Stegeman Coliseum shut down for repairs

ATHENS, Ga. — The University of Georgia’s Stegeman Coliseum has been closed for repairs “until further notice” after a small piece of concrete fell from the ceiling of the nearly 60-year-old facility, which hosts several of the school’s sports teams and graduation ceremonies in the spring.

No one was injured when the concrete fell Wednesday, according to a school release.

The closure should not affect the men’s and women’s basketball teams, which have completed their home schedules, but the Atlanta JournalConstitution reported that a home gymnastics meet against Arkansas will now be held Sunday at Gas South Arena in Duluth, about 45 miles west. The Gym Dogs will now also host their regular-season finale there against Michigan on March 10, along with the Southeastern Conference championship meet.

Several other events planned for Stegeman over the next few weeks might also be affected. The university and several local high schools typically use the facility for spring graduations.

“Safety is the university’s top priority and the building will remain closed until the necessary repairs have been completed,” the release read. “We do not know how long that will take at this time.”

The 10,523-seat arena opened in 1964 as an allconcrete structure built around two giant parabolas. It has undergone numerous renovations over the years, including a $13 million project that was completed in 2009. A giant scoreboard was hung from the roof in 2017 as part of another set of improvements that cost $8 million.