A student finds refuge from a Monday afternoon rain storm at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
On Thursday, the UF Board of Trustees approved a change to the name of two campus landmarks.
The Stephen C. O’Connell Center arena will now be known as Exactech Arena, and Florida Field will be known as the Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
The arena’s name resulted from a sponsorship with local orthopedic device company Exactech, said Priscilla Bennett, the director of communications and marketing for the company.
Exactech will pay UF about $6 million over 10 years, with an option to extend the use of its name for an additional five after that.
“It really feels like a marriage between these two organizations,” she said.
Bennett said former UF faculty members Dr. Bill Petty and Dr. Gary Miller founded the company in 1985, and that more awareness of the company will hopefully bring attention to health education.
As for the stadium, the university has worked since last Fall — when Steve Spurrier retired — to add his name to the field, said Dan Apple, the assistant football director.
“He turned our whole program around,” he said.
During Spurrier’s career, the Gators won their first national championship and six Southeastern Conference titles, said Steve Orlando, a spokesman for UF. Spurrier was also the university’s first Heisman Trophy winner.
According to a press release, Spurrier said he knew about the change since Fall, but still felt greatly honored for the special recognition.
