Sanford Stadium is under construction with the first of 2 phases to upgrade Georgia’s stadium and bring it in line with other stadiums.

The south side improvement project of the eventual $68.5 million renovation product will include and feature the expansion of the Southside concourse from 10 feet to 23 feet, Mike Griffith reported. Members of the UGA Athletic Board shared the plans during its spring meeting on Thursday at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge on Lake Oconee.

The Sanford Drive bridge will also be encapsulated into Sanford Stadium on game days, which gives fans more space to move around on game days.

The bigger, wider game-day concourses will have newer restrooms and concession stands.

Gates 6 and 9 will be rebuilt, and there will be a start on an extension of the stadium that will eventually hold the new press box in the 2024 season after Phase II.

The first phase will double the width of the South 100 Level concourse, including Sanford Drive which will be blocked off from non-stadium pedestrian traffic on games days. It’s expected to be finished by August.

Phase ll will be after the 2023 season and feature new premium seating and suites in the new press box area, along with restrooms added on the 200 and 300 levels in the Southwest corner.