No Place Like The O'Dome
Florida’s Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, also known as the O'Dome, is the premier volleyball venue in the Southeastern Conference and one of the greatest environments in the country on match days. The latest Stephen C. O'Connell Center Renovation, a $64.5 million project, was completed in December of 2016, giving the arena a fresh start and modern-day look.
The Gators welcomes their opponents, affectionately known as “Gator Bait,” and introduce the team with a pre-match show like none other: a 3D court projection. Made possible through its partnership with Quince Imaging, Exactech Arena is the only university-specific athletics venue with this innovative court projection technology permanently installed.
Additionally, a center-hung display main video board, four corner video boards, a new LED lighting system, the band, cheerleaders, Florida’s mascots – Albert and Alberta, Dazzlers dance team and, of course, some of the loudest and most passionate fans in the country provide an atmosphere that is arguably the best in college volleyball. The Gators play on their own volleyball-specific floor, which has been the stage for some of the greatest moments in Florida volleyball history, including a 58-match home win streak (Oct. 14, 1990-Sept. 4, 1994) which, at the time, was the longest in NCAA history.
The Gators' home venue provides them with one of the most significant home-court advantages in college volleyball, as evidenced by nine undefeated seasons at home and a .935 winning percentage (401-28) in the O'Dome since 1991. It has been the home venue for NCAA First and Second Round matches in 21 of the last 26 years (not including 1995 and 2016, when it hosted them in the Lemerand Athletic Center), along with 11 NCAA Regional Championships--five of which sent the Gators to the NCAA Semifinals.
“Our success is due in part to the support we receive both by the UF administration and the community,” UF head coach Mary Wise said. “We have in the O’Connell Center a venue that is one of the best places to watch and play volleyball. Our fan base has created an atmosphere where a home match is an event.”
Florida has ranked among the top-15 schools in the nation in attendance 24 times in the last 26 years, and in the first-ever match inside the post-renovations Exactech Arena (Aug. 25, 2017) the Gators drew a crowd of 7,523 in win over then-No. 1 Texas, breaking the program's attendance record for a standalone volleyball match. Two key contributors in the Gators' consistently high attendance numbers are The Rowdy Reptiles and Gator Attack Club. The Rowdy Reptiles, the official student group of Florida athletics, united together generate an electric atmosphere. The Gator Attack Club, Florida’s volleyball booster organization, is one of the largest groups in the nation and are some of the most ardent supporters of the program.
| All-Time Top 10 O’Connell Center Volleyball Crowds | ||
| Opponent | Date | Attendance |
| 1. Georgia (played prior to Midnight Madness) | 10/14/94 | 8,163 |
| 2. Texas | 8/25/17 | 7,523 |
| 3. LSU | 10/15/04 | 6,311 |
| 4. Stanford | 9/4/94 | 6,204 |
| 5. Florida State | 11/9/93 | 6,132 |
| 6. Penn State | 9/10/10 | 6,022 |
| 7. Ole Miss | 10/12/01 | 5,831 |
| 8. Arkansas | 10/13/06 | 5,722 |
| 9. Mississippi State | 10/11/02 | 5,521 |
| 10. Georgia | 11/10/95 | 5,039 |
Gator volleyball players also get a chance to interact with fans in a variety of ways, including signing autographs after matches, another example of how the atmosphere at home matches is enjoyable for fans of all ages. When you watch the Gators play in the O’Connell Center, fans hopefully go home not only with a win, but also with a smile on their faces.
PHOTO OF AUTOGRAPHS???
