UGA closes Stegeman Coliseum indefinitely after ceiling piece fell
The University of Georgia’s Stegeman Coliseum is closed until further notice after a small piece of the ceiling fell on Wednesday, the school said late Thursday.
Nobody was hurt, but Friday night’s gymnastics meet against Arkansas was moved to Gas South Arena in Duluth at 2 p.m. Sunday. The repairs required "immediate attention," the school said.
“Safety is the University’s top priority, and the building will remain closed until the necessary repairs have been completed,” UGA said in a statement. “We do not know how long that will take at this time. The university has begun notifying groups that have reserved the coliseum and has advised them to find alternate locations.”
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The Cedar Shoals High School and Clarke Central High School graduation ceremonies that were scheduled for Friday, May 26 in Stegeman will be moved.
"University of Georgia officials notified us this morning that Stegeman Coliseum will not be available for our high school graduation ceremonies due to repairs that will require the venue to be closed until further notice," the Clarke County School District said in an email to parents Friday. "As a result, this year’s graduation ceremonies for Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central must be relocated."
The school system said it is working with both high schools to find alternative sites for the ceremonies.
UGA’s Terry College graduate and undergraduate convocations are May 11-12 there, according to the UGA online events calendar. UGA’s Graduate Commencement is also May 11 in Stegeman.
Stegeman Coliseum opened in 1964 with two separate structures — a roof and building beneath it connected by aluminum bellows. The venue seats 10,523 and by 2017 it had undergone more than $20 million in renovations over previous years.
The men’s and women’s basketball teams have completed their home seasons.
Gymnastics still has a scheduled home meet on March 10 against Michigan. The status of that matchup had not been announced as of Thursday.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: UGA's Stegeman Coliseum is closing until futher notice for repairs
