Georgia Tech Details $500M ‘Full Steam Ahead’ Stadium Renovation Plans
A $500 million campaign, called Full Steam Ahead, was announced in fall 2024. The campaign was planned to start this year to upgrade facilities. Not only for football fans, but also for volleyball and basketball players.
The sports industry has gone through an evolution leveraging innovative tech. Just like how casino players now can get a similar physical betting experience through Evolution Gaming casino, which live-stream a real-life dealer and invites real-life players to sit at the same table together, sports betting has also evolved immensely. Sports fans can now bet while they’re streaming the match in real time and place their wagers as the game proceeds.
Georgia Tech is one of the teams that has been known to implement various tech innovations for team and fan engagement. It’s similar to how online casinos focus on cryptocurrencies, a modern way to do transactions that are more secure and quicker. Players will find a crypto casino allowing them to get their winnings almost instantaneously. Sports fans and UGA will also step into this modern, innovative tech era, especially for their upcoming stadium.
Bobby Dodd Stadium Transformation
The planned transformation of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field will excite fans. There’ll be a massive videoboard setup at the south end, alongside a speakeasy and some new clubs. There’ll also be an array of deluxe suites added.
The oldest on-campus stadium in major college football will also get some improvements. The circa-1913 stadium will soon provide a next-level gameday experience, which Georgie Tech will definitely be seen on soon.
New renderings have been released by the architects, Ewing Cole. The Philadelphia-based designers have allowed a peek at the planned upgrades to the stadium suites and interior changes.
These include an upgrade to the standard suits in the north and south end zones. They contain 16 seats with multiple amenities, such as a wet bar, a dedicated suite attendant, and in-suite catering.
Improvements on the West Side
The west side will offer new Premium Suits, also fitting 16 seats. The difference is that they’ll showcase elevated finishes and furniture, which includes elevator access.
Meanwhile, the stadium’s western side will come with a 120-seat Foundation Club. It’ll offer a dedicated entry, premium food and beverages, private restrooms, and outdoor seating. The university’s athletics department stated that it’ll have upscale padded chairback seats with temperature control, adjusting heaters, and a cooler.
The Foundation Club also offers a VIP space, which will be called the East Side Speakeasy. VIPs can enjoy all-inclusive food and beverages in an intimate and posh surroundings.
What Fans Can Expect
Regular fans would be able to enjoy an elevated experience come the upgrades. A huge videoboard will ensure a better viewing experience, and an elevated sound system along with it. The chairback will replace today’s hard bleachers for better comfort.
The Full Steam Ahead campaign doesn’t stop at the football stadium. The home of Georgia Tech volleyball, O’Keefe Gym, will be upgraded with fan amenities and a widened concourse.
The basketball team will have a revamped training hub. Zelnak Basketball Center will provide better conditioning, strength, and athletic training areas. The men’s basketball locker room will undergo an update following the women’s facility, which had gotten its improvements a few years ago.
The work for Zelnak Basketball Center will start this spring, alongside the improvements for Bobby Dodd Stadium. They’re expected to finish in fall 2027.
Georgia Tech’s Previous Use of Tech Innovations
Georgia Tech has been known to integrate multiple advanced technologies in the past. One of the more well-known improvements was their use of performance tracking technologies.
Performance tracking technologies have been popular in the sporting industries in recent years. Teams and coaches leverage this tech to obtain insights into player movements, game dynamics, and biometrics.
It’ll also provide real-time data for coaches and athletes alike. This leads to better decisions. Teams can make data-driven changes when it comes to game strategies, training regimes, and preventing injury.
Georgia Tech football’s use of GPS tracking was groundbreaking for the world of sports. This is a technology allowing them to monitor various metrics. It covers players’ acceleration, deceleration, distance covered, and overall speed. This is a wearable technology that gives a deeper insight into the player’s physical condition.
It seems like it’s only the beginning of Tech’s discovery of innovative tech uses. Fans can expect a better viewing experience during the match days, as well.
