Florida Gymnasium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Florida Gymnasium
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| Location | Gainesville, Florida |
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| Built | 1949 |
| Architect | Rudolph Weaver and Guy Fulton |
| Architectural style | Collegiate Gothic |
| Website | Official site: http://recsports.ufl.edu/locations/courts/florida-gym-basketball-courts |
The Florida Gymnasium is a historic building at the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville. It's often called the "Florida Gym." When it first opened in 1949, it was a huge sports arena with 7,000 seats.
For over 30 years, it was the main home for the Florida Gators men's basketball team. Other UF indoor sports also used the gym. During this time, it earned the cool nickname "Alligator Alley."
In 1980, the Stephen C. O'Connell Center opened. This new building became the university's main sports facility. The Florida Gym then slowly changed its purpose. Most of its inside space was updated. It became modern classrooms, labs, and offices. Today, the center of the gym still has a basketball court. It's used for classes and small events.
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History of the Florida Gym
Early Sports Buildings
The University of Florida's first indoor sports building was the University Gymnasium. It opened in 1919. The men's basketball team used it for practice and games. However, it was mostly for student fun. There wasn't much room for people to watch.
By the mid-1920s, the university knew it needed a bigger gym. Building a new brick gym was too expensive. This was because of the Great Depression, a time when money was scarce. So, a temporary wooden building called the "New Gym" was built. It was right next to the old University Gym.
This "New Gym" was supposed to be temporary. But due to money problems, it was used for over 20 years!
The "Alligator Alley" Era
Plans for a bigger gym started in the early 1940s. Architect Rudolph Weaver began the design work. But the project was put on hold during World War II. After the war, Guy Fulton finished the plans. The Florida Gymnasium finally opened in 1949. This was also around the time the university started accepting both male and female students.
The Florida Gym was the second large indoor space on campus. The University Auditorium was the first. Both places hosted many events and ceremonies. The gym's court was even used for student class registration.
As a sports venue, the Florida Gym quickly got its nickname: "Alligator Alley." It was a tough place for visiting teams to play. The seats were very close to the court. When the gym was full, the noise was "deafening." This made it hard for opponents.
However, the gym also had some problems. It didn't have many comforts. There was no air conditioning. Also, all UF indoor sports teams had to share the same court. Over time, it started to seem small and old-fashioned. Some people said it looked like a "dreary old high school gym."
By the early 1970s, UF was the only school in its sports conference without a modern basketball building. This made it hard to get top new players. It also slowed down the basketball program's growth. So, the university decided to build a new, large sports arena. The O'Connell Center opened in December 1980. It became the new home for all UF's indoor sports.
What's Inside Today?
After the O'Connell Center opened, the Florida Gym changed. During the 1980s, its basketball court was used for student fun. Other parts of the building were updated. They became spaces for the College of Health and Human Performance. The gym was also used for class registration until the early 1990s. After that, students could register by phone or online.
The gym was no longer needed for student recreation. A new fitness center opened nearby in 1990. A much larger sports center, the Southwest Recreation Center, opened in 1994.
In the mid-1990s, the Florida Gym had a big renovation. The old bleachers were removed. Much of the inside was turned into modern classrooms, labs, and offices. The basketball court is still there in the middle of the building. It's used for College of Health and Human Performance activities and small events.
In 2008, the Florida Gymnasium became part of the University of Florida Campus Historic District. This district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
