Stegeman Coliseum

Christened in 1964 as the Georgia Coliseum, the venue was officially renamed and dedicated to the memory of Herman James Stegeman on Saturday, March 2, 1996. Stegeman made many contributions to Georgia’s athletic program during his 20-year tenure (1919-39). He was a pioneer in the development of college basketball in the south, originating the region’s first big basketball tournament when he organized the Southern Conference Tournament in Atlanta from 1921-32. Stegeman Hall on the UGA campus was named for Coach Stegeman in 1946 and for years it was home of the University’s athletic and physical education departments. The athletic department moved its offices to the new coliseum in 1964, and Stegeman Hall was demolished in 1995 following completion of the Ramsey Student Center for Physical Activities.

The Coliseum is actually two separate structures, the roof and the building beneath it. The only connection is an aluminum bellows which seals the joints and permits the rise and fall of the roof with temperature change.

Stegeman has undergone thorough renovations in the last few years, receiving a 21st Century face lift. When fans arrived for the start of the 2017 season, they walked in to the final product following more than $20-million in renovations over the past several years.

That summer, the arena received a massive center-hung scoreboard, new black seats, an improved LED lighting system, a state-of-the-art sound system and graphics above the horseshoe end celebrating past teams and retired jerseys. That followed work in the summer of 2016 which provided a dramatic mural covering the Coliseum’s distinctive end wall.

In 2010, Stegeman’s concourses received a similar makeover, upgrading the graphics, enhancing spectator access to concessions and restrooms and adding 5,000-square feet of concourse space on each side of the arena. Those efforts won awards from both the American Institute of Architects and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.

In addition, Stegeman Coliseum was utilized for rhythmic gymnastics and preliminary volleyball competition during the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996.