Let’s start this off with this:
Granted, it’s not the football stadium, but let’s suppose the day comes when it’s determined that a major University sports arena is on the chopping block in Athens. I shudder to think anything would ever happen to Sanford, given its location, renovations, et al, I think it’ll be around long after all of us here are gone.
But what about the other athletics facilities? Track and Field got a new facility this year, and other newer programs have seen facilities upgrades over the years…but what about this:
I have some sentimental feelings around the Coliseum, but not sentimental enough if it means we can get a better facility and better programs running through it. While the renovations have improved some of the aesthetics, it still has the feeling of an “unserious” basketball program in comparison to other facilities.
Maybe an arena area would be in the plans for Athens, with a new basketball arena at the center to host basketball and gymnastics at the center, or maybe not. What’s your thoughts? Should the Coliseum become a relic of days gone by, or is it too sentimental to let go of?
The University and Athens-Clarke blew it when Akins Ford Arena was built. It would have been perfect to put a larger (12-15k) arena in that spot downtown that would have served the University. The atmosphere would have immediately jumped up a notch with everyone walking straight from downtown establishments into the game.
The Athens govt blew it, they hate all things UGA.
“The Athens govt blew it,” and built the Akins Ford Arena.
Same as it ever was…..
I was told UGA turned down the opportunity to have basketball there? Not sure what financial terms were discussed.
I as a longtime Georgia basketball season ticket holder so I have seen a lot of changes in the Steg since my first game in 1972. It was a recruiting liability in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. With the renovations and the attached practice facility the Steg is fine.
We could have played in a spanking new 15,000 seat downtown arena in 2003 when Adam’s and Dooley took us out of the SEC and NCAA tournament and publicly labeled 2 starting players as academic frauds and the effect on the future of Georgia basketball would have been the ssme.
While not being classified as a coliseum, The Varsity, when attempting to place your order, a menu related sporting event could break out, a serious destination location and always a conversation to be had there, moving forward, any structure is now under consideration…GO DAWGS!!
For all the effort they put into renovating Stegman, all that happened is it started raining concrete and the basketball team STILL applies suction. Until they figure out how to bilk us out of all the money we MIGHT have leftover from being good lil football fans, I doubt anything will be done.
It is the product or the building? Which came first the chicken or the egg?
If you’ve ever stepped in Cameron Indoor Stadium (I have) without knowledge of Duke hoops, you would think this facility isn’t serious. The place is dark, dank and old. You would wonder where are the peach baskets on the backboards. Yet, it’s one of the cathedrals of sport (not just CBB). It’s because of the product that has played there for decades.
I’m not trying to say Stegeman can be Cameron. I am saying the product matters more than the facility. Georgia basketball other than for a few years has had a culture and commitment problem for over a century. The Coliseum has always been the poster child of that commitment. What are we collectively going to do about it?
Also, figuratively (and by figuratively I don’t mean literally) right down the street is the Dean Dome, which is a modernized venue. Both teams have the banners to tote Lil Stet’s jock, so yeah product matters.
If you ask some older Tar Heel fans, they’ll tell you they miss Carmichael. Sure, more people have access to games at the Smith Center, but the home court was better at Carmichael.
Ooh, I’ll have to craft a way to antagonise my Carolina Blue co-workers about this.
Do I:
a. Exchange Cameron for Carmichael?
b. Make a Dean Dome/Carmichael comparison to Belichek/Jordan?
c. Call the Dean Dome Carmichael?
d. all of the above
D is the only correct answer
No need to antagonize them, hialtdawg. The Carolina community is tearing themselves apart right now. The UNC administration wants to demolish the Dean Dome and build a new modern arena several miles off campus. They think they can make more money that way (shocking!), and they don’t care that students will have to drive or take buses there. Meanwhile, Roy Williams and former players are leading the charge to renovate the Dean Dome and keep the team on campus. It’s getting ugly.
Hate to say it, but Auburn is a good model if you want to do something to the facility. They have a smaller more intimate arena with nice amenities and it is sized to create demand. Pair that with an improving basketball team and you might get something worth watching. Currently, our building is fine and matches the quality of product we have put on the floor there for decades.
Tear down Stegman and give the property to Kirby to do with as he pleases. Announce a new arena near downtown but don’t build it as no one will notice.
I heard Georgia Square Mall is closing…tearing down? That could be a site for an arena and entertainment district done right. Bus service can get students to the game but more bars/restaurants could hurt downtown some. Still…land, access, parking. Adds up.
Th only sentimental thing about the Steg is the time Jake Scott rode his motorsickle up the arch to the top of it.
Yeah, I was going to ask where Jake was going to ride if we tear down the Steg.
Stegman when it hosts a full house featuring a championship product is great. Once it was very intimidating to visitors when Susanne was coaching. I remember her lining the vault lane premeet with championship trophies to welcome Bama into her house. It worked as intended the house rocked and bama folded under pressure.
As a long time gymnastics season ticket holder and occasional visitor for men’s and women’s BB. The problem just my two cents worth is the product not the facility. The energy level is quickly coming back for the greatly improved gym dawgs under the new coaches. No reason men’s or women’s BB can’t be great at Georgia. You get what you tolerate.
Somehow, Andy Landers and the Lady Dawgs managed to make it to five final fours while playing in Stegman. I don’t think it’s the facility.
Hasn’t a (the?) big problem been the inability to keep a good coach around long enough for him to build the program up?
Seems like every promising coach has used UGA as a stepping stone to somewhere else…and one pretty good one got himself fired for auburnistic practices.