Georgia Tech unveiled a new colorful design on Grant Field on Thursday, including two different background colors (gold and blue) in the two end zones.
The design also includes marks drawing attention to Tech’s Atlanta location, a prime thrust of coach Geoff Collins’ recruiting strategy. The field has two “ATL” marks, both centered on the 25-yard line of both sides of the field, one nearer the west sideline and the other the east sideline. (The “A” and “L” are in white, while the “T” is gold in the same font used in the “Tech” in the iconic Tech Tower.) The specific design of the “ATL” is, in fact, a new Tech logo.
On the sidelines, between the 10- and 15-yard lines, a “404” is painted, one in the northwest corner of the field and the other on the east sideline in the south end of the field. At midfield, the interlocking “GT” logo remains, in gold with white outline.
Credit: Danny Karnik/Georgia Tech Athletics
Credit: Danny Karnik/Georgia Tech Athletics
It is undoubtedly a look with Collins’ fingerprints on it. He mentioned it in his Tuesday news conference, saying that, “Our grounds crew has painted the field; it looks awesome. I think the reveal is coming up sometime soon.”
It is a tangible effort for Tech to distinguish itself through branding, creating a sharp look that helps define the Yellow Jackets. Using a playing surface as branding is perhaps more common in basketball, in which the rulebook allows more license on what can be painted on the court.
The end zones may be the most eye-catching elements of the redesign. The north end zone is painted gold with “Georgia Tech” painted across it in white and outlined in blue, while the south end zone is navy with “Georgia Tech” in white and outlined in gold.
Previously, the end zone had long featured “Georgia Tech” painted in gold upon green grass. There are four trophies painted beneath each goalpost representing the Yellow Jackets’ four national championships.
The paint schemes on the new artificial turf are not permanent and can be changed during the season.
The redesign does not end on the field. Bobby Dodd Stadium also has new LED lights and a new sound system, and stadium signage was refreshed, notably the presentation of Clint Castleberry’s retired jersey and Tech’s College Football Hall of Fame inductees on upper-deck facades.
The signage on the Wardlaw Building beyond the south end zone – “Welcome to Bobby Dodd Stadium/At Historic Grant Field” at the top of the building and “Georgia Tech” at the top of the stands – are now backlit. “Georgia Tech” has been replaced by “Georgia Institute of Technology.”
“All of the upgrades that our athletic department have done in the offseason to make the experience the best that it can possibly be in all of college football – for our players, first and foremost, for our fans – is going to be really impressive,” Collins said.
And if it happens to make an impression on recruits, Collins won’t mind that, either.
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