What does this update entail?
The purpose of this update is to make fans aware that the design of the upcoming Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field renovation has been finalized, and to communicate the updates from the original concept that was announced in 2024.
The design process begins with a preliminary concept, which was announced in 2024. After the preliminary concept and budget are approved, an architect and project manager are hired and the concept undergoes expansive analysis to ensure feasibility – effectively, structurally and budgetarily.
The final design that is being shared today follows the analysis that was conducted by the project’s architect, project manager and Georgia Tech staff over the past 20 months.
What is the timeline for the renovation project?
The construction timeline remains the same as originally communicated in 2024. Construction will begin immediately following the conclusion of the 2026 football season and is expected to be completed before the beginning of the 2027 season.
This summer, Georgia Tech will announce a list of 100 improvements to the gameday experience at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field that will be implemented prior to the 2026 season, ahead of the renovation project that will be completed in 2027.
What is different from the original concept?
The majority of the project remains virtually the same as the original concept from 2024.
The most significant adjustment to the original concept involves chairback seating within the stadium.
The project’s preliminary concept included replacing existing bleacher seating with chairback seating throughout the stadium, with the exception of student sections.
The final design has 12,500 chairback seats.
Why were the number of chairback seats adjusted?
As the project evolved and analysis completed through the course of the design process, the architect and construction manager identified that some of the originally proposed elements – specifically chairback seating throughout the stadium – are either:
Why was the preliminary concept unfeasible?
Like many older venues (Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field is 113 years old – the oldest on-campus stadium in major college football), the stadium has much narrower tread depths than today’s industry standards.
Tread depths are the horizontal measurement from the front edge of one row of seating to the front edge of the row directly behind it.
Today’s industry standard for chair-seating tread depths is 33 inches, and the minimum to install a flip-up chairback system is 30 inches. Tread depths for the majority of Bobby Dodd Stadium’s seats range from 25.75 to 27 inches.
Therefore, to install flip-up chairback seating throughout Bobby Dodd Stadium, there were only two options:
Why 12,500 seats?
When considering all of the factors, and in the interest of not reducing stadium capacity to levels that would greatly affect Georgia Tech fans’ opportunities to attend games and events at Bobby Dodd Stadium, the decision was made to install 12,500 chairback seats.
What will the new chairback seats be like?
Based on the analysis, the best and most responsible solution for adding chairbacks is attached chairback seats, which are affixed directly to the stadium’s existing bleachers.
Many industry-leading bleacher-attached chairback seats were tested. Several were too tight for the stadium’s constraints – they would lead to insufficient legroom for individuals over 6-feet tall.
Testing identified that a bleacher-mounted, non-flip-up mesh chairback seat could be installed without sacrificing fans’ safety, comfort or experience.
Fans were invited to test seats during Georgia Tech football’s spring game in April. The seats received positive reviews, which led to the final decision that the bleacher-mounted, non-flip-up mesh seats would be the chairback solution for Bobby Dodd Stadium.
Where will the 12,500 chairback seats be installed?
The permanent, bleacher-mounted, non-flip-up chairback seats will be installed in the following sections:
West: Sections 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 203L, 204L, 205L and 206L
East: Sections 122, 123, 124, 127, 128 and 129
North: Lower rows of Sections 210, 211, 213, 214, 215, 216 and 217
The existing chairback seats in the East Club sections – CL1, CL2, CL3 and CL4 – will be upgraded to new, premium chairback seats that provide additional comfort for club patrons.
If my seats are not in a section where the new chairback seats are installed, can I still purchase Stinger Seats?
Yes, a temporary chairback product (Stinger Seat) will be available for fans to purchase in sections that do not have permanent chairback seats installed. Georgia Tech athletics is currently evaluating options to ensure that the best product is made available to fans that wish to purchase Stinger Seats.
What will stadium capacity be following the renovation?
Stadium capacity was a large consideration during the design process, as the original concept would have greatly reduced capacity.
Following three-straight crowds of 50,000-plus to close the 2025 football season (most crowds of 50,000-plus since 2014), as well as three sold-out concerts in 2025-26, Georgia Tech athletics determined that a capacity of approximately 50,000 is the appropriate size for Bobby Dodd Stadium. The updated post-renovation capacity of approximately 50,000 is significantly higher than the originally projected capacity of approximately 42,000.
Have any other elements from the preliminary concept changed?
The renovation project still includes the following elements that were all a part of the preliminary concept in 2024:
The videoboard in the northwest corner of the stadium that was included in the original concept is not in the final design, as Georgia Tech athletics has pivoted to investing further in the new videoboard that will be installed on the south end of the stadium.
What will enhancements to premium seating areas include?
Enhancements to premium seating areas will include:
Renderings
East Club and VIP Members Club
Click HERE to set up a 1-on-1 meeting with a member of the Alexander-Tharpe Fund Staff to learn more about the exciting new premium seating options that will be available at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field in 2027.
Where will handrails be installed and aisles widened?
As part of the fan experience improvements included in the design, aisles will be widened and handrails added in sections where new permanent chairback seats are installed on the lower west side of the stadium (Sections 103-109) and handrails will be added in sections where new permanent chairback seats are installed on the upper west side of the stadium (203L-206L). Handrails currently exist in the areas where new permanent chairback seats will be installed in the east and north sides of the stadium.
Will ADA seating be affected?
No, ADA seating will not be affected by the renovation.
Why will there be a reseating process?
Although the post-renovation stadium capacity of 50,000 will be significantly higher than the original concept announced in 2024, a full stadium reseating remains necessary ahead of the 2027 season due to the slight reduction in overall capacity.
However, with stadium capacity remaining much higher than the original concept, it is anticipated that the number of season ticket members that will be significantly impacted by the reseating will be lower than originally expected.
It will be the first reseating at Bobby Dodd Stadium since 2003.
Reseating appointment times will be determined by Alexander-Tharpe Fund Priority Points.
Details on the reseating process will be finalized and announced in the coming months.
Who do I contact if I have more questions?
For questions about the renovation and how it might affect you as a season ticket member, please contact the Georgia Tech athletics ticket office at 888-TECH-TIX or tickets@athletics.gatech.edu.
For questions about Alexander-Tharpe Fund Priority Points, please contact the A-T Fund at 404-894-5414 or atfund@athletics.gatech.edu.
To learn more about the exciting new premium seating options that will be available at Bobby Dodd Stadium in 2027, click HERE. A member of the A-T Fund staff will respond to set up a 1-on-1 conversation with you as soon as possible.
