Sanford Stadium renovation plans approved at UGA Athletics meeting
Sanford Stadium is going to have a new look before too long. During Thursday’s first session at the University of Georgia Athletic Association Board of Directors Meeting, plans for a $68.5 million renovation to the school’s football stadium was approved unanimously – along with a a $26.7 million renovation to the indoor tennis facility.
The plans, presented to the board by Matt Brachowski as a part of athletic director Josh Brooks’ report, laid out renovations on the south side of the stadium with Phase 1 (Gate 6 and Gate 9 renovation) starting after the 2022 season to be completed prior to the 2023 season and Phase 2 (a vertical upgrade to the structure) starting after the 2023 season to be completed prior to the 2024 season.
According to the presentation, the project was considered to be a longtime problem that is being addressed at last. More gates, the Sanford Drive bridge being a part of the stadium on game day, larger concourses, more restrooms, increased luxury seating and moving the press box were all a part of the plan.
“Yeah, as you look at any project, you focus on efficiencies, right? You want to be first class in everything you do, but as you talk about any and all of the facilities we’re talking about, the challenge is finding efficiencies, and that’s why we’re deliberate about the process of getting that advance, locking in costs in advance as you can because of there’s a natural escalation, which has impacted — I’ve talked to ADs across the country. It’s impacting projects everywhere,” Brooks told media members after the meeting. “But thankfully we’ve had phenomenal support from our donor base that’s allowed us to keep raising money and to do projects like the indoor tennis facility, which is fully funded. But, at the same time, like you said, you’ve got to focus on efficiencies. We will always want to be first class in everything we do for our student-athletes or coaching staff but finding where we can be efficient and not be wasteful and respectful with what money we raise.”
Brooks stated that the financing for the project will be a combination of both fundraising and taking on debt, all a part of the athletic department’s launch of a $300 million capital campaign that will play out over the next five years.
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