Hanner Fieldhouse Gets a Facelift
9/26/2016 3:55:00 PM | General
New lighting and redesigned entrance highlight the renovations.
STATESBORO, Ga. – It will not take Eagle fans long to spot the changes in Hanner Fieldhouse, the home of Georgia Southern basketball and volleyball, which is nearing its 50th birthday.
The facility underwent a major facelift over the summer. The school installed new LED lighting in the main arena, added three entrances to the building, installed a new floor in the lobby, refurbished the front entrance and installed additional seating to meet ADA requirements.
The building was shut down for over a month last summer and reopened for the Bash in the Boro, Georgia Southern's home-opening volleyball tournament Sept. 1.
"When you look at upgrading facilities, you always look at egress and ADA requirements, something that is mandated federal law, and the lighting is something we felt needed to be changed because of television lighting requirements," said Associate Athletic Director for Internal Affairs Tracy Ham, who oversaw the project. "Also, we wanted to make some changes for our students. We continue to look at our facilities and how they affect our students."
Additional renovations are ongoing with Whitfield Signs, which designed the lobbies of both the Ted Smith Family Football Center and the Parrish Center, slated to refurbish the lobby.
There are also plans to flip the student section to the opposite side of the court behind the team benches and move season ticket seating to the side across from the benches. The school has also doubled the number of reserved, courtside seats to 50.
The lighting has been a welcome change to both participants and spectators. Not only is the main arena brighter with the addition of TV lights, but the LED lights help keep energy costs down and the lights turn on and off instantaneously and remotely with the press of a button. Georgia Southern also has the ability to save different lighting configurations for the multitude of events in Hanner.
"The lighting was really to improve the broadcast capabilities of the facility as well as going to a cost effective LED Lighting," said Ham. "It is not just for basketball or volleyball, but we have several graduations and other events in the building."
The new entrances allow for easier access in and out of the building, and one, which is located on the campus side of the building opposite of the front lobby, will be designated for students and leads directly to the student section.
"Students are our largest fan base," Ham said. "Changing the flow on how we get our students in and out of games, giving them multiple access points, was the driving force."
No changes to the hardwood were made this time, but redoing the surface is in future renovation plans. The funding for recent upgrades came from several sources, including donors and the university. None of the funding came from athletic fees.
Volleyball season is in full swing, and the Eagles are 6-2 in Hanner this season. GS opens a four-match homestand Friday against South Alabama at 6:30 p.m.
Fans can pre-order 2016-17 Eagle Basketball Season Tickets now. Tickets can be purchased online at GSEagles.com/tickets.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by visiting GSEagles.com.
The facility underwent a major facelift over the summer. The school installed new LED lighting in the main arena, added three entrances to the building, installed a new floor in the lobby, refurbished the front entrance and installed additional seating to meet ADA requirements.
The building was shut down for over a month last summer and reopened for the Bash in the Boro, Georgia Southern's home-opening volleyball tournament Sept. 1.
"When you look at upgrading facilities, you always look at egress and ADA requirements, something that is mandated federal law, and the lighting is something we felt needed to be changed because of television lighting requirements," said Associate Athletic Director for Internal Affairs Tracy Ham, who oversaw the project. "Also, we wanted to make some changes for our students. We continue to look at our facilities and how they affect our students."
Additional renovations are ongoing with Whitfield Signs, which designed the lobbies of both the Ted Smith Family Football Center and the Parrish Center, slated to refurbish the lobby.
There are also plans to flip the student section to the opposite side of the court behind the team benches and move season ticket seating to the side across from the benches. The school has also doubled the number of reserved, courtside seats to 50.
The lighting has been a welcome change to both participants and spectators. Not only is the main arena brighter with the addition of TV lights, but the LED lights help keep energy costs down and the lights turn on and off instantaneously and remotely with the press of a button. Georgia Southern also has the ability to save different lighting configurations for the multitude of events in Hanner.
"The lighting was really to improve the broadcast capabilities of the facility as well as going to a cost effective LED Lighting," said Ham. "It is not just for basketball or volleyball, but we have several graduations and other events in the building."
The new entrances allow for easier access in and out of the building, and one, which is located on the campus side of the building opposite of the front lobby, will be designated for students and leads directly to the student section.
"Students are our largest fan base," Ham said. "Changing the flow on how we get our students in and out of games, giving them multiple access points, was the driving force."
No changes to the hardwood were made this time, but redoing the surface is in future renovation plans. The funding for recent upgrades came from several sources, including donors and the university. None of the funding came from athletic fees.
Volleyball season is in full swing, and the Eagles are 6-2 in Hanner this season. GS opens a four-match homestand Friday against South Alabama at 6:30 p.m.
Fans can pre-order 2016-17 Eagle Basketball Season Tickets now. Tickets can be purchased online at GSEagles.com/tickets.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA. Fans can purchase tickets to Georgia Southern Athletics events by visiting GSEagles.com.
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