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The University of Georgia has routinely upgraded its athletic facilities over the last few years with multiple other projects still in the works. One of those projects, which will directly affect a number of fans who attend football games, reached an important step this week.

On Thursday, the UGA Athletic Association board of directors approved a $68.5 million renovation project that will see upgrades made to Sanford Stadium’s southside concourse. The project will result in a number of significant changes to that side of the stadium, including more ticket lanes to speed up gameday entry for fans, additional bathrooms and concession stands, wider concourses, a relocated press box and more premium seats for high-end donors.

" It's an area of the stadium that's not been touched. You know, our stadium was built in 1929. We've added on and added on and added on, but there's not been anything with the infrastructure on the south side. That changes now with this project," Georgia senior associate athletic director Matt Brachowski told the board Thursday. " It's going to be transformational for those fans sitting on the south side to get from one side to the other, run to the restroom, go to concessions and get back to the game as quickly as possible."

Brachowski explained to those in attendance that the renovations will be done in two phases. The Gate 9 plaza and 100-level concourse width expansion and the increased number of restrooms and concessions in that area will begin this December with the projected completion date coming in August 2023, just in time for the 2023 football season. The second phase — which will feature a new 200-level club and new 300-level restrooms, concessions and suites as well as a new press box — is scheduled to begin in December 2023 and be completed in August 2024.  

Here is the south side of the stadium today:

Here is how the south side will look after Phase 1:

Here is how the south side will look after Phase 2:

The Bulldogs’ latest stadium project is a multi-faceted one, and it’s easy to get lost in all the improvements and new features that will arrive as a result. Here’s a closer look at the biggest changes coming once the project is completed in August 2024:

One of the main areas that will be tweaked as part of the stadium renovation is Gate 9. Brachowski estimated the gate was either the second- or third-busiest gate in the stadium, which made improving the area a high priority.

In an effort to improve this area, Georgia will utilize the space provided by Sanford Drive to put up temporary ticket lanes along the road — which is closed on game days — to increase the number of available ticket lanes from 8 to 21. Additionally, the 100 level of seating on the Gate 9 side of the stadium will have additional toilets for men and women, new portable concessions and a new elevator:

One of the concerns voiced during Thursday’s board meeting was that the ramp currently in use on that side of the stadium is shown as a set of stairs in the new design.

Below is the ramp as it is currently used:

Here is the design that shows a set of stairs in its place:

Brachowski reiterated to the audience that they still have time to made adjustments and that concerns such as those about the ramp will be considered going forward.

Brachowski and Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks stressed how important improving the fan experience was in the upcoming project. Part of that concerned something as simple as how easily fans can navigate the stadium.

As part of these renovations, the 100-level concourse will be expanded from 10-feet, 6 inches to 23 feet in order to allow traffic to flow more easily through this part of the stadium.  

Here is a look at the difference between the current setup (top left corner) and what the new setup will look like:

“Everywhere we can take advantage of an efficiency, take advantage of an opportunity to do something for our fans, we're looking at that and doing our best to accommodate as much as we can,” Brachowski said.

The latest Sanford Stadium project will also see a number of new restrooms made available for the fans.

The Gate 9 side of the 100 level of the stadium will have 81 women’s toilets as well as 48 men’s toilets, as outlined in this graphic:

On the Gate 6 side of the 100 level, there will be 32 women’s toilets, 12 men’s toilets and 3 new family restrooms:

Going up to the 300 level, there will be 13 new women’s toilets, 12 new men’s toilets and 1 new family toilet:

Brachowski explained there will also be additional bathrooms down around Gate 9.

“ What this doesn't account for is the increase that we'll actually have down the bridge level with the restrooms and concessions as well,” Brachowski said. “It's a great win-win for people coming in and for what we can provide for our fans inside the stadium at Gate 9.”

Brachowski explained Sanford Stadium is not currently in compliance with the current ADA code, as at this point someone sitting in the ADA section cannot sit next to their guest or the season ticket holder they are there with — the current ADA dimensions force them to sit front and back.

That, however, is changing with the new project.

As part of this renovation, the south side of the stadium will have 20 ADA seats and 20 ADA companion seats — an increase of 5 ADA seats and 5 companion seats. The location of these seats is also changing; instead of being on the corners of the 100 level (which Brachowski noted was a “pinch point” around the bathrooms located in the area), these seats are now part of a new back row all the way through the 100-level’s center sections:

Brachowski clarified that Georgia is not losing any seats because of these adjustments and are actually gaining a few extra seats as a result.

“ It’s super positive for us that we're providing this better location for our ADA patrons and actually gaining a few seats to accommodate that change,” Brachowski said.

One of the new additions to the stadium will be a sensory room, which will allow fans or their children who struggle with the noise or the bright lights an opportunity to step in and regroup:

“ [There are] some folks that — maybe they're on some kind of autism spectrum — they have issues with their well-being because they're in that environment. This now will provide a quieter, safer place inside the stadium just to be able to kind of rest and decompress,” Brachowski said. “[The room can] get their parents maybe in a position where, hey, you can still watch the game on the TVs in there, but I can calm down my child or my companion or my guest in a situation where they can then take a break and go back to the game.”  

Brachowski explained Georgia partnered with an organization called KultureCity to get sensory-inclusive materials in order to make the most of the space.

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