On Oct. 4, the Georgia Tech Athletic Association officially announced Full Steam Ahead, an initiative aimed at enhancing infrastructure across multiple athletic facilities, delivering a best-in-class gameday experience for Yellow Jackets fans, and providing the resources needed to compete for championships at the highest level in the next era of intercollegiate athletics. As a part of Transforming Tomorrow: The Campaign for Georgia Tech, the initiative builds upon the nearly $300 million already raised for athletics and increases Athletics’ fundraising goal to $500 million within the more than $2.1 billion effort for the Institute.
Full Steam Ahead will fund capital projects such as a renovation of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field, the oldest continuously operating on-campus football venue in America; a revamp of the Zelnak Basketball Center, Tech’s practice facility for men’s and women’s basketball; and a modernization of O’Keefe Gym, home to volleyball.
“Full Steam Ahead will not only provide resources needed to navigate the everchanging landscape of college sports but will also help deliver an enhanced gameday experience for fans who attend games at Bobby Dodd Stadium and O’Keefe Gym — two incredible, tradition-filled facilities,” said J Batt, Georgia Tech director of Athletics.
Gail Panarello Smith, CE 1978, and her husband, David Smith, have provided key support for Full Steam Ahead. “Georgia Tech was an excellent academic environment for me when I was a student, and its reputation has continued to grow,” Smith said. “Academically, Tech produces some of the country’s best scholars, and as a lifelong Yellow Jackets fan, I want our student-athletes to have an athletic environment with the same prominence. The Full Steam Ahead initiative will provide that environment.”
Travis Collins, IMGT 1979, and his wife Rose shared similar sentiments. “Rose and I chose to invest in the Full Steam Ahead initiative because we have always believed that Georgia Tech belongs in the very first rank of intercollegiate athletics, the same position that we occupy as an elite academic institution. We also see the energy and commitment coming from the Institute to reach that same goal thanks to President Ángel Cabrera and J Batt and his team at the Athletic Association. We think that’s what Full Steam Ahead is all about, and we invite everyone who loves Tech athletics to get on board to help make our shared vision a reality.”
Construction on the Zelnak Center addition is set for Spring 2026, with renovations to Bobby Dodd Stadium beginning the following fall. The anticipated completion date for both projects is Fall 2027.
To make a gift or commitment to Full Steam Ahead, contact Robby Poteat, executive associate athletics director for Development, at rpoteat@athletics.gatech.edu. To learn more about Full Steam Ahead, visit https://atfund.org/full-steam-ahead.