Renovated O'Connell Center

[GatorAl]

For those of you that trek to Gainesville for UF-UK games, here is an article
on the renovations. There is a link to a detailed description in the article.
It looks like they have provided for more space around the court, but they don't
say that.
All chairback seats; 1,000 less seats/

http://floridagators.com/news/2016/1/9/MBK_0109161605.aspx

 

[SaguaroCat]

Smart. Less people are going to go to games in the future. Make it more comfortable for those that do. We kinda did that for our football stadium, except fans in the cheap seats got nothing except to hear about all the cool things rich fans have access too.

 

[Chuckinden]

Did they move the base of the goals back?

 

[Ugoff]

Wonder if it still smells like a pool.

 

[fla.cat]

It's the most expensive "lipstick on a pig" that I have ever seen.

It still will be a pig sty of a gym.

I will be there this year as usual, and I will recount if I'm wrong, but I wouldn't bet on it happening.

 

[JasonS.]

I thought the ODome was pretty great before, but this will make it better. Kind of similar to what IU is doing with the Assembly Hall renovation.

Agree with the point about smaller capacity being the right answer for everyone these days.

 

[ssorg]

Wonder if it still smells like a pool.

I'm thinking so............if they haven't moved the damn pool.

 

[JPScott]

For those of you that trek to Gainesville for UF-UK games, here is an article
on the renovations. There is a link to a detailed description in the article.
It looks like they have provided for more space around the court, but they don't
say that.
All chairback seats; 1,000 less seats/

http://floridagators.com/news/2016/1/9/MBK_0109161605.aspx

The space around is the court along with the baskets supports are what I'm most concerned about. The rendition does seem to indicate there should be more space on the sides, but that may just before they fill it in with media tables and advertisements etc.

The basket supports look like the same rinky dink erector set type basket supports that they currently have. If so, that's a big disappointment as that gym is dangerous to play in IMO.

 

[jojohn]

Football pays for basketball.and their probs preclude any new arena at Fla .

coach Munster left over renos.

2 bball champs and you get a smaller arena.
Fla. will never compete again in bball.and i hate donovan and them in particular as being fairweather fans who couldnt sell out the orgasm dome but 1 time a year when ukbb bought the tix.orgasm dome.no with smaller orgasms and same smell tbd.

 

[GatorAl]

Wonder if it still smells like a pool.

According to post in a thread on our board, part of the renovation involves new A/C ventilation
systems which will not circulate chlorine odor throughout the facility.

 

[GatorAl]

The space around is the court along with the baskets supports are what I'm most concerned about. The rendition does seem to indicate there should be more space on the sides, but that may just before they fill it in with media tables and advertisements etc.

The basket supports look like the same rinky dink erector set type basket supports that they currently have. If so, that's a big disappointment as that gym is dangerous to play in IMO.

Media is moved up a level.

I don't know if you can draw any conclusions about the basket supports from what they drew in. Those stanchions
spook me as well. Oh for the days when the baskets were suspended from the ceiling. What sort of arrangement do you have in
Rupp?

 

[the nail at the foul line]

Did they move the base of the goals back?

Considering that cost us an NCAA Tournament appearance I would like to know.

 

[JPScott]

I don't know if you can draw any conclusions about the basket supports from what they drew in. Those stanchions
spook me as well. Oh for the days when the baskets were suspended from the ceiling. What sort of arrangement do you have in
Rupp?

First of all I'm not the best person to ask about Rupp as I rarely am able to attend games there.

But judging from photos, I believe UK has similar type of basket support but they are placed further back behind the baseline and there is more comprehensive padding as well.

I remember after Nerlens Noel got Injured I looked into Florida's set-up and while they are within regulation, it's the absolute minimum. (which IIRC is something like 6 feet) And the padding was insufficient at the time although it looks like they may have improved on that after Noel's injury.

Below are some photos for comparison.

Florida's O'Connell Center

As seen above, part of the O'Dome's current problems are the stands on each side descend down to the court so that there's not additional room to move back the basket stanchion.

Also, they push the media tables out so close to the sidelines that there's little if any room for the player if they go out of bounds.

Rupp Arena

Rupp, in comparison is a little more roomier both along the baseline and sideline.

And the basket supports at least appear to be set further back. If anyone could get a measurement of how far the stanchion is behind the baseline that would be useful to know.

 

[GatorAl]

Thanks JP, very informative pictures. I looked up a bunch of pictures on the ODome as well. I'm not sure
but it looks like to me that the stanchions are farther back. I vaguely remember that they took out a couple of
rows in the end zone, With the Dazzlers, cheerleaders and photogs it was like a damned bus stop under the
baskets.

I feel confident that the new set up will be better.

 

[jrm693]

I have never attended a game in Gainesville but have a friend who lives in Jacksonville and been trying to get me to come but he said new coach has put a stipulation out to get Kentucky game tickets you have to buy a three game set of tickets anyone else heard that?

 

[JPScott]

Thanks JP, very informative pictures. I looked up a bunch of pictures on the ODome as well. I'm not sure
but it looks like to me that the stanchions are farther back. I vaguely remember that they took out a couple of
rows in the end zone, With the Dazzlers, cheerleaders and photogs it was like a damned bus stop under the
baskets.

I feel confident that the new set up will be better.

Good to hear. FWIW, I don't have a problem with Florida trying to have the best home court advantage they possibly can, but when it puts player safety at risk I think they need to take a step back and make some changes.

BTW, I am curious has the NBA ever held any exhibition games there? The reason I ask is I remember in the NBA Summer League there was an injury and it turned out that one of the gyms being used in Las Vegas didn't meet normal NBA regulations, and they were looking at extending those regulations to not just normal NBA games but summer league as well.

Anyway I was just curious since as mentioned I think Florida is just the bare minimum for college regulations. Not sure what the NBA regulations are but they seem to be more restrictive (i.e. require more space) than the NCAA does.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Whipped cream on a dog turd.

 

[ok-cats-computer]

The new video boards look nice. We need a center-hung video board in Rupp. I also like that Florida is going to all chair back seats.

 

[UKBrassowTipIN]

If they were doing renovations to the O dome I just expected it to be that the floor was pulled up, replaced with 50 yards of turf, and turned into another football practice facility where 8 to 10,000 could watch.

 

[KyFord]

That gym cost us Nerlens Noel in 2013, it's definitely time to renovate/destroy that building