually stretched a little farther than perhaps I should, quite honestly, we need the help and it can't be done without the support of the Gator boosters," Condron said. "I'm going to help to the level I can and I will always encourage others who have the ability to do it if they can."
As the three of them stood and scanned the 89,000-square foot structure, Pharr shared a thought.
"It's just amazing to me that you can put a football field under one roof like this," he said.
That's when Shelby reminded Pharr what her father did for a living. As chief executive and founder of the Conlan Company (with offices in Atlanta, Dallas and Jacksonville), Condron oversees construction of warehouses and distribution centers that more often than not top out over a half-million square feet. Example: On the next drive on Interstate-75, check out the mammoth Chewy pet supply center just north of Ocala. It's 600,000 square feet and thus big enough to hold the UF practice facility inside — plus a few Home Depots. Add that to 23 Amazon warehouses that have gone up on Condron's watch, with another currently under construction that will span — get this — 2.5 million square feet.
Back to Shelby.
"Dad builds things wayyyyy bigger than this," she said.
Now, back to Pharr.
"We were basically looking at a garage compared to one of his buildings," he said.
Yes, Condron builds things wayyyyy bigger than some of the prominent facilities used by the Gators, but he's also been instrumental in helping build those UF structures. Once a walk-on baseball player at Florida the 1970s, Condron has a passion for both the university and the Gators, and his generosity over the years has been recognized with the Gary Condron Family Concourse in Exactech Arena and Gary Condron Field at the Indoor Practice Facility. More name space in his honor could potentially be on the way after Condron pledged an additional $3 million this week, bringing his giving total for recent facility projects to more than $13 million. Condron's generosity has been critical to the University Athletic Association's capital improvement initiative that is out to raise $155 million as part of its three-phase plan to finance the renovated softball stadium and build from scratch a new baseball stadium and football facility over the next three years.
"I keep doing it because I'm blessed to have the ability to do it," Condron said of his philanthropic efforts. "I love the Gators. They've done so much for me and provided me with so much joy. The least I can do is give back."
Through philanthropic gifts, Condron and others have provided great momentum in what Pharr called the "biggest, most aggressive" drive ever undertaken by the organization.
Among the earmarked projects:
- The renovation of Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium (pictured above), home to the national powerhouse softball program, was completed in time for the 2019 season and hosted a record single-game crowd of 3,140 during the NCAA Super Regional series win over Tennessee that earned the Gators a 10th trip to the Women's College World Series in the last 12 years.
- In February, the UAA broke ground on the new baseball stadium —"Florida Ballpark" — at a site on the southwest part of campus, adjacent to the softball and lacrosse complexes. The Gators will play in McKethan Stadium during the 2020 season, then move into the new ballpark for 2021. Florida Ballpark will offer a 360-degree open concourse, shade structure for fans, increased capacity and multiple seating and game experience options, among other amenities. Estimated cost: $65 million.
- Construction on the 142,000 square-foot Florida Football Training Center will begin following the 2020 baseball season on the site of McKethan Stadium, which will be raised. The projected $85 million project will be home to day-to-day operations for Florida football, student-athletes and staff, all conveniently located next to the indoor and outdoor practice fields. It also will feature a dining and lounge area for all UF student-athletes.
Condron has been impressed by UF athletic director Scott Stricklin's forward thinking relative to the future of the Gators' all-around program.
"I think Scott is a visionary," Condron said. "He has a fiduciary responsibility to the program, but he's going to make sure our facilities are on par with the programs we want to compete with on a daily basis — and that's the top teams in the country."
Doing so also requires benevolence from folks like Condron.
"What Gary, Bill Heavener, Don Dizney, the Farriors … what they've done is transformational," Pharr said. "These things don't get done without people stepping up to this level."
Condron, in turn, hopes his efforts can spawn similar generosity from others.
"For me, it's an easy choice. While I've actually stretched a little farther than perhaps I should, quite honestly, we need the help and it can't be done without the support of the Gator boosters," Condron said. "I'm going to help to the level I can and I will always encourage others who have the ability to do it if they can."
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