The Stephen C. O'Connell Center is getting a facelift at an estimated cost of $900,000.
Lynda Reinhart, director of the center, said the recent renovation addresses safety issues. New handrails, first-level bleachers and wider aisles will better accommodate the audience.
To maintain the old bleachers, which were 30 years old, the university was spending a tremendous amount of money, Reinhart said.
"Even though it was a pretty hefty outlay of money," she said, "it will save the university some money in the long run with less maintenance expense."
The new bleachers have a clean look, she said, that will closely match the Gator blue color and brighten the arena.
The main area previously held around 12,000 seats; with the wider aisles, about 200 seats had to be removed, she said. Fewer seats shouldn't affect ticket pricing in future events.
The project was funded by the O'Connell Center's reserves and started May 14. It had been discussed for about three years, said Jeremy Cynkar, director of operations. Cynkar said the bleachers will be more aesthetically pleasing.
By the end of this week, the arena should be ready for fall activities. UF Football and Volleyball Fan Day, scheduled for Aug. 20, will be the first event where people will use the bleachers, but people will get a glance at the new arena with earlier events, such as another Jehovah's Witness Conference and summer commencement during the first week of August.
Gator fans crowd the stands during a UF basketball game at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The O'Dome will be renovated by the end of the week.
