Basic Information
Stadium: Stegeman Coliseum
Location: Athens, GA
Owner: University of Georgia
Primary sport: basketball
Year constructed: 1964
Listed capacity: 10,523
Date last visited: November 2022
Coliseum information: https://georgiadogs.com/sports/2017/6/16/stegeman-coliseum
Summary Review: 3 stars (out of 5)
The longtime home of Georgia basketball, gymnastics, and volleyball, Stegeman Coliseum has a reputation as being a large but somewhat sterile Division I college arena. (Aside: in addition to watching basketball here, I also graduated here in their doctoral degree ceremony in May 2010.) Unlike other UGA athletic venues that feature red as the primary color, black is the primary color here, so the setting is not particularly colorful. Also, Georgia basketball is not well supported: when a major opponent such as Kentucky comes here, there is as much blue in the building as red and black. The seating is split into upper and lower sections divided by a walkway and concourse. The seating is graded gradually, so the upper section seats feel quite distant from the floor. This coliseum has been renovated several times over the past couple of decades, and the result is a passable up-to-date arena. After so many mediocre renovations, I feel that if UGA really wants a killer basketball arena, they will need to take some dynamite or a bulldozer to this one and start from scratch.
Detailed Review:
Gameday Atmosphere: The arena was only about half full when I came here most recently, and that has been my typical experience over many visits. Stegeman Coliseum can get loud on occasion, but it is not known as a strong home court.
Seating: all chairback seats, some with cushions.
Field View: The lower bowl offers a good view. The grade of the seating is not particularly steep, so the upper bowl really feels a decent ways away from the action, especially in the corners. This coliseum is probably too big for its purpose, at least for most games.
Audio/Video: They have the usual video board above center court. The audio system is fantastic. The "It's Georgia basketball" yelled by the PA announcer whenever they got the ball after a timeout is still reverberating in my head as I write this review.
Concessions/Hot Dogs: Unusually for a sports venue, the service is cafeteria style: you pick up what you want and then pay as you exit the concession area. They had a very limited selection of concessions, but the hot dogs were plump, had no artificial taste, and only costed $2.50. The hot dogs are better than I remember as a student here 15 years ago.
Pedestrian Flow: seems much improved with the last renovation.
Parking: The university recommends fans park in the Carlton Street Parking Deck behind the coliseum. It was free on my visit.
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