Interesting ideas for Stegeman Coliseum, Sanford Stadium
Athens — Interesting meeting of the UGA Athletic Association board of directors on Wednesday.
The big news was the board’s approval of a recommendation by AD Damon Evans to keep the Georgia-Florida football game in Jacksonville through 2016. Basically, the decision not to mess with the game’s 75-year tradition came down to the fact that there wasn’t a clear, compelling, irrefutable reason to move it out of Jacksonville. Or, as UGA President Michael Adams put it: “I think there would have to be overwhelming reasons and overwhelming sentiment to change.” And there weren’t. The reason cited by some -– Georgia’s 3-16 record in the past 19 meetings with the Gators –- was rejected by Evans and, ultimately, the board. “I’m not a believer we are losing the game because we are playing down in Jacksonville, Fla.,” Evans told the board. “I truly believe our team can beat anybody anywhere.” Evans added later that he has studied the records of the series. “The thing I see,” he said, “is that we’ve had success in Jacksonville. In fact, we’ve had more success there than Florida.” Just not in the past two decades. Anyway, here’s my full story on the decision.
Oh, and Mark Richt’s reaction was interesting, too: He didn’t say much. That story is here.
The board also approved spending $1.9 million for design work on a couple of interesting projects: an expansion and total renovation of the concourses at Stegeman Coliseum and the addition of a multi-purpose amenities area behind the north stands of Sanford Stadium.
The idea for Stegeman basically is to move out the outer walls to the point where the roof ends its overhang of the current structure, adding 10,000 square feet of concourse space and what Evans calls a “wow” factor to the 45-year-old coliseum. The number of restrooms and concessions areas would be sharply increased, and the building would be modernized with a glass façade.
The idea for Sanford Stadium is to create a plaza with concessions areas, restrooms and other amenities behind the north stands (in the “Reed Alley” area between the stadium and Reed Hall). The entrances to the plaza would be configured so that it is part of the stadium on game days but accessible from campus on other days.
If design and financing plans come together, Evans expects to go back to the board this winter and ask for approval to proceed with the projects. He’d like for the Stegeman project to be completed by the start of the 2010-11 basketball and gymnastics seasons and for the Sanford project to be completed by the start of the 2010 football season.
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94 comments Add your comment
Class of '98
September 24th, 2009
8:47 pm
Here’s an interesting idea for Stegeman…. bulldoze it.
Odella Dean
September 24th, 2009
9:23 pm
I want to get into the game instead of tailgating outside the stadium all the time. I want to see my face on the jumbotron.
Dawson Dawg
September 24th, 2009
9:31 pm
Obviously nobody here sits in the North Lower section of the stadium. It’s about 20 years past due for a major renovation. Traffic flow is a cluster, Restrooms are overcrowded and you’ll miss a quarter of action if you go to the concession stand. I can go to the dome and get food, use the restroom and be back in a few minutes.
Money well spent!
Jimmy The Greek
September 24th, 2009
9:54 pm
Jimma sez Sun Devils 34 Dawgs 21. Take it to the Bank. Jimma sez you will not win another game until you learn to clean up the trash talk and the trashy stadium. This place smells and looks like a cess pool.
Vinnie
September 24th, 2009
10:33 pm
Bulldoze Sanford and build the Dooley Dome. Of course this is after Adams leaves UGA for The NCAA.
Jeb
September 25th, 2009
10:34 am
Just put a dome on top of Sanford. Then it would be loud and we could all sit in the shade.
billytdoogan
September 25th, 2009
10:40 am
Leave the bridge open – otherwise we have an ugly unoriginal bowl such as those found in Alabama and Tennessee. On game days, Sanford Stadium becomes GA’s 8th largest city at just under 93,000 people – does it really need to be larger? Plus, the hedges would die if the enclosure blocked the sun, then we would play between the chain link fences, which just does not sound as catchy.
Regarding Stegeman, renovations are better than nothing and certainly welcome in this climate.
ticklepile
September 25th, 2009
11:19 am
Jimmy the Greek? I would think a corpse like you smells pretty bad too. Take yourself to the morgue.
Iron Dawg
September 25th, 2009
12:32 pm
Thanks for getting the Jacksonville call correct!! The GA/FL game and venue is one of the greatest sporting events in the country and why anyone would think of moving it is beyond logical thought. Barring anything terribly out of the ordinairy this game should stay in Jacksonville – period. Additionally, it is a complete shame that any GA (or FL) fan would think that their record is dictated by a location where the fans are split evenly 50/50. If we move for that reason we should just give FL the win every year and be done with it. The other two items I’m not as sure of but as a ticket holder in the north section I can tell you it is a mess. It would be great to fill in the West endzone AS LONG AS THEY LEAVE A VIEWING “WINDOW” FROM THE BRIDGE. This would help keep the crowd noise in the stadium and make it even less inviting for our “guests”.
Iron Dawg
September 25th, 2009
12:45 pm
Oh……the folks that say the west endzone can’t be filled in, etc. are probably the same ones that say we can’t win in games played in Jacksonville.
PMC
September 25th, 2009
12:48 pm
1.9 million dollars in design work to put lipstick on the pig that is Stegman?
I’d rather they go foward with plans to replace the dinosaur.
elmo lewis
September 25th, 2009
1:25 pm
The 3rd deck ruined the symmetry of one of the prettiest (if not THE prettiest) stadiums in the country. Tear it down and build asecond level over the bridge.
Shaneneeee Faneneeeeeee
September 25th, 2009
1:42 pm
How about they put a huge Gator statue outside of the stadium since UGA has been absolutely owned by Florida is the last two decades.
shannon1776
September 25th, 2009
3:59 pm
Love those ideas. I want to make one point Evans and the others are not looking at. True, we have won more than UF at Jax. However, inder Spurrier, he went with an off week before the UGA game and they started killing us.
I have no problem with keeping it in Jax, but if the talent is the same, that off week for UF will kill us.
Two years ago we had an off week and beat UF 42-30. This year we have an off week and will beta them.
Either make sure the schedule gives us an off week before that game to compensate for the longer travel, or tell them to screw off and rotate the Ga Dome with it.
Island Dawg
September 25th, 2009
4:27 pm
Been in Stegeman once, and that was well before college so no comment there. However I am very mixed on closing in the Bridge opening. It is a great view, but the crowd noise is horribly dissipated. No stadium near the size of Sanford has an open endzone. I mean looking up the Hill while in game or looking in the stadium on the way to class is awesome and part of the UGA experience, but we could easily hit 105K with that expansion and possibly still provide a partial view. Just think it’s something to be considered.
shawn
September 25th, 2009
4:30 pm
Just cover Sanford, add a dome.
Island Dawg
September 25th, 2009
4:32 pm
Iron Dawg, didn’t read yours before posting. Great Idea!
shawn
September 25th, 2009
4:43 pm
On a serious note, have you seen the sketches for the Stegman renovation? Horrible. You can see them on georgiasportsblog.com archives. I hope the current plans are not the same from last year. I didn’t think you could make the Steg look any worse; i was wrong.
Time to tear it down and start over. I hope the administration dosn’t adopt an attitude of “quick fixes”. Spend the extra money and make decisions for the long term.
BuLLdawg
September 25th, 2009
5:57 pm
South Carolina looks very good.
LSU looks very good.
Florida looks as good as both of them, right ?
Auburn looks good.
Georgia Tech is not as bad as they have looked, right ?
Kentucky doesn’t look half bad., eh ?
Arizona State is at least as good as South Caroina, according to the latest BCS Rankings, both at No. 46.
There is no doubt whatsoever that Arkansas is very good, and probably has the top-rated QB in the NFL Draft today, right ?
Oklahoma State is very good.
Tennessee played consensus Number 1 Florida very well, right ?
OK.
Is this correct, or not ?
So, the question I have to ask is where are the teams Michigan (undefeated in a lousy sucky Big 10 conference) plays that are any where near these 10 teams ?
Go ahead, it has been 39 years since Michigan had a team as horrid as they had last season fans, tell me who in the hell does Michigan play like these Ten (10) teams UGA is playing ?
Go ahead Michigan fans.
Both of you.
Tell us who in the living hell does Michigan play – like these ten (10) UGA opponents this season ?
Waiting…
Ohio State ? Joke.
Penn State ? Joke.
Anyone else on the Michigan schedule ?
Go ahead.
Find 10 like these 10 UGA opponents, Mighty undefeated Michigan fans ?
Neither Ohio State nor Penn State plays anyone any good either, do they ?
signed…can’t wait to hear your lame-butt responses (2) both of you.
Can’t do it, can you ?
DOG Brad
September 25th, 2009
6:25 pm
Jacksonville is a redneck paradise. Scum abounds. I do not go any more as I got sick of dealing with the trash element that is North Florida and South Georgia. Every person with any small ties to UGA knows that Adams is making this decision based on his financial gain with no regard for UGA fans and alums. UGA fans pour millions into the scummy, crime-ridden city of Jacksonville and it’s economy and pay the inflated Florida sales tax, gas tax and hotel tax. In this tough economy, it’s just not responsible not to think of your own state and the money that could be generated with the game in Athens or Atlanta.
77DAWG
September 25th, 2009
8:21 pm
For Sandford stadium, every time I stop at the bridge I have a blue print in my head. The wrap around should keep it usual circumference, means we can keep the bridge (like partial tunnel) and on game day people can be emptied directly onto the concorse of the stadium (no car of cause). It can be one of the most beautiful design with a curved rectangular gap of 50 x 250 feet (my golden ratio) between upper ring and the lower one. At the present time we can do it about 10 Mil. During the 80’s, Herschael had planned to campagn for the project but Mr. Trump payed him to quit school. The benefit of enclosing the Sandford are 1) can max out of 120,000 fans = more $$ earns, 2) Effective noice will be produced at the same time the stadium can also “breath” tthrough the gap = minimize the heat effect (like Neland at UT) of the olaying field. 3) It would be the largest stadium in the world. Think about it DE & Dr. A.
77DAWG
September 25th, 2009
8:53 pm
After I read CMR comment about UGA Defense, his purpose of coaching here is quite clear, just win enought games to stay together with all of his coaches. No championship is mentioned, right, we will never get one with this attitude and buddy Willy for DC. Sad , very sad. Good bye everyones!!!
Dawg Max
September 25th, 2009
9:06 pm
Stegemen’s a dump and should be torn down, instead of wasting millions to renovate. UGA needs a 15,000 seat, state of the art facility to recruit top players, not some old rodeo barn not meant for basketball.
Savie Steve
September 25th, 2009
9:40 pm
Damon idiot Evans & drunk alco.Adams likes to through their weight around ,
like their important or something ! It would not suprise me that they fired CMR
after this season Because he wanted to have it here and in Jax.
Southside Drug Rep
September 25th, 2009
11:03 pm
I don’t care what they do to the stadium. Can we please get some decent Coke Cups at the concession stands? I’m tailgating with ones from the early 90s!
BuLLdawg
September 26th, 2009
12:54 am
How bad are the Big 10, Big East, and PAC-10 ?
There are not any top teams in those 3 conferences, and the ACC has a ton of really sorry football teams.
Dawg'94
September 26th, 2009
8:49 am
How about putting more lights in Stegemen? The place is DARK.
blazerdawg
September 26th, 2009
9:13 am
What is so great about the west end of Sanford being open is not the ability to look in, which is very cool, but being inside and looking out at Baxter Hill. The view out to the ridge line and trees turning in the fall make Sanford the most beautiful large stadium in the country. 94,000 is large enough and plenty loud enough.
BuLLdawg
September 26th, 2009
9:20 am
ACC BCS Rankings today :
93 Virginia, lost to William & Mary (Geez) So Miss and others.
87 North Carolina State, lost to South Carolina.
80 Maryland, lost to Middle Tennessee State (ha ha) among others.
79 Duke, lost to Richmond Spiders believe it or not, among others.
59 Boston College, blown out by Clemson who doesn’t play 1 good team.
55 Weak Forest, lost to Baylor – Good Lord Above.
Unranked Georgia Tech lost in a blow-out to Miami of Florida last.
Virginia Tech blown out by Alabama, again.
This is one sorry lot of football teams, once again this season, as it has been every single solitary year – bar none.
Soon the ACC will lose its guaranteed BCS Bowl Game.
ACC Bowl Games find that the ACC has a LOSING RECORD in Bowl Games, All-Time at 83 wins 84 LOSSES and 2 ties. Of course, the Big XII and the Big Ten (11) both also have LOSING RECORDS IN BOWL GAMES, but that is NO CONSOLATION to the sad ACC Conference – now, is it ?
BuLLdawg
September 26th, 2009
9:26 am
We can easily sell 30,000 more seats
DirtyDawg
September 26th, 2009
10:04 am
No reason they couldn’t renovate and upgrade Stegeman, I mean if Tech could do it to the Big Tit no reason why we can’t. By the way, I assume that we’ve checked the concrete aggregate, or whatever, at Stegeman on a regular basis all these years, haven’t we? When the news first surfaced that there was a concern – way back when – I waited until the place had been filled a couple of times before I ventured forth…and even then I sat at the very top, figuring that if those concrete triangles fell the last ones to go would be on the sides and wouldn’t have as far to fall before it smashed us. Don’t worry, if it hasn’t fallen down by now, it probably won’t.
CatsFly
September 26th, 2009
10:19 am
Follow the Ukrainians at Chernobyl. Create a sarcophocus (sp) around it and don’t let anyone near it for 2k years.
honest_abe
September 26th, 2009
4:06 pm
like meansonny’s been preaching all week… it all starts with pressure up front. that bama d looks awful good because they get pressure from their front 4. thats the name of the game. willie’s fault he can’t get pressure from the edge????? hmmmm
Jimmy The Greek
September 26th, 2009
4:49 pm
I say blow the place up. It looks like crap, smells like crap, and is the home of a pathetic football team. Jimma sez Arizona State rolls tonight.
BuLLdawg
September 26th, 2009
5:43 pm
Arizona State and the rest of the PAC-10, sucks. Bulldogs by 4 TDs.
Kevin
September 27th, 2009
2:03 pm
Just gonna throw this out there…closing in the bridge would be like blocking out Touchdown Jesus at Notre Dame or covering up that dumb rock at Clemson…
Rudolph '71
September 27th, 2009
4:40 pm
Enter your comments here Already Sanford Stadium is one of the most beautiful in the USA and very likdely the world. Yes, the view of the stadium from the bridge is spectacular which makes me very proud of my alma mater. However, I would feel much prouder knowing that Sanford is the biggest and most beautiful stadium in the world and that the “Big House” at Michigan as well as Neyland at Tennessee are trivialized as mere piles of junk. Let’s do it UGA alumni!
Rudolph '71
September 27th, 2009
7:04 pm
Let’s tastefully and architecturally impressively close the west endzone incorporating the bridge. UGA is our alma mater, not Mr.Adams’. Let’s not allow his dcision about Sanford, if he decides not to bowl in the west endzone, to determine the long-term look of one of UGA’s greatest structures. Here’s affection, alumni.
Sugar Hill Dawg
September 27th, 2009
8:49 pm
Matt – thanks for the link! The plans for all of the facilities look fantastic! I graduated from UGA in 1975 – Stegman (then known as Memorial Coliseum) was a morgue! True, that was due primarily to the absolutely pitiful teams of the early 1970s, but what a dump! My only exciting time at Stegman was to finad a class card that actually fit my schedule. (Registration was done in those pre-PC/Mac days by hand in the Coliseum. Finding a needed course at a time of the day that made sense wasn’t too easy. I saw some guy “scalping” some accounting class once!) Duke and Tech have built pretty decent programs in crappy buildings – I don’t see why Coach Fox won’t be able to emulate Andy Landers program. (Stegman doesn’t seem to bother the women’s team.) Leave the West endzone alone – I loved crossing “the bridge” every day (hoofing it between LeConte and the GGS building), pausing to check out Sanford and the Hedges! (My son’s at Auburn. They have a nice facility, but not terribly inspiring.)
GoDawg
September 27th, 2009
10:50 pm
Maybe your software should just automatically delete “Add your comments here.” Deleting per entry appears to above four year college level.
As to Sanford, the Reed Plaza seems like the right idea. But the concessions and restrooms in the south stands also desparately need expanding. There is definitely room for a plaza on the west end of the South stands. Generally, there is way too much congestion from fans trying to negotiate through other fans standing in lines for concessions and restrooms. Put the concessions out beyond the pedestrian paths. And you MUST know that the personnel running the concessions, well-meaning though they may be, do not understand the concepts of organization, preparing in advance, and delegation of duties. Small things add up; e.g.,the person taking the order should not be the same person who draws the drink. It would be well worth it to hire a QUALIFIED time-and-motion fastfood consultant. Serving in a concession stand should perhaps not be the place to experiment with creativity and self- expression. Organizing the concessions would significantly increase revenues and happy fans.
DawgVoiceofReason
September 27th, 2009
11:58 pm
GoDawg, your comments about the stadium plancs, concessions and restrooms are right on the mark. The stadium exterior view is a thing of beauty; the inside is not and is not functional either. That needs to be addressed.
I don’t think we can afford to just bulldoze Stegeman after all of the renovations that have been done. The inside now is pretty nice (I know, it’s not a palace); I think the planned glass exterior will significantly improve the outside appearance and add some useful space.
On the decision to stay in Jacksonville, I think it was the right one. That event is one of the great sporting events in America. We just need to get back on the winning track, and we will. Moving to home and home would be one of the worst concessions of defeat in the history of college football. I understand some of the financial reasons to at least consider moving, but to do it because of our record in the last 20 years would be pathetic.
GoDawg
October 1st, 2009
1:25 pm
Another thing about the concessions; why not go back to those great collector cups (especially the smaller size) that were more durable and that fans kept using until the pictures were faded and worn. The new flimsy cups are hardly worth saving.
I suspect that the decision makers on these facility and concession matters are mostly sitting in the skybox areas and don’t know just how bad it is for the great majority of the Bulldawg faithful.
One last thing: why not spring for some new designs for the Redcoat Band uniforms. By comparison to some of our opponents, our look is more than a little dated and dull. And in that you can hear the opponents band in much of the north stands better than our own Redcoats, maybe we should consider SOME sort of amplification through the the main speakers on the scoreboard–but please not through the speaker system in the stands, some of which are defeaing already, especially in the club level.
Globals
October 2nd, 2009
7:15 pm
all good things
Wes
October 17th, 2009
8:39 pm
As a student who walks and rides across the Sanford Bridge everyday, it would be an absolute eyesore if the west end was completely closed. The east end was easy to close since it there was no real hinderance of the view of the stadium (save for those who may have sat on the hills next to the cemetary). On the west end however, students such as myself love looking into the studium and staring in awe at its immense scale. That location is a favorite spot for taking pictures BECAUSE it’s the only place that allows for such a view. Perhaps if there was no bridge, nobody would care. But it’s been there, and has provided a dynomite view of the structure, which would be ruined if west end was closed. I’m glad the folks making the decisions see the reasons for not doing this. Such a classic view, not just from the bridge, but from Lumpkin Street, the high-rise dorms, the Tate parking lot, and areas in between should not be destroyed.