Univ. of Georgia AD Josh Brooks said that there are “no immediate plans” for an entertainment district, though the school “remains open to possibilities,” according to Mike Griffith of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. The Univ. of Tennessee recently released plans for a $280M entertainment district planned between Neyland Stadium and its nearby Food City Center basketball arena. Other SEC schools with ongoing entertainment district-related construction and planning include Oklahoma, LSU, Ole Miss and Kentucky. Brooks said, “I don’t think (an entertainment district) fits like it does in some of the places where they’ve done more, that are more closer to the cities.” Brooks noted that the school does have land south of campus where it has developed a $59.8M, 37-acre state-of-the-art track facility. He said, “I’m a never say never kind of guy, but you have to be respectful of your campus and community in terms of seeing what fits.” Griffith wrote the entertainment districts are an example of the “non-traditional fundraising efforts schools are turning to in the challenging times of providing money to secure elite talent in football programs while maintaining women’s and Olympic sports programs.” Brooks said that UGA will “continue to look closely at how it can update its existing facilities to utilize for non-sports events that could generate revenue” (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 7/7).
Georgia AD: No immediate plans for entertainment district, leaving door open
