UGA athletic board approves updates to Sanford Stadium, Stegeman Coliseum

The University of Georgia athletic association's board of directors gave the go-ahead Friday for an $11.7 million budget on improvements to Sanford Stadium, Stegeman Coliseum and the Boyd Golf Center.

Georgia athletics director Greg McGarity explained the construction that would occur within all three facilities.

The work on the school’s football stadium pertains to the LED ribbon boards as well as the fire alarm system. The boards are monitors that show sponsors on the third level of Sanford Stadium and often display messages during games. These boards will be extended to go all the way around the third level of the stadium and will feature the latest LED technology.

McGarity noted that these boards have been funded without use of the athletic association’s reserves and will be completed by next year’s spring football scrimmage.

The fire alarm system project is one that will begin immediately after the 2016 season. McGarity explained that the stadium currently houses four different alarm systems; the update will produce one central system. This will require $1 million from the reserve.

“We’re fine right now,” McGarity said. “There are no issues as we begin the football season as far as safety is concerned.”

The renovations to Stegeman Coliseum is the second phase of the school’s push for improvements within the arena. The first phase of construction began in May and focused on re-branding the south end of the coliseum, which will now feature images of former men’s and women’s basketball players as well as former gymnasts.

The second phase includes maintenance and repair to the arena as well as a new center-hung scoreboard, new lights and a new sound system. The $5.27 million project will require $2.7 million from the reserve.

“At the completion of Phase 2, I think you will see a phenomenal facility in the Coliseum,” McGarity said.

The third project concerns renovating the golf team’s facility. The Boyd Center will be expanded by approximately 4,000 square feet and will offer more accommodating locker rooms for both the men and women on the teams.

This $4.35 million project will use $2.7 million from fundraising and gifts, which means the athletic department needs $1.65 million from the reserve. McGarity did not say when construction would start, but that the players and coaches would have to use temporary trailers while the process took place.

Along with the new additions, McGarity gave an update on the school’s indoor practice facility. Construction on the $30 million project began in February with the goal set at having the complex completed in January 2017.

“Our indoor athletic facility is on schedule and on budget,” McGarity said. “There’s a lot of work going on. We’re working as quickly as possible to finish that project. Right now, things are going very well.”

McGarity also relayed information about potential renovations to Sanford Stadium’s west end zone locker room area. In May, the board approved a $1 million study concerning these renovations. McGarity said HOK (formerly known as Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum) has been hired as the design firm for the potential project while EPR has been selected as the build firm.

While he said he would have more information at the board’s Feb. 17, 2017 meeting, McGarity voiced his excitement about the project.

“We’ve got a wonderful team in place,” McGarity said. “We’ve already had some preliminary meetings and things that could happen in this area, and we are still going through that study. Needless to say, it’s going to be very exciting.”   

This story was originally published September 9, 2016 at 7:09 PM with the headline "UGA athletic board approves updates to Sanford Stadium, Stegeman Coliseum."