Stegeman Coliseum

Stegeman Coliseum
The Steg
Former names	Georgia Coliseum (1964–1996)
Location	100 Smith Street; Athens, GA 30605
Coordinates	33°56′34″N 83°22′41″W / 33.9428°N 83.3780°W
Owner	University of Georgia
Operator	University of Georgia
Capacity	10,523 (1994–present); 10,400 (1988–1994); 11,200 (1964–1988)
Surface	Hardwood
Construction
Broke ground	January 1962
Opened	February 22, 1964;; 60 years ago
Construction cost	$4.2 million; ($41.3 million in 2023 dollars)
Architect	Cooper, Barrett, Skinner, Woodbury & Cooper, Inc.
Structural engineer	Chastain & Tindel
General contractor	Thompson & Street
Tenants
	Georgia Bulldogs; (Men's and women's basketball, gymnastics)

Stegeman Coliseum, formerly known as Georgia Coliseum, is a 10,523-seat multi-purpose arena in Athens, Georgia, United States. The arena opened in 1964 in honor of Herman Stegeman. It is home to the University of Georgia Bulldogs basketball and gymnastics teams. It was also the venue of the rhythmic gymnastics and preliminary indoor volleyball matches during the 1996 Summer Olympics, as well as the 1989, 1995, and 2008 NCAA gymnastics championships. As a multi-purpose facility, the Coliseum also hosted a variety of other kinds of events, including many large indoor rock concerts during its early history,^[3] as well as the university's Graduate School commencement exercises. At its opening it replaced Woodruff Hall, a 3,000-seat field house built in 1923.

Design

The ceiling is barrel-shaped, with the Sanford Drive side being curved as well. The resulting inside seating is in a "U" shape, with the flat end, which includes the scoreboard, not having the upper levels of seating. The Sanford Drive side was decorated with the Olympic insignia and other markings for the 1996 Olympics. Also, the roof is a separate structure from the coliseum itself, and is connected by an aluminum bellows which allows the roof to rise and fall with the temperature. The roof has four outward supports in an arc style, which were often used in fraternity initiations until gated off.

The former Georgia Coliseum received its current name on March 2, 1996, in honor of Herman Stegeman, a longtime basketball coach at UGA who was a pioneer in the development of the original Southern Conference basketball tournament in 1921.

Renovations

The university has undertaken several renovations. Originally, Stegeman Coliseum had a stage at one end. Today, a scoreboard, a new section for student seating and banners commemorating the accomplishments of the teams that call Stegeman Coliseum home occupy that space. In anticipation of the 1996 Olympic Games, Stegeman Coliseum received new scoreboard systems, including the first video replay board in an SEC basketball venue. In 2000, all of the old, wooden seats in the lower level were removed, the concrete was resealed, and new cushioned seats were installed. More recently, new LED "ribbon" boards have been installed around the upper ring of the Coliseum (not a 360-degree ribbon but three segments of ribbon on each of the non-video-board sides). The building has also undergone several cosmetic changes to the exterior in the past few years.^[when?] Currently,^[when?] the university has preliminary plans to undertake a drastic overhaul of the building, including dropping the event level down several feet to increase capacity.^{[citation needed]} In October 2006, an adjoining practice facility for men's and women's basketball and gymnastics was finished.

The Coliseum underwent a $13 million expansion and renovation after the 2009–10 season. The main concourse level of approximately 30,000 square feet (2,800 m²) was fully renovated, including modernization and addition of restrooms, upgrades to concession area, a new merchandising area, a first aid room, a new ticket sales area, and new graphics and way finding signage. Also included were 10,000 square feet (930 m²) of expanded lobby space (including both sides) and 30,000 square feet (2,800 m²) of renovated concourse, restrooms, and concessions. Renovations began on May 12, 2010, and were functionally complete in time for the 2010–11 basketball season. The expansion was officially dedicated on January 18, 2011.^[4]

Notable events

Georgia upset arch-rival Georgia Tech in the Coliseum's first game on February 22, 1964, 81–68, under the leadership of head coach Harbin "Red" Lawson. The inaugural game set an attendance record of 13,200 that has never been surpassed. The original design afforded the Coliseum 11,200 seats, but in the excitement of the opening of "The Jewel of North Georgia", officials let anyone come inside that showed up. This would be the first and the last time that this was done.

The Coliseum also hosted the Mideast Regional of the 1971 NCAA men's basketball tournament. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers won the regional with an 81–78 win in overtime over the Ohio State Buckeyes. At the close of the 2014-2015 season, Georgia's men's basketball teams had amassed a home record of 484 wins and 221 losses (.686). ^{[needs update]}

On April 13–16,^[when?] the arena hosted the inaugural FIRST Robotics Competition Peachtree District State Championship. 41 teams from the state of Georgia attended the championship, with Global Dynamics, East Cobb Robotics and Walton Robotics winning the event. In addition, Kell Robotics won the District Championship Chairman's Award, one of the most prestigious awards in the FIRST Robotics Competition.^[5] They, along with 8 other teams, qualified for the FIRST Championship.^[6]

Jake Scott, a member of the 1968 Georgia Bulldogs football team once rode a motorcycle over the arches of the stadium. Later renovations added special railings to make sure the event didn't occur again.^[7]

References

^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
^ "This Old House Georgia's Stegeman Coliseum, a Showplace When It Opened in 1964, Is Showing Its Age at 40". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. February 22, 2004. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
^ "e.g., Forgotten Yesterdays". Forgotten Yesterdays. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
^ "Stegeman Coliseum Expansion". University of Georgia Athletics. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
^ 2016 Peachtree District Rankings: http://frc-districtrankings.firstinspires.org/2016/PCH/GACMP
^ 2016 Peachtree District State Championship Results: http://frc-districtrankings.firstinspires.org/2016/PCH
^ "Stegeman Coliseum". wikimapia.org. Retrieved 2022-01-31.

Sources

1996 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 1. p. 544.
1996 Summer Olympics official report. Volume 3. p. 457.

External links

Official website

[inflation-US-1] 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.

[2] "This Old House Georgia's Stegeman Coliseum, a Showplace When It Opened in 1964, Is Showing Its Age at 40". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. February 22, 2004. Retrieved January 21, 2012.

[3] "e.g., Forgotten Yesterdays". Forgotten Yesterdays. Retrieved February 3, 2018.

[4] "Stegeman Coliseum Expansion". University of Georgia Athletics. Retrieved November 12, 2013.

[5] 2016 Peachtree District Rankings: http://frc-districtrankings.firstinspires.org/2016/PCH/GACMP

[6] 2016 Peachtree District State Championship Results: http://frc-districtrankings.firstinspires.org/2016/PCH

[7] "Stegeman Coliseum". wikimapia.org. Retrieved 2022-01-31.

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v t e University of Georgia
Located in: Athens, Georgia
Academics	College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Terry College of Business College of Computing Odum School of Ecology Mary Frances Early College of Education College of Engineering Environment & Design Family and Consumer Sciences Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources Graduate School Jere W. Morehead Honors College Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication School of Law College of Pharmacy College of Public Health School of Public and International Affairs School of Social Work College of Veterinary Medicine Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
Athletics	Uga Hairy Dawg Football Basketball men's women's Baseball Equestrian Women's gymnastics Swimming and diving Track and field men's women's Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate Deep South's Oldest Rivalry Florida–Georgia football rivalry Southeastern Conference Sanford Stadium Stegeman Coliseum Gabrielsen Natatorium Foley Field Turner Soccer Complex "Glory, Glory"
People, history, and campus life	Alumni and faculty Greek life Campus Arboretum Housing Georgia Redcoat Marching Band Demosthenian Literary Society Phi Kappa Literary Society UGA Campus Transit Presidents 1961 desegregation riot Killing of Laken Riley Lipscomb Hall
Media	The Georgia Review The Red & Black University of Georgia Press Georgia Political Review WUOG WUGA
Founded: 1785 Students: 37,606 (2017) Endowment: $1.152 billion (2017)

v t e Georgia Bulldogs basketball
Venues	Athens YMCA (1905–1911) Memorial Hall (1911–1918) Moss Auditorium (1919–1925) Woodruff Hall (1923–1964) Stegeman Coliseum (1964–present)
Culture & lore	Hairy Dawg Uga
People	Head coaches NBA players Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
NCAA Final Four appearance in italics

v t e Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball
Venues	Stegeman Coliseum (1973–present)
Culture & lore	History Hairy Dawg Uga
People	Head coaches
Seasons	1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24
NCAA Final Four appearance in italics

v t e NCAA Division I college basketball venues in Georgia
ACC	McCamish Pavilion (Georgia Tech)
ASUN	The Coliseum (West Georgia)
CUSA	KSU Convocation Center (Kennesaw State)
SEC	Stegeman Coliseum (Georgia)
SoCon	Hawkins Arena (Mercer)
Sun Belt	Hanner Fieldhouse (Georgia Southern) Georgia State Convocation Center (Georgia State)

v t e Venues of the 1996 Summer Olympics (Atlanta)
Olympic Ring	Alexander Memorial Coliseum Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Clark Atlanta University Stadium Cycling road course Georgia Dome Georgia State University Gymnasium Georgia Tech Aquatic Center Georgia World Congress Center Marathon course Morehouse College Gymnasium Morris Brown College Stadium Centennial Olympic Stadium Omni Coliseum Walking course
Metro Atlanta	Atlanta Beach Georgia International Horse Park Lake Lanier Stone Mountain Park Archery Center and Velodrome Stone Mountain Tennis Center Wolf Creek Shooting Complex
Other venues	Florida Citrus Bowl (Orlando, Florida) Golden Park (Columbus, Georgia) Legion Field (Birmingham, Alabama) Ocoee Whitewater Center (Polk County, Tennessee) Orange Bowl (Miami, Florida) RFK Memorial Stadium (Washington, D.C.) Sanford Stadium (Athens, Georgia) University of Georgia Coliseum (Athens, Georgia) Wassaw Sound (Savannah, Georgia)