UF MBK: College GameDay Returns to Gainesville March 1
Florida hosts the ESPN show at the O’Connell Center for the sixth time
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – ESPN’s College GameDay Covered by State Farm will return to Gainesville on Saturday, March 1, ahead of the No. 2 Florida men’s basketball team’s sold-out game vs. No. 7 Texas A&M, ESPN announced on Saturday.
Admission for the event is free, and no tickets are required. Gates at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center will open at 8:30 for students (Gate 3) and 8:45 for the general public (Gate 1). Parking for the show will be first-come, first-served in Lot 25 and Garage 7 located next to the arena. Limited concessions will be available.
It marks the show’s sixth visit to Gainesville and the Gators’ 10th time playing in the GameDay featured game. With its sixth time hosting, Florida will be among the top five most frequent sites for GameDay, along with Duke, North Carolina, Kansas and Kentucky.
Rece Davis, Andraya Carter, Seth Greenberg, Jay Williams and Pete Thamel will be on site with Jay Bilas joining the show remotely.
The Gators are 7-2 when Gameday is on site, including 4-1 at home.
Timeline for March 1
8:30 a.m. – Doors open for UF students at Gate 3
More information on student entry process for College GameDay and the Texas A&M game will be communicated next week.
8:45 a.m. – Doors open for general public at Gate 1
10 a.m. – College GameDay live from the O’Connell Center (free admission)
The arena will be cleared following the conclusion of College GameDay.
7:30 p.m. – Doors open to students and general public for Florida vs. Texas A&M
8:30 p.m. – Tipoff for Florida vs. Texas A&M
Entry Procedures
* Normal O’Connell Center entry procedures<https://www.oconnellcenter.ufl.edu/metal-detector-screening/> regarding screening and prohibited items will be in effect.
* All signs will be reviewed and any deemed inappropriate will be confiscated.
Florida’s ESPN College Gameday Appearances
Feb. 4, 2006
Kentucky
W
95-80
Feb. 10, 2007
at Kentucky
W
64-61
Jan. 19, 2008
Kentucky
W/OT
81-70
Jan. 31, 2009
at Tennessee
L
63-79
Feb. 5, 2011
Kentucky
W
70-68
Feb. 15, 2014
at Kentucky
W
69-59
Feb. 5, 2015
Kentucky
L
61-68
Feb. 4, 2017
Kentucky
W
88-66
