Outside the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville fans were emitting “obsession.”
But the “obsession” surpassed a national-champion-winning men’s basketball team, who plays their home games at the arena. In fact, the “obsession” wasn’t with the Gators at all.
On Monday night, there was only two things they had an eye for: The Obsession Tour and Ross Lynch.
Hosted by UF Student Government Productions, The Driver Era made a stop in Gainesville Monday night as a part of their Obsession Tour. Although the band was scheduled to take the stage at 8 p.m., fans started lining up outside the O’Connell Center as early as 1 a.m. to ensure they secured a spot at the front of the general admission section.
Breanna Valentine got to the venue at 2:30 a.m. Although it was the middle of the night, sleeping was one of the last things on her agenda. The 19-year-old UF communication sciences and disorders freshman had come from another concert the night before — Kylie Minogue’s Tension Tour. Once the show ended, Valentine drove from Orlando’s Kia Center to Gainesville.
She didn’t pack much with her. She didn’t even change her hair and makeup from the night before. She just came right to the O’Connell Center and made the sidewalk her home for the next 15 and a half hours.
“I slept here on the sidewalk from like 6 to 10 a.m.,” Valentine said. “That was it. I had a few Monster Energy drinks, and I’m feeling good.”
Standing just behind Valentine was Sydney Jackson, a 19-year-old UF dance sophomore. When she arrived at the O’Connell Center at 2:45 a.m. on her scooter, she had a plan.
Jackson and her friends organized an official Google spreadsheet to keep track of who would be holding their spot in line for a certain amount of time, or as she called it, who would be on what “shift.” Even though Jackson was scheduled to work from 3 a.m. to 1 p.m., she worked overtime to cover for her replacement who ran late.
But even with the extra unpaid hours, Jackson’s excitement for the concert never faltered.
“I literally can not wait,” she said with a smile. “I’ve been a fan since R5. I’m going to cry, probably.”
By 6 p.m., hundreds of people dressed in mini skirts, cowboy boots and denim were lined up outside the arena, braving the Florida sun as security started to let fans trickle inside. Although the people toward the back of the line didn’t dedicate as much time to waiting, many of them paid their dues when getting tickets.
When UF Student Government Productions announced The Driver Era would be coming to the O’Dome on Instagram, the post earned nearly 6,000 likes and shares, sparking the raging “obsession” spreading throughout campus. Tickets were free for UF students, and pickup began April 2 at 10 a.m., but fans camped out overnight in tents to beat the line that began to wrap around the arena.
Brooklyn Young, a 19-year-old UF English sophomore, said she lucked out when securing the tickets for her and her friends. Foregoing camping gear, she only waited in line for two hours on April 2 and was still able to get general admission seating, putting her closer to the stage.
She waited just four hours for Tuesday’s concert, and although it’s nowhere near the 15 hours others waited, Young said she hoped those four hours would be worth it.
Several UF students carry signs with messages to The Driver Era and Ross Lynch on Monday, April 14, 2025.
“I’m definitely just excited for the music,” she said as the line to enter began to move forward. “I just want to make sure it’s something to vibe [to], because we’re so stressed with school. I just need something to take me away from all of it.”
As Young and her friends made their way into the venue, hundreds of fans sped toward the merchandise table and concession stand to grab the essentials before Phillip Phillips took the stage at 7 p.m. as the show’s opener.
Performing original hits like “Gone, Gone, Gone” and “Home,” Phillips’ vulnerable lyricism inspired fans seated throughout the arena to turn on their flashlights and sing along before switching gears to “Thriller” by Michael Jackson to close out his set.
When The Driver Era took the stage at 8 p.m., “obsession” radiated through the venue. Fans thrusted posters into the air, which read things like “Been here since R5” and “My obsession is Ross Lynch.”
But the “obsession” wasn’t just one-sided. When lead singer Ross Lynch first addressed the crowd of screaming fans after playing a few songs, he asked, “What’s up, Gators?’”
There was nothing but passionate, energized screams in return, coming from nearly every seat in the arena. Before moving on to the next song, Lynch stopped to ask the crowd what chant they were doing in between the band and Phillips’ set.
In response, each UF student chanted, “It’s great to be a Florida Gator,” in different tempos, initially throwing Lynch off. After laughing at the crowd’s enthusiasm, he finally figured it out and led the audience in chanting it two more times throughout the night.
About halfway through the show, Lynch spotted a fan who was holding a sign that read “Say ‘Gator boys stay hot.’”
“Do you want me to give the mic to you so you can say it?” Lynch asked the fan before jumping off the stage and handing her the microphone.
Lynch’s “obsession” with Gator Nation could even be seen in the orange long-sleeve crop top he wore under his overshirt and leather jacket. By the end of the show, Lynch — who’s often known for taking off his shirt during his concerts — stripped off the top two layers to reveal the orange.
For the last three songs, Lynch sported a Gator cowboy hat gifted to him from a fan, wearing it as he participated in the infamous Gator chomp before exiting the stage.
Phillip Phillips opens for The Driver Era at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Monday, April 14, 2025.
Some of the last attendees to exit the O’Connell Center were Hope Castello and Emily Xlong, who were also the first to secure their spots in line. The two 18-year-old UF interior design freshmen arrived at 1 a.m., and Castello held a sign informing Lynch of their arrival time.
Although spending 17 hours outside an arena may seem like a waste of time, for the pair of friends, it was a no-brainer.
Why?
“Because we love Ross Lynch,” Castello and Xlong shouted in unison.
And clearly, they weren’t alone. Not when dozens skipped rest, classes and late March Madness celebrations for a shot at the front row.
So forget basketball. Forget sleep. For one night only, Gainesville wasn’t just home to the Gators. It was home to those with an “obsession.”
Contact Tanya Fedak at tfedak@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @ttanyafedak
Tanya Fedak is the Spring 2025 Avenue editor and third-year journalism major. You might also recognize her from WUFT, where she's an anchor and reporter. When she's not on the clock, you can find her rereading "Me Before You" or planning her next trip to NYC.
