Stegeman Coliseum

Last updated
Stegeman Coliseum
The Steg
Stegeman Coliseum Exterior.jpg
Stegeman Coliseum
Former namesGeorgia Coliseum (1964–1996)
Location100 Smith Street
Athens, GA 30605
Coordinates 33°56′34″N83°22′41″W / 33.9428°N 83.3780°W / 33.9428; -83.3780
OwnerUniversity of Georgia
OperatorUniversity of Georgia
Capacity 10,523 (1994–present)
10,400 (1988–1994)
11,200 (1964–1988)
SurfaceHardwood
Construction
Broke groundJanuary 1962
OpenedFebruary 22, 1964;
60 years ago (1964-02-22) [1]
Construction cost$4.2 million
($41.3 million in 2023 dollars [2] )
ArchitectCooper, Barrett, Skinner, Woodbury & Cooper, Inc.
Structural engineerChastain & 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.

Contents

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]

The interior of Stegeman Coliseum Stegeman Coliseum.jpg
The interior of Stegeman Coliseum

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]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse</span> Arena in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, US

Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is a multi-purpose arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The building is the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL). It also serves as a secondary arena for Cleveland State Vikings men's and women's basketball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lenovo Center</span> Indoor arena in Raleigh, North Carolina

Lenovo Center is an indoor arena located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. The arena seats 18,700 for ice hockey and 19,500 for basketball, including 61 suites, 13 luxury boxes and 2,045 club level seats. The building has three concourses and a 300-seat restaurant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McCamish Pavilion</span> Basketball arena in Atlanta, Georgia

Hank McCamish Pavilion, nicknamed The Thrillerdome and originally known as Alexander Memorial Coliseum, is an indoor arena located on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. It is the home of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball and Yellow Jackets women's basketball teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Portland, Oregon)</span> Multi-use indoor arena in Portland, Oregon

The Veterans Memorial Coliseum is an indoor arena located in the oldest part of the Rose Quarter area in Portland, Oregon. The arena is the home of the Portland Winterhawks, a major junior ice hockey team, and was the original home of the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association. It has been included on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its architectural significance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">XL Center</span> Arena and convention center in Hartford, Connecticut

The XL Center is a multi-purpose arena and convention center located in downtown Hartford, Connecticut. Owned by the City of Hartford, it is managed by the quasi-public Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) under a lease with the city and operated by Spectra. In December 2007, the center was renamed when the arena's naming rights were sold to XL Group insurance company in a six-year agreement. The arena is ranked the 28th largest among college basketball arenas. It opened in 1975 as the Hartford Civic Center and was originally located adjacent to Civic Center Mall, which was demolished in 2004. It consists of two facilities: the Veterans Memorial Coliseum and the Exhibition Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thompson–Boling Arena</span> Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Thompson–Boling Arena at Food City Center is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. The arena opened in 1987. It is home to the Tennessee Volunteers (men) and Lady Vols (women) basketball teams. Since 2008, it has been home to the Lady Vols volleyball team. It is named after B. Ray Thompson and former university president Edward J. Boling. The basketball court is named "The Summitt" after the late Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt. It replaced the Stokely Athletic Center. The mammoth octagonal building lies just northwest of the Tennessee River, and just southwest of Neyland Stadium. As an echo of its neighbor and a tribute to the brick-and-mortar pattern atop Ayres Hall, the baselines of the court are painted in the familiar orange-and-white checkerboard pattern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lloyd Noble Center</span> Arena in Norman, Oklahoma, US

The Lloyd Noble Center is a 10,967-seat multi-purpose arena located in Norman, Oklahoma, some 19 mi (31 km) south of downtown Oklahoma City. It opened in 1975 and is home to the University of Oklahoma men's and women's basketball and women's gymnastics teams of the Southeastern Conference. It also regularly hosts concerts, including city school orchestra concerts, and graduation ceremonies for colleges with the University of Oklahoma as well as those for several high schools in area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fifth Third Arena</span> Multi-purpose arena in Cincinnati, Ohio

Fifth Third Arena is an indoor arena in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. The arena opened in 1989 and is located on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. It primarily serves as the home venue for the Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball, women's basketball, and women's volleyball teams and hosts other events. It is located in the Myrl H. Shoemaker Center, which was also the name of the arena until 2005, when it was named for Cincinnati-based Fifth Third Bank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norfolk Scope</span> Multi-function arena in Norfolk, Virginia, United States

Norfolk Scope is a multi-function complex in Norfolk, Virginia, comprising the 11,000-seat Scope Arena, a 2,500-seat theater known as Chrysler Hall, a 65,000-square-foot (6,000 m2) modular exhibition hall, and a 600-car parking garage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen County War Memorial Coliseum</span> Multi-purpose arena in Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.

Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is a 13,000-seat multi-purpose arena located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States, near present-day Johnny Appleseed Park. It opened in 1952 with a construction cost of nearly $3 million. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum was originally designed to seat 8,103 for hockey or 10,240 for basketball. Opened in 1989, the Coliseum's $26 million Exposition Center contains 108,000 square feet (10,000 m2) devoted to hosting substantial trade shows and other events with seating for 7,500.

Charles Koch Arena is a 10,506-seat multi-purpose arena in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It is located on the southeast corner of 21st and Hillside on the campus of Wichita State University in northeast Wichita. The arena is home of the Wichita State Shockers men's basketball, women's basketball, and women's volleyball teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O'Connell Center</span> Multipurpose sports facility of the University of Florida

The Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, also known as the O'Dome, is a 10,500-seat multi-purpose arena located on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Florida. The facility is named for the sixth president of the university, Stephen C. O'Connell, who served from 1967 to 1973. The facility is located on the northern side of the university's campus, between its football field, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field, and the James W. "Bill" Heavener Complex athletic training center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WVU Coliseum</span> Arena in Morgantown, West Virginia

The WVU Coliseum is a 14,000-seat multi-purpose arena located on the Evansdale campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. The circular arena features a poured concrete roof. It was built with state funds and replaced the WVU Fieldhouse, which seated 6,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spokane Arena</span> Multi-use indoor arena in Spokane, Washington

Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena is a multi-purpose arena in the northwestern United States, located in downtown Spokane, Washington. Opened in 1995, it is home to the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League (WHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferrell Center</span> College sports arena in Texas, United States

The Paul J. Meyer Arena, which is part of the Ferrell Center, is an arena in Waco, Texas. Built in 1988 and located adjacent to the Brazos River, it is home to the Baylor University Bears volleyball, acrobatics, and tumbling teams. It is named for Charles R. Ferrell, a Baylor student and legacy who died in 1967, and whose family's estate was a major benefactor of the arena. The building replaced the Heart O' Texas Coliseum as the school's primary indoor athletic facility. The men's and women's basketball teams relocated to the newly-constructed Foster Pavilion in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bud Walton Arena</span> Indoor arena at the University of Arkansas

Bud Walton Arena is the home to the men's and women's basketball teams of the University of Arkansas, known as the Razorbacks. It is located on the campus of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas and has a seating capacity of 19,368, which is the fifth largest for an on-campus arena in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moody Coliseum</span> Arena at Southern Methodist University

Moody Coliseum is a 7,000-seat multi-purpose arena in University Park, Texas. The arena opened in 1956. It is home to the Southern Methodist University Mustangs basketball teams and volleyball team. It was also home to the Dallas Chaparrals and Texas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association before they moved to San Antonio, Texas, as the San Antonio Spurs. It was also later the home for the Dallas Diamonds of the Women's Professional Basketball League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center</span> Multi-purpose arena on the campus of Kent State University

The Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center, often referred to as the MAC Center and the MACC, is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, United States. The building is primarily used as an athletic venue that is home to five Kent State Golden Flashes varsity athletic teams: men's basketball, women's basketball, women's volleyball, women's gymnastics, and wrestling. In addition, it hosts commencement exercises, speakers, and concerts throughout the year. The building houses the offices of the Kent State Athletic Department and the coaches of each of the university's varsity athletic teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siegel Center</span> Building in Virginia, United States

The Stuart C. Siegel Center is a 190,000-square-foot (18,000 m2) multi-purpose facility on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia, United States. The facility's main component is the 7,637-seat E.J. Wade Arena. It also served as a student recreational area until 2010, when the new Cary Street Gym complex was completed. It now is used purely for VCU athletics and includes a weight room, auxiliary basketball court, and a café. The E.J. Wade Arena hosts Division I-level NCAA inter-collegiate athletics and serves as a general-purpose assembly space for special events such as graduations, concerts, receptions, and a variety of competitions. It is named after Richmond businessman Stuart C. Siegel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alumni Coliseum</span> Arena in Kentucky, US

Alumni Coliseum and Baptist Health Arena are home to the Eastern Kentucky University Colonels in Richmond, Kentucky.

References

  1. ↑ "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.
  2. ↑ 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.
  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.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.