You know, it’s gonna piss me off something fierce if it turns out that Tennessee gets it better than Georgia does.
And before you brush this off as bullshit theorizing on my part, compare the West End Zone project in Athens with UT’s next big stadium project:
Currie entered the job at Tennessee with the university already slated to begin phase one of Neyland renovations in 2019. That anticipated $106 million project will focus on overhauling the south side of the stadium, including “basic enhancements” to fan experience, like more entry points to the stadium, larger restrooms and more concession stands.
If they can figure out how to modernize Neyland in a fan-friendly way, don’t tell me it’s an impossible task for Sanford Stadium.
The problem isn’t engineering. It’s attitude. When have you ever heard Greg McGarity ask a question like this?
“If we think we’re going to expect our fans to just come and sit still, we’re not very smart,” he said. “We need to be creating an experience that allows people to have a good experience here. I’ve walked around stadiums and seen moms sitting on the concrete feeding their kid a hot dog. Why can’t we have a picnic table somewhere for mom or dad to feed their kid a hot dog?”
Yeah, that’s mundane. But you’ve got to start somewhere.
Get The Picture 
The K.I.S.S. principle in action. It’s seems so easy, yet feels like an ocean away with McGarity.
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I don’t think people would complain so much about the in-stadium experience if the on campus experience were more fan friendly. All of this started when the university allowed the AA to take over every parking space within walking distance of Sanford, the UGAPD and ACCPD eliminated parking on sidewalks and in front of buildings, and the university moved tailgaters from in building restrooms to portable units. Let a family tailgate out of the back of their vehicles and don’t make them pay for the privilege in a donor parking lot or a deck. If they did this, all of the stress involved with concessions and restrooms would go away as the crowds would be better managed.
Who am I kidding? Just add more wifi, play music louder, take credit cards and throw a couple of picnic tables out there.
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That’s play music louder poorly. Can hardly understand a word they say on the speakers.
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They can play whatever they want. Just cool it on the scoreboard so me and other ADD folks (like kids) focus more on the game. Agree with you 100% on tailgating rules.
People in the 80s didn’t complain about the bathrooms. People now can deal with them. Just put a good team out there and make tailgating fun. That’s all people want.
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The kicker with UGA tailgating is back in the 80s/early 90s we parked in dorm parking lots which are now blocked or you have to work your way into a reserved spot. The lots were an easy walk to the student center or downtown. Athens has the best college downtown in the SEC. Now, free park is on the other side of campus. The walk to the stadium is not bad but I have to walk miles to enjoy downtown or spend a fortune on parking.
North campus tailgating was a great idea which was set up for failure by the school The school and media claims the fans were slobs but they did not provide enough trash cans. I have been to the Grove and their were more and larger trash receptacles.
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It amazes me that McGarity thinks that remodeling the bathrooms is the issue. If its the same setup with the same number of sinks, same number of toilets, then it’s a half measure. We need bigger bathrooms and improved traffic flow in the stadium. God help anyone trying to walk the concourse above the 100 section. It’s amazing someone hasn’t been trampled in these big games.
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The problem is those in the 100 and 300 sections don’t matter a bit. To improve traffic flow and expand the restroom capacity requires an overhaul that doesn’t matter to the big contributors or to recruits and families.
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UT should put adult sized seats in their stadium to begin making that dump tolerable.
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Agree. If they were smart they would tear neyland down completely and re-start from scratch.
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And fix the shitty turf….
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There is a reason McGarity has spent the vast portion of his career as a subordinate. He is NOT a leader. UGa deserves better. Jump over to Dawgnation.com and read Seth Emerson’s article just posted.
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Ouch, I think someone will be getting the Georgia version of 37F’d on their next ticket application.
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Which is the whole problem. Rather than hear the growing cacophony of frustration and take a metaphorical look in the mirror to discern what isn’t working and what needs to change, they either don’t respond or continue to let the world’s biggest PR disaster at AD give his take on why they’re right and we’re wrong. That this has been allowed to go on for more than a couple of years now makes me think that McGarity isn’t the only one ignorant of what’s going on down here at the plebeian level. I didn’t put in for season tickets this year and have already made up my mind to put in for a PSL and tickets for the Falcons next season: better stadium, better fan experience, better product on the field. Way to go, Greg & Co, you’ve officially bumped UGA down to #2 on the list of places I as a consumer in the sports world wish to spend my money. Never in my life did I think that was possible.
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But, hey, if you don’t generate enough of an income to buy season ticket packages to both the Dawgs and Falcons then I guess you don’t matter.
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You are on of Hundreds of canaries in the mine. That’s how Circuit City, KMart, Zayre, Monkey Wars and soon Sears all went out of business. When thery chirp, fail to heed the warning.
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It’s got to be hot in the McGarity kitchen.
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But the wifi has improved. Isn’t that all that matters?????
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You know, for all that talk about wi-fi, I have yet to notice a difference.
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I usually try to get a photo of the Redcoats pregame and email it to my friends before the gams starts. It sits in the outbox a while before it finally goes but I’ve noticed it’s usually been sent by halftime now whereas before it was the end of the third quarter. I’m so excited about the improvement.
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I have. Wish it didn’t work and I didn’t have service at games. Just want to focus on game and experience.
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After reading that article, for the first time ever, I’m envious of something they have. A forward thinking man as AD that is not afraid to spend.
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STOP MAKING THE F*@#&ING SCOREBOARD BIGGER AND UPDATE THE BATHROOMS AND CONCESSION STANDS. Make tailgating policies more friendly. Hand out cold towels to folks on hot days. Have actual working water dispensing places for hot days where folks can refill a water bottle without waiting in line for 30 minutest to pay $5 for a dasani. Sure, add some picnic tables.
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It feels like just yesterday we got the “new million dollar scoreboard”.
But hey, you can put Delta and Coke ads up there even bigger now.
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Agree whole heartedly. We can certainly do more. I’ve been saying for a couple of years now that the problem with McGarity is a lack of imagination.
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No imagination and no urgency. Not proactive in any respect. But Greg will be around until he puts his stamp on the tennis complex and folks are kidding themselves if they think otherwise.
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Senator as a season ticket holder for 16 yrs I am afraid our complaints will never be fixed as long as Mcgoofball is at the helm.
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This quote hit home – I’ve walked around stadiums and seen moms sitting on the concrete feeding their kid a hot dog. Would GM, or anyone associated with decision making think to walk around and see what is going on?
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Erin, they’re too busy with big donors in the suites to walk through on a game day. Plus, the AD would be tarred and feathered by those standing in the concession and restroom lines if he showed up among the masses.
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Senator, I am afraid you and I both are going to be pissed off a lot as long as McGarity is AD. Maybe it helps to remember the old adage that it is better to be pissed off than pissed on unless you are on fire.
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As stated above there is a reason he was an assistant at UF forever, nobody wanted him. But he came cheap and he was one of the good ole boys of Buttsmeare , and the Adam’s Way was in full bloom. The Georgia Way was not too bad until Adams decided, coming from a school of 3,500 students, that athletics were overrated.
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