Evans dismisses talks of moving UGA-Fla. to Atlanta

University of Georgia athletics director Damon Evans says there are no discussions about trying to bring the Georgia-Florida football game to the Georgia Dome.

“No, there are no talks going on,” Evans said Friday. “Gary Stokan of the Atlanta Sports Council has expressed interest in and approached us about moving the game to Atlanta. That’s the extent of it. I wouldn’t call it talks.”

Earlier Friday, Stokan, president of the sports council, said the group had been in talks with Georgia officials about trying to bring the game to the Georgia Dome periodically.

“We haven’t talked about any specifics involving the game,” Evans said. “As always we’ll consider what’s best for Georgia and do what’s appropriate. But we’re not in talks with them right now. They just broached the subject to us, as they have before. But there’s not any ongoing dialogue going on about it right now.”

Stokan said his group wants to have the game played in Atlanta for at least one of the four years in an upcoming new contract between the schools.

“We’re not asking to move half the games or all of the games to Atlanta,” Stokan said. “We respect tradition. We’re just looking for one of the four.”

Georgia’s contract to play Florida in Jacksonville — a location that has long rankled Dogs fans — expires next year.

The Sports Council has pushed unsuccessfully to bring the game to Atlanta in the past, and Stokan acknowledged it will be Georgia officials’ call as to whether to demand a venue change in negotiations on a new contract.

“Whenever I see Damon I bring it up and talk about the possibilities,” Stokan said.

Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley said his school supports the “tradition” of the Jacksonville venue.

“Obviously, we have heard of these kind of discussions before,” Foley said. “We have been strong proponents of keeping the game in Jacksonville and that has not changed. I have a great deal of respect for Damon and I know that he must do what he thinks is best for the University of Georgia. We believe the Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville is a great tradition and we look forward to maintaining that tradition.”

One factor that could work against the Dome in negotiations is the facility’s smaller size. It seats about 72,000 fans versus 82,000 for the stadium in Jacksonville.

“We feel financially we could make up the difference,” Stokan said.

The Sports Council pitches Atlanta as a location for major sports events ranging from the Super Bowl to college basketball tournaments. It also operates the Chick-fil-A bowl.

The Georgia-Florida game has been held in Jacksonville since 1933, with the exception of 1994 and ‘95, when construction at the stadium forced it to the school’s home sites.

The first meeting between the two teams was played in Jacksonville in 1915. It was played at different sites from 1916-1932.

— Staff writer Chip Towers contributed to this report.