After incorporating additional design work based on input from the Division of Student Affairs, the University of Georgia has updated its plans for the Legion Field redevelopment project to further expand student recreation opportunities in the heart of campus.

The updated project now includes four sand volleyball courts and a reduced number of parking spaces, allowing more space to remain dedicated to outdoor gathering and student activity.

“Our goal is to create a space that is active, welcoming and flexible for student use, while also being a responsible steward of student resources,” said Michelle Cook, vice president for student affairs. “We’ve heard strong interest from students in adding sand volleyball, and this is a great spot to bring that to life in this busy, visible and very accessible part of campus.”

The addition of sand volleyball courts at Legion Field complements the expanded lawn near first-year residence halls and student activity hubs. It also restores an activity that previously existed nearby, where Black-Diallo-Miller Hall now stands. At the same time, the reduction in parking from 70 in the original plan to nearly 20 student spaces in the revised plan emphasizes the site’s primary focus on expanded recreation and fellowship that can be enjoyed for free throughout the year.

Annika Roessel, a fourth-year political science major from Carrollton, serves as president of the Beach Volleyball Club at UGA. She said that having multiple on-campus sand volleyball courts will be a game-changer for her club. Now they can increase the size of their team, improve logistics with practice locations and travel, and expand interest in their sport.

“The addition of these courts means the world to us. We have struggled to find enough space to house the increasing interest in the sport,” Roessel said. “The on-campus sand courts will allow us to be on the same playing field as many other college club teams across the nation.”

Currently the University of Georgia is the only institution in the SEC without sand volleyball courts. UGA’s Recreational Sports Complex on East Campus has limited capacity to add courts, making Legion Field the most viable option for their placement.

Roessel was equally as excited about the impact for UGA students beyond the club sports program, noting that sand volleyball is a sport anyone can play.

“People ranging from all skill levels will be able to use these courts and grow their love not only for the sport, but for UGA as well,” she said. “[Through volleyball], I have been able to meet some of my closest friends that I now consider family. The on-campus courts will be the perfect place for students of all years to hang out, exercise and relax.”

The expanded Legion Field concept is designed to better support year-round student life, including informal recreation, organized activities and major campus events. The redeveloped space will include terraced and hillside seating accommodating up to 1,100 seated and 3,500 standing; improved circulation; as well as Wi-Fi capability to support flexible use for events, student organizations and daily campus activity.

This latest iteration of the project builds on work conducted over the past year to assess the condition of Legion Field and Legion Pool, including usage patterns, long-term potential and programmatic priorities. Throughout that effort, the goal remained focused on finding the best ways to serve student needs in one of the most residential areas of campus.

The University System of Georgia approved demolition of the existing Legion Field facilities — including Legion Pool — at its January meeting and approved the redevelopment plan, including the addition of the sand volleyball courts, at its February meeting. The Governor has signed the demolition order, and work is expected to commence later this spring with completion in the fall.

David Nelson, a third-year marketing major from Cumming, said he increasingly heard students talking about sand volleyball during his freshman year. Nelson led a Student Government Association partnership with the UGA Beach Volleyball Club to measure student interest through a tabling and Instagram campaign. In only three days, they heard from more than 3,000 students saying that they “really wanted” access to courts on campus.

“With that much interest, we knew it wasn’t just a fad or something students wouldn’t be interested in in a few years,” Nelson said. “Being next to all the first-year dorms … those courts will be packed nonstop.”

The revitalized Legion Field area will serve as a backyard gathering space for thousands of students living nearby and as a central destination for key student events and programming throughout the year. The university will continue to provide aquatics opportunities through existing facilities, including the indoor pools at the Ramsey Student Center.

Independent assessments of Legion Pool confirmed that repair options would not address the full scope of structural, accessibility and operational challenges of the nearly century-old facility. Basic repairs (excluding underground leaks) were estimated between $926,000 and $2.175 million, with replacement estimated at $5.7 million and full reconstruction estimated at $11.4 million. In addition to significant capital needs, continued operation of the pool was deemed no longer financially or environmentally sustainable. Usage of the pool has declined over the last several decades, and students — who comprise the smallest share of users — have subsidized operating losses through Student Activity Fee reserves in recent years. Environmental impacts also remain significant, with substantial daily water loss attributed to leaks and evaporation during operating season.

Additional information about the project and the redevelopment process UGA followed under the Georgia Environmental Policy Act can be found here.