More than $1 million in grant money was budgeted for a project already underway to replace the artificial field turf and improve the drainage system at Savannah State University’s football stadium, according to meeting minute attachments from an April 16, 2024 meeting of the University System of Georgia (USG) Committee on Real Estate and Facilities. Evidence of Project No. BR-69-2401 could be seen earlier this month at the stadium on the campus of Savannah State University (SSU).

On Wednesday, July 17, crews at T.A. Wright Stadium could be seen removing old turf from the surface of the field. By the afternoon of July 18, the field was completely stripped of turf. A recommendation to the Board of Regents to approve the project was item No. 8 on the April agenda. It states that “a total project budget of $1,033,600” was authorized “through a grant award.”

“SSU has been selected to receive a philanthropic grant award to make improvements to the field surface at Theodore A. Wright Stadium, the home of the SSU Tigers football team (the ‘project’). The existing synthetic turf was installed in 2010 and has experienced significant wear and tear and drainage issues during heavy rains,” the committee’s project summary says.

“The scope of the project includes removing and disposing of the existing turf, grading and compacting the stone base, and installing a new synthetic turf system. The drainage issues with the field would be investigated, and upgrades to the existing water pump would be made as needed. In addition to providing an enhanced playing surface for the safety and performance of student-athletes, the new turf would offer increased longevity and durability for fans and attendees of Stadium events.”

Artificial turf was first installed at SSU’s 8,500 seat stadium in 2010 as part of a $6 million renovation project. Since it was built in 1969, the stadium has undergone three major renovations, with the most recent ones coming in 1995 and 2010.

“The grant would also include an additional $100,000 in funding to cover expenses incurred by SSU for the management and oversight of the project,” the summary says. “SSU will proceed with design and construction of the project in accordance with the conditions and terms of the grant and Board of Regents procedures. The project is consistent with SSU’s master plan.”
Savannah State has yet to announce the project publicly, and the grantor of the funds has not been identified by the school.

However, another Historically Black University in Georgia was given approval by the same committee just one month after it authorized SSU’s field turf project. Albany State University (ASU), a conference rival of Savannah State, got its Project No. BR-60-2401 approved on May 14, 2024, according to agenda attachments on the Board of Regents website. It was identified as “Coliseum Turf Installation” and was agenda item No. 4 that day.

“ASU has been selected to receive grant awards to replace the existing natural grass field at the Coliseum with a synthetic field surface. Home of the Golden Rams, the Coliseum’s current field has experienced significant wear and tear and drainage issues during heavy rains.”

Atlanta Falcons’ owner Artur Blank–through his foundation–was one of the grantors, according to the minutes (see below). “A total project budget of $1,958,750 to be funded with grant awards from Arthur M. Blank Foundation, NFL Foundation, and Local Initiatives Support Corporation,” the ASU project summary states.

This year will be SSU football’s 48th season playing home games at T.A. Wright Stadium. Head coach Aaron Kelton’s team was picked by the conference head coaches in the preseason to finish eighth in the 13-team Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). The Tigers had a 5-5 record in Kelton’s first season in 2022, but they lost four one-possession games last year to finish with an overall mark of 2-8. They’ll open the 2024 season at Southern University on Sept. 7 (7 p.m.) before playing their first home game at 7 p.m. on Sept. 14 versus SIAC opponent Central State University.

This article appears in Connect Savannah I July 2024.