Link to Article on The Red & Black
Olivia Sayer
More seats for fans with disabilities were added in the south concourse to the newly renovated section at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. (Photo/Mady Mertens; MadyMertensPhotography)
Georgia Athletics is continuing its climb on the national leaderboards. On the gridiron, the Bulldogs finished a win shy of another playoff run, while Georgia saw its most successful baseball season in 16 years. Women’s tennis also secured its first doubles title in program history, while men’s basketball made a run in the NIT.
As the teams continue to surge, so do their facilities. The University of Georgia broke ground on multiple venue renovations, including those for football, baseball, softball and tennis.
Football
When almost 93,000 people fill Sanford Stadium in the fall, the venue will look slightly different. Georgia expanded the 100-level south sideline concourse, created a “50 Yard Line Club” and moved the press box to the southwest corner of the stadium.
The Bulldogs completed phase one of the two-step plan prior to the 2023 season. With a sensory room and additional restrooms, the new space emphasized accessibility for those attending the games. The area was also a focal point for Georgia athletics.
“The south side was probably our biggest pinch point we knew our fans complained about,” associate athletic director of facilities and capital projects Tanner Stines said last August. “Its tightness, the way the restrooms, concessions [and] everything worked.”
After revamping the bridge area, Georgia turned its attention to phase two of its renovations.
This past offseason, the Bulldogs built new premium seating along the 50-yard line for donors and moved the press box to the corner along the end zone. The hedges were also replaced in Sanford Stadium for the first time since the 1996 Olympics.
Baseball
The day after Georgia baseball’s season ended, the Bulldogs broke ground on part two of renovations to Foley Field.
Phase one finished prior to the 2024 season and included a new locker room, a new team meeting room and stadium LED lights that were displayed throughout the season.
Phase two of the $45 million project includes a pitching lab, hitting tunnels, coaches’ offices and other upgrades. The technological additions stood out to head coach Wes Johnson, who is big on analytics, when he interviewed for the job in 2023.
“With the commitment that they’ve made not only to the facilities but to the technology that they’re going to bring, I’m huge on development,” Johnson said at his introductory press conference. “I heard the fact that we’re doing the $45 million upgrade, and we want the technology. That was a perfect match right there.”
The project is expected to be completed prior to the 2025 season.
Softball
Although Jack Turner Stadium is located next to the softball facilities, the new upgrades are geared toward many teams. The project includes a new weight room for softball, soccer, golf and equestrian.
“With the new age of college athletics, our biggest focus is on giving every student-athlete the same experience,” Stines said. “And also maximize their performance and their training.”
Georgia is also turning the existing team and coaching space below the stadium into an area with restrooms, concessions and a gameday locker room. A newly constructed building along the third base line will house a locker room, players’ lounge, coaches’ offices, recruiting areas and the new weight room.
The project is expected to finish in January, prior to the season.
Men’s and women’s tennis
Georgia completed renovations to the Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Tennis facility earlier in the year. The $26.7 million upgrade included six courts, 570 seats, increased accessibility seating, an indoor/outdoor concession stand and electronic scoring. The space also emphasized convenience, as it included gameday locker rooms, an officials’ lounge and a team meeting room.
The additional courts allow the Bulldogs to be in the running to host the NCAA Championships, as teams are required to have at least six indoor courts in playable condition. Georgia saw its efforts rewarded, as the Bulldogs will host the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships in 2026.
“We are so thankful for the vision and support the University of Georgia, Josh Brooks and his staff have for our tennis programs and this project,” former men’s head coach Manny Diaz said in a statement after the renovation was initially announced. “Along with our recently renovated outdoor stadium, we look forward to giving our fans a great place to watch tennis.”
The new upgrades come on the heels of unveiling Georgia’s new track and field locker room. Construction on the 17,500-square foot area finished in February 2023. The Bulldogs also have a plan in place for a new video board in Stegeman Coliseum.
“I think that’s been a very common statement from a lot of athletic departments that the days of building, building, building are going to slow down,” UGA director of athletics Josh Brooks said following a board meeting in May. “That’s why I’m glad we were able to get so much done these last few years and now get us caught up to where we’re in a great position facility-wise.”