The University of Georgia regents voted Tuesday to approve a $68.5 million project to overhaul the Bulldogs' football stadium.
The new play to renovate Sanford Stadium will make it easier for fans to move about the stadium and add premium suites.
According to The News and Observer, construction on the first phase is planned to begin after the 2022 football season and the second phase would be built after the 2023 football season.
The first phase of the project includes a new entryway and plaza, as well as wider lower-level concourse to make moving around the 92,000-seat stadium easier for fans. New concessions stands, expanded bathrooms and expanded seating for people with disabilities are also included.
”We're improving the ability of our fans to get in and out of the stadium, to have better services, to really improve the overall fan experience," UGA president Jere Morehead told The Associated Press after a regent committee approved the work. “So it's all focused on the fans, which are the lifeblood of college football.”
The second phase of the project will include building a new 154-seat press box on the southwest corner of the stadium, as well as new suites with a total of 125 seats. The existing press box would then be converted into an expanded club space for donors with 270 seats.
“We've always had a tremendous demand for premium seating,” Morehead said. “This isn't going to meet that demand, but it is one more step in addressing that demand."
The News and Observer also reported that regents also approved a $26.7 million plan to replace the Lindsey Hopkins Indoor Tennis Facility, built in 1979. The new building would include six indoor tennis courts, up from four. Officials said having six courts would let the university bid for NCAA tournaments. The work would be funded with private donations.
