Georgia moving quickly to improve Sanford Stadium bathrooms

ATHENS — Georgia is acting on the concerns of fans when it comes to the state of the bathrooms at Sanford Stadium.

In a letter addressed to fans, which went out Thursday afternoon, athletics director Greg McGarity said that renovations to many of the stadium’s bathrooms will be “expedited and completed prior to the 2017 season.”

The news comes after many fans, in reaction to the announcement of a $63 million project to build new locker rooms and a recruiting area for the team at the stadium, expressed frustration over the Sanford gameday experience. McGarity said earlier this month that he was sensitive to those concerns. 

McGarity said in a phone conversation that the work on the bathrooms – Phase III in a larger project – was already planned, but would now expedited to make sure it was done before the start of next season. The dollar figure is about $950,000, and will begin after G-Day.

There was no immediate word on whether the renovations announced Thursday were a direct reaction to that, or what the price tag would be.

The full letter from McGarity:

“In an effort to enhance the game day experience for our fans, we are pleased to report that planning for Phase III of the Sanford Stadium restroom renovations currently under way and scheduled for completion prior to the start of the 2017 season. Previously, restrooms on level 100 of the south and southeast side were renovated in Phase I prior to the 2015 season. Phase II, completed prior to the season, included renovations to restrooms on the 300 level of the south and southeast side. Renovations on all remaining restrooms on the 100, 200 and 300 levels throughout the stadium concourses will be expedited and completed prior to the 2017 season.

“These renovations will include the addition of all touchless fixtures, LED lighting, new flooring, new exhaust fans, and new paint matching the recent renovations (as seen below). We look forward to these renovations and the continued improvement on our gameday experience.

“Also of note, several improvements in concessions services throughout Sanford Stadium will also be in place for 2017 and we will update you with those improvements later this spring.

“As always, thank you for your support of our program! Go Dawgs.”