Officials behind plans for Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium renovation project say the design process has been concluded.
Urbanize said the $70-million renovation of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field is set to include a large videoboard at the south end, a state-of-the-art sound system, new clubs and a speakeasy, along with an array of deluxe suites.
Changes at the circa-1913 stadium—the oldest on-campus stadium in major college football—are aiming to upgrade the gameday experience as Georgia Tech enjoys an era of renewed gridiron relevance.
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university and institute of technology in Atlanta, Georgia (US). Established in 1885, it is part of the University System of Georgia.
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football program represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Collegiate Competitors in the sport of American football.
The 55,000-capacity Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field is the football stadium located at the corner of North Avenue at Techwood Drive on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta (US).
Georgia Tech athletics officials recently announced that the first major stadium renovation since 2003 will kick off immediately after the 2026 football season concludes early next year. Plans call for the Bobby Dodd Stadium renovation project to be finished before the 2027 campaign.
The changes are part of a $500-million campaign called Full Steam Ahead launched in fall 2024 to upgrade facilities for Ramblin’ Wreck football fans and players, along with basketball and volleyball players.
But at Bobby Dodd Stadium, some aspects included in the original renovation scope won’t be feasible for several reasons, per officials.
Athletics officials said that based on analysis, the best and most responsible solution for adding permanent chairbacks to Bobby Dodd Stadium is attached chairback seats, which allows seats to be affixed directly to the stadium’s existing bleachers.
Many industry-leading bleacher-attached chairback seats were tested. Several proved to be too tight for spectator seating within the stadium’s constraints, as they would lead to insufficient legroom for taller individuals.
However, a bleacher-mounted, non-flip-up mesh chairback seat was identified as a product that could be installed at Bobby Dodd Stadium without sacrificing fans’ safety, comfort or experience.
Fans were invited to test the seats during Georgia Tech football’s spring game in April, and they received positive reviews, leading to the final decision that the bleacher-mounted, fixed mesh seats would be the permanent chairback solution for Bobby Dodd Stadium.
All told, the stadium will see 12,500 chairback seats installed, with more seating overall than originally planned.
Preliminarily concepts called for a roughly 42,000-seat capacity, but that’s been bumped to approximately 50,000, per Georgia Tech officials.
Georgia Tech athletics officials said they plan to unveil a list of “100 improvements to the gameday experience” that will be in place before the 2026 football season kicks off, in advance of the more substantial renovations when the season concludes.
The stadium’s significant upgrades include:
- Addition of 12,500 chairback seats
- New handrails and wider aisles in designated sections
- A new, state-of-the-art videoboard
- A new, state-of-the-art sound system
- Remodeled premium suites
- Construction of a new Founders Club on the west side of the stadium
- An overhaul of East Club seating and indoor spaces, including the addition of a new VIP Members Club.
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