Two years after Georgia State announced plans to build an 8,000 seat basketball complex near the newly named Credit Parc Stadium, the buzz for the multi-million dollar facility has calmed down. Does that mean it will not happen?
Well, let’s find out, shall we?
First, let’s meet the convocation center, slated for a groundbreaking ceremony today at 10 a.m. Georgia State University President Mark Becker will host the event at 455 Capitol Avenue.
Georgia State originally planned to break ground in summer 2019 and have construction finished in 2022. As it stands, the stadium will open for the 2022 season to host their in-city rival Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The stadium will hold 7,300 people for basketball games with the ability to expand to many as 8,000 audience members for concerts.
Ben Moore of 247Sports notes the stadium is not only on track but will also be state-of-the-art.
“[Georgia State] is looking to break ground either later this year or early 2021,” Moore said. “The arena will host concerts, something that we don’t have at the complex.”
The convocation center will replace the 3,800-seat Georgia State Sports Arena, giving it the ability to host various events, from concerts to commencement ceremonies. The sports complex built in 1972 served the Panthers’ programs well for decades, but as Georgia State seeks to improve, they need a new facility.
For an up-and-coming basketball program like Rob Lanier’s Panthers, the outdated Georgia State Sports Arena lacks the space to host big-time college basketball games.
“Going in, Georgia State really wanted to make the stadium to be an event center to increase revenue,” Moore said.
The multi-purpose center will serve as Georgia State athletics’ most vital through its ability to serve as a year-round venue for various events. For Georgia State, having a year-round revenue is pivotal as it rises among the ranks of mid-major athletic programs.
The convocation center will be north of Credit Parc Stadium, at the northwest corner of Fulton Street and Capitol Avenue. The stadium will sit next to the Capitol building and hold classrooms and support other notable events, such as esports tournaments.
However, notable changes are happening regarding the convocation center. Initially, the university announced the venue would cost $79 million, but the budget rose to over $80 million, despite the stadium coming in undersized. The venue will now hold just over 7,500 seats, down from the original 8,000. The stadium decreased from 200,000 square feet to 120,000 but is still a massive upgrade.
The new arena’s current $85 million price tag is the most expensive basketball facility in the Sun Belt Conference. In 2019, Sun Belt coaches ranked Georgia State facilities as one of the worst in the conference, despite the Panthers’ exceptional basketball performance in recent years.
Putting the convocation center close to the football stadium creates more synergy between the football and the basketball programs. Students will also be able to travel to both with more access between the two. Even with the scaled-back design, the new arena’s opportunities to host various events guarantee increased fan support at events.
The only question remaining is the stadium’s name, and there has not been information on naming rights partners yet. The convocation center will be the crown jewel of Georgia State athletics.
