University Of Georgia Football Expands Training Facility, Announces Sanford Stadium Project

The University of Georgia football program follows up its 2021-2022 National Championship season by completing an expansion of its training facility. On the heels of finishing the training facility, the school didn’t waste time also announcing a $68.5 million improvement to Sanford Stadium’s south side.

With 136,300 square feet of new space and 28,700 square feet of renovated space, the Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall athletic headquarters building now has three floors of what the program calls high-performance training experiences.

“The football training space at Heritage Hall has been completely transformed into a best-in-class training facility focused on the success of football student-athletes,” says Brian Berg, senior project manager for architect HOK. “The facility celebrates the program’s rich history while positioning Georgia’s student-athletes for future success on and off the field.”

At the field level, the design features a new locker room facility with a central and private player’s lounge, equipment room, plunge pool and nutrition bar. A player corridor between the spaces connects to the indoor practice field and two adjacent outdoor practice fields. The corridor was clad in wood tones, metal details and large-scale video displays highlighting Georgia alumni who went on to play in the NFL.

“This signature facility will now better support the goals of the university and our athletic association, while most importantly focusing on the health and well-being of our student athletes,” says J. Reid Parker, Georgia director of athletics.

On the northwest side of the field level, a new entry features a black and red trophy display. The player-centric designs also include a dining space and demonstration kitchen, player’s lounge with seating, entertainment and views of player development spaces. Those spaces include a weight room, sports medicine facility with hydrotherapy and recovery, an all-team auditorium, team meeting spaces and views onto the indoor field.

The double-height weight room features a dual-sided video board and plyometric stair connecting to the field level. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the weight room overlook the outdoor training fields, which in combination with windows, fill the weight room with natural light.

The second-floor houses offices, conference rooms, player support offices, an expanded video suite and cardio mezzanine overlooking the weight room. A multipurpose lounge overlooking the indoor field can serve as a space for entertaining athletes, recruits and their families.

The Sanford Stadium improvement project will include more width at the south concourse at the 100-level, additional entry gates, restrooms and concessions by the start of the football season in 2023. Following the 2023 season, Georgia plans to create more restrooms and suites in the 200- and 300-levels of the south side, followed by a new press box in the southwest corner. The current press box will get converted into premium seating.