Georgia announces plan to move track complex, replace with new football practice fields

On3 imageby:Steve Samra05/27/23

SamraSource

The Georgia Bulldogs have announced their plan to move their track complex, building a new one and converting it into football practice fields.

The plan was announced on Friday, with both the Georgia football and track and field programs elated by the news. Seth Emerson of The Athletic shared the information to Twitter, providing some more context on the change.

“Georgia is going to build a new track facility on the edge of campus — near where the softball and soccer complexes are — and convert the existing track area to new football practice fields,” tweeted Emerson, along with the press release.

According to the press release, Reid Parker Director of Athletics Josh Brooks received “unanimous board approval” after introducing preliminary plans for the idea. It was a popular decision in Athens.

Moreover, Georgia head track and field coach Caryl Smith Gilbert believes the plan will greatly benefit the Bulldogs’ program, as she explained in a video message to discuss the benefits.

“This project will continue to elevate our track and field programs to compete in SEC and NCAA championships,” Smith Gilbert said, regarding the change. “Our own dedicated space off South Milledge will provide an area for our athletes to train all year long. It will bring young people to our campus to compete in junior events, while giving us an area to host elite SEC and NCAA competition.

“This will be a truly one-of-a-kind facility, and I want to thank Josh Brooks, President Jere W. Morehead and the entire athletics board for making this happen.”

Additionally, the Bulldogs added that design plans for the new facility are scheduled to begin this summer, but the location is already known, as it will be built on South Milledge, across the street from the soccer and softball complex.

Athletes will now be provided with a place to train year-round, and opportunities for Georgia to potentially host SEC and potentially NCAA national championship events will come about.

Continuing, Georgia also has plans to build a new indoor facially, which will in turn become the only indoor track and field complex in the state of Georgia, according to the press release. The university also mentioned that the name of the new venue will remain Spec Towns Track.

As you can see, these are exciting times for Georgia athletics, and there’s some serious good news going around at the moment.