Upcoming announcement for stadium renovations? Found these advertisements newly posted around Bobby Dodd.

[LT 1967]

Two things come to mind here. Maybe the attendance figures in football made them change their mind on reducing capacity.

Also, the renovations to the club level really are making that section more expensive. My dad who has had our season tickets since 2000 and has sat in the same seats since 2002 is going to move us out after 2026 because the prices will hike so high for the Reno of the east cl

Agree. Coach Key has shown that a winning football team will result in a significant increase in fan support. Tech fans and alumni will fill up Bobby Dodd if they have a team that they can be proud of.

As we have discussed on this thread previously, BD stadium with seats throughout the stadium would result in approximately a 12 to 15 percent reduction in capacity. UNC's stadium capacity dropped from 60K to 50K after adding the chair back type seats.

 

[RonJohn]

Resurrecting the Full Steam Ahead thread from the grave with an update:

From The Flats: A Letter from Ryan Alpert

Georgia Tech AD updates fans on upcoming renovations at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field

ramblinwreck.com

I'm very curious about this $70 million figure compared to the $500 million previously thrown out. The article also contains some new renderings, this time only of box seats/club areas, while the seating in the background remains bleachers. The Full Steam Ahead page on the A-T website remains the same, showing chairbacks. We have shown the propensity in the past to overhaul construction plans with a new AD - the current Fanning Center, headed up by Batt, ended up totally different from the renderings given by the TStan admin.

So the question is, have we scaled down our BDS renovations, or is this just phase one of the project? Any donors in the know here?

The $500 million was the goal for the entire fundraising campaign, not just the stadium renovations. I believe the Fanning Center was also part of the $500 million goal when it was announced. They actually included the money already raised for the Fanning Center in the totals for the Full Steam Ahead initiative at the beginning. There are three projects currently listed on the website: BDS renovation, Zelnak revamp, and O'Keefe modernization. https://www.atfund.org/full-steam-ahead

So it is just one phase of the project. I am not a big donor and in the know, but I don't remember any public information about the actual dollar budget for the BDS renovation. It might be scaled back, or it could even be more than they were expecting two years ago.

 

[AUFC]

Really don't think we should throw out the chairbacks just because fans showed up en masse last season. If we lose the openers against Colorado and Tennessee, I bet we will be back down below 40k attendees for Mercer and Duke. This isn't the time to go back to full sections of empty bleachers.

 

[billga99]

Really don't think we should throw out the chairbacks just because fans showed up en masse last season. If we lose the openers against Colorado and Tennessee, I bet we will be back down below 40k attendees for Mercer and Duke. This isn't the time to go back to full sections of empty bleachers.

I agree. Also hopefully it gets to a point where the vast majority of seats go to Season Ticket holders and students. I think Season Tickets were no more than mid 20s. That plus Student Tickets put our numbers at 30-35K. That leaves 20K tickets open in current configuration. If we reduced capacity 5K, I don't think it will be to our detriment.

 

[UgaBlows]

I agree. Also hopefully it gets to a point where the vast majority of seats go to Season Ticket holders and students. I think Season Tickets were no more than mid 20s. That plus Student Tickets put our numbers at 30-35K. That leaves 20K tickets open in current configuration. If we reduced capacity 5K, I don't think it will be to our detriment.

I hope this helps eliminate the big empty areas in the upper East! If demand is there they will prob eventually raise prices to make up for the lost seats fron chairbacks

 

[TooTall]

Really don't think we should throw out the chairbacks just because fans showed up en masse last season. If we lose the openers against Colorado and Tennessee, I bet we will be back down below 40k attendees for Mercer and Duke. This isn't the time to go back to full sections of empty bleachers.

Have sections (between the 25's on both sides) with chair back and everywhere else bleachers. Some can't fit in 18" wide chairs with arm rests and the chair backs prevent taller people from enjoying the game comfortably, there by having to stand the entire game and have people yell at them that they can't see and should just sit down. Sorry my dude, I can't buy the seats in front of me and remove the back of the seat.

If we go to 100% chairbacks in BDS, I will cancel my season tickets. I may go to 1 or maybe 2 games a year and be uncomfortable, but not 6 or 7.

And for those saying we should stand the whole game(which I do), then why waste money putting in chairback seats?

 

[Scott462]

No chair back seats? Y'all are crazy. That's the renovation I'm most stoked about. I can't stand those bleachers.

 

[takethepoints]

No chair back seats? Y'all are crazy. That's the renovation I'm most stoked about. I can't stand those bleachers.

Well, I have a problem with going all seats.

I'm 79. My balance is not good. My seats are near (sorta) the elevators at the top of 104. I have to struggle to get past people to get to them. Luckily, folks are kind enough to get up on to the bleachers to let me by and I can come to the games. I doubt this would be the case if it was all seat backs. Further, I don't mind the bleachers; I've been sitting on them for two decades. Sooooo … no seats = happy me.

 

[stinger 1957]

I like doing something in a limited way for now and lets see what happens with GTFB over a few years. I'm probably more optimistic about the long term future than many on here, but I believe our Pres. and his commitment and would hold off and see what happens over some years, then make decisions with what they might want to do. I think who ends up in CFB big league plays into this in a big way, we're in the number 6/7 largest media mkt and that is where it is going to be in the future IMO. It in many ways will mirror the present NFL, when all comes out about the NFL, who knows may replace it, not saying that will happen but would not rule it out. IMO need time for lots to shake out.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

40-45k would be a good number for us imo, attendance is trending down

Depends where you start the trend line. Attendance is way up compared to the time TFG was coaching.

 

[jgtengineer]

Unc and Duke both use seats and it's a much better experience than bleachers for kids

 

[Northeast Stinger]

Georgia Tech-Pitt is a Sellout

Jackets will play for ACC title game berth in jam-packed Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field

ramblinwreck.com

Just for the sake of nostalgia….

 

[5277hike]

I’m 6’3” and Kenan stadium is one of the most uncomfortable that I have ever been in. I had to turn my legs sideways to keep from hitting the seat in front of me.

 

[Root4GT]

I’m 6’3” and Kenan stadium is one of the most uncomfortable that I have ever been in. I had to turn my legs sideways to keep from hitting the seat in front of me.

That is the downside to putting Chairback seats in old stadiums.

We would be better off tearing the old stadium down and building a modern one.

 

[chewybaka]

40-45k would be a good number for us imo, attendance is trending down

competition with home 80" OLED 4k monitors is tough

 

[BigDanT]

wonder how much that would further decrease capacity? Already have the decrease from the seating removed for the new "Edge" building.

I really hate that we are finally selling out the stadium just in time to reduce capacity.

 

[Oakland]

I really hate that we are finally selling out the stadium just in time to reduce capacity.

We're really not selling out the stadium. We did make more tickets available for the students and the south end zone is still not filling up. I believe the days of the mega stadiums are over. Nashville is building a new domed football stadium for their NFL team and it will hold 60,000, 9,000 less than Nissan Stadium. Big Ten member Northwestern just built a new stadium that holds 35,000 fans. The new stadium in Las Vegas holds 65,000 fans which might be the largest stadium built recently. Even the Braves reduced the size of their stadium when they moved to Cobb County. I know this is blasphemous, but I wish we could afford to replace our current stadium.

 

[Northeast Stinger]

We're really not selling out the stadium. We did make more tickets available for the students and the south end zone is still not filling up. I believe the days of the mega stadiums are over. Nashville is building a new domed football stadium for their NFL team and it will hold 60,000, 9,000 less than Nissan Stadium. Big Ten member Northwestern just built a new stadium that holds 35,000 fans. The new stadium in Las Vegas holds 65,000 fans which might be the largest stadium built recently. Even the Braves reduced the size of their stadium when they moved to Cobb County. I know this is blasphemous, but I wish we could afford to replace our current stadium.

Yes, it is blasphemous. I will spare you the lecture of how Atlanta systematically destroyed their architectural heritage in the name of progress.

But, for the sake of discussion, how many seats would you put in a newly designed stadium? What is the sweet spot number?

Also, just for fun, what design qualities would it incorporate so that it becomes a lasting architectural gift to the community rather than a disposable box to be replaced in 30 years?

 

[LT 1967]

Yes, it is blasphemous. I will spare you the lecture of how Atlanta systematically destroyed their architectural heritage in the name of progress.

But, for the sake of discussion, how many seats would you put in a newly designed stadium? What is the sweet spot number?

Also, just for fun, what design qualities would it incorporate so that it becomes a lasting architectural gift to the community rather than a disposable box to be replaced in 30 years?

I almost fear to approach this conversation. I was blasted pretty hard the Last time I brought up the possibility of a new stadium for GT. However, for a fun conversation, I believe 50,000 is the sweet spot. Georgia Tech is growing and we are seeing our alumni base increasing in Georgia. Plus, I believe any capacity below 50K brings along a less than favorable perception from regular football fans, particularly in
our part of the country.

That being said, I like the design of Baylor's relatively new stadium constructed in 2014 for approximately $266 Million. Photos linked.

BaylorProud » What national voices are saying about Baylor’s McLane Stadium

Found on Bing from www2.baylor.edu

sl.bing.net

 

[Lil G]

Imagine 10k less jacket fans howling on 3rd down 🫩
This season was so fun and a clear continuation of our upward trajectory since G*** C*****
Bobby Dodd was packed and ear piercing.
Just doesn’t make sense.

Also now imagining the old folks that sit near me having to stand and fold their chair back so people can walk infront of them. There’s currently jusssst enough room to move your legs to the side for people to slip by, but that will be eliminated. But hey! Preeemiuuumm