Georgia Tech announces plans to chairback all of Bobby Dodd Stadium

dawgstudent

Well-known member
Apr 15, 2003
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All I know is my renderings would have had people in the stands for some of the conceptual drawings. Looks like only the premium seat owners would like to attend GT games.

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Maroon13

Well-known member
Sep 29, 2022
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That stadium is older than ours. What on the West Side makes this hard? Is it the space on each row or what?
Yeah. I've always thought the old "pitch and run doesn't allow for chairbacks" line to be a lie.

Is the slope of the 100 and 200 level that much different? Doesn't look like it.
 
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patdog

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May 28, 2007
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Yeah. I've always thought the old "pitch and run doesn't allow for chairbacks" line to be a lie.

Is the slope of the 100 and 200 level that much different? Doesn't look like it.
Yeah, I don’t buy that for a minute either. You rip out the bleachers and install chair-back seats. Why would Davis Wade be the only stadium in America you can't do that?
 

leeinator

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Feb 24, 2014
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That stadium is older than ours. What on the West Side makes this hard? Is it the space on each row or what?
To make chairbacks really desirable, you not only have to chairback, but you have to increase the leg length significantly in front of you. To do this will require completely changing the row depths so chairbacks will be comfortable and fans can get up and go to the concessions without tripping all over you. The seat width also needs to increase to 20-21" from 18". So, basically we will be lowering our capacity from about 60,000 down to 45-50,000 due to better seats that take up more room. And I have no problem with doing this....however you can bet your sweet a$$ the seat prices will increase significantly also to offset the loss of capacity.
 

Xenomorph

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Feb 15, 2007
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Is the lack of chairback seats the thing that made me stop buying tickets? No.

Would chairback seats be the thing that brought me back? Yes.
 
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DawgInThe256

Active member
Feb 18, 2011
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Another option might be to leave the upper deck as bleachers, not because I love the bleachers but capacity wouldn't have to be reduced so dramatically.

Different sport I know, but Rupp Arena was like this at one time.
 

AMereMortal

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Mar 7, 2022
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To make chairbacks really desirable, you not only have to chairback, but you have to increase the leg length significantly in front of you. To do this will require completely changing the row depths so chairbacks will be comfortable and fans can get up and go to the concessions without tripping all over you. The seat width also needs to increase to 20-21" from 18". So, basically we will be lowering our capacity from about 60,000 down to 45-50,000 due to better seats that take up more room. And I have no problem with doing this....however you can bet your sweet a$$ the seat prices will increase significantly also to offset the loss of capacity.
Hopefully we increase capacity by chair backing the south endzone expansion after doing the east and west.
 
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Wesson Bulldog

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Nov 3, 2015
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I'd be for just cushioning the bleachers and making every seat 30" wide. It's too damn cramped when the crowd is large. Get off my lawn.
 

PBRME

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Feb 12, 2004
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To make chairbacks really desirable, you not only have to chairback, but you have to increase the leg length significantly in front of you. To do this will require completely changing the row depths so chairbacks will be comfortable and fans can get up and go to the concessions without tripping all over you. The seat width also needs to increase to 20-21" from 18". So, basically we will be lowering our capacity from about 60,000 down to 45-50,000 due to better seats that take up more room. And I have no problem with doing this....however you can bet your sweet a$$ the seat prices will increase significantly also to offset the loss of capacity.
How does that compare to the temporary chair backs we use now? Those things take up a seat and half and space in the row in front and behind it.
 

DesotoCountyDawg

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Nov 16, 2005
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How does that compare to the temporary chair backs we use now? Those things take up a seat and half and space in the row in front and behind it.
If you’re tall like me the person in front of you really hate those chair backs. My knees end up in their back if I’m not careful.
 
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ll Martain ll

Member
Oct 5, 2014
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Yeah, I don’t buy that for a minute either. You rip out the bleachers and install chair-back seats. Why would Davis Wade be the only stadium in America you can't do that?
It's not as easy as this. West side has a tread depth of 28". Usually the min for chair backs is 33". So if you want a like for like replacement prepare to have knees in your back. It also causes egress depth issues when the sections have too many seats. Rule of thumb is when it gets above 30 chairs in a row it's uncomfortable, above 40 it won't meet code.

It's possible to fix the tread depths, but it's not easy nor cheap. I'm also pretty sure MSU is (or at least was) already working on this.
 

horshack.sixpack

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Oct 30, 2012
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If you’re tall like me the person in front of you really hate those chair backs. My knees end up in their back if I’m not careful.
I’m only 6’ and the only way to not out my knees in someone’s back was to awkwardly turn. No way to sit straight. Super uncomfortable. And the problem behind me had the same issue. Constantly trying to navigate between being kneed and kneeing.
 
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