Stegeman Coliseum
Encyclopedia
Stegeman Coliseum is a 10,523-seat multi-purpose arena
in Athens, Georgia
, United States
. The arena opened in 1964. 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. It replaced Woodruff Hall
, a 3,000-seat field house built in 1923.
The building's design is a unique one. 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 Dr. side is probably the most familiar side of the building, and 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 4 outward supports in an arc style. These 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.
The university has undertaken several renovations through the years. Originally, Stegeman Coliseum had a stage at one end. Today, a scoreboard, new section for student seating and banners commemorating the accomplishments of the teams that call Stegeman Coliseum home now 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 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. Currently, the university has preliminary plans to undertake a drastic overhaul of the building, including dropping the event level down several feet to increase capacity. In October 2006, an adjoining practice facility for men's and women's basketball and gymnastics was finished and is considered one of the finest such facilities in the country. In 2010, Stegeman Coliseum was renovated to match the practice facility's exterior.
Georgia upset archrival 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 2006-2007 season, Georgia's men's basketball teams have amassed a record of 386 wins and 183 losses, which amounts to a 68% win percentage.
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
in Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The arena opened in 1964. It is home to the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
Bulldogs basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics where gymnasts perform short routines on different apparatus, with less time for vaulting . The sport is governed by the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique , which designs the Code of Points and regulates all aspects of international elite...
teams. It was also the venue of the rhythmic gymnastics
Gymnastics at the 1996 Summer Olympics
At the 1996 Summer Olympics, two different gymnastics disciplines were contested: artistic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics. The artistic gymnastics events were held at the Georgia Dome from July 20–25 and July 28–29. The rhythmic gymnastics events were held at Stegeman Coliseum in nearby...
and preliminary indoor volleyball
Volleyball at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Volleyball at the 1996 Summer Olympics featured beach volleyball for the first time as the official Olympic sport.-Medal table:-Medal summary:-External links:*...
matches during the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
, as well as the 1989, 1995, and 2008 NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
gymnastics championships. It replaced Woodruff Hall
Woodruff Hall
Woodruff Hall was a 3,000 seat multi-purpose arena on the University of Georgia campus in Athens, Georgia. It opened in 1923, and was located on North Campus in the area bounded by Baldwin Street, Sanford Drive, and Hooper Street now occupied by the Psychology-Journalism Complex. It was home to...
, a 3,000-seat field house built in 1923.
The building's design is a unique one. 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 Dr. side is probably the most familiar side of the building, and 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 4 outward supports in an arc style. These 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
Herman Stegeman
-Sources: -External links:* at College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com*...
, a longtime basketball coach at UGA who was a pioneer in the development of the original Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
basketball tournament in 1921.
The university has undertaken several renovations through the years. Originally, Stegeman Coliseum had a stage at one end. Today, a scoreboard, new section for student seating and banners commemorating the accomplishments of the teams that call Stegeman Coliseum home now 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 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. Currently, the university has preliminary plans to undertake a drastic overhaul of the building, including dropping the event level down several feet to increase capacity. In October 2006, an adjoining practice facility for men's and women's basketball and gymnastics was finished and is considered one of the finest such facilities in the country. In 2010, Stegeman Coliseum was renovated to match the practice facility's exterior.
Georgia upset archrival 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 2006-2007 season, Georgia's men's basketball teams have amassed a record of 386 wins and 183 losses, which amounts to a 68% win percentage.