The University of South Carolina’s board of trustees has given its initial approval to renovation work being carried out at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The stadium has a capacity of 77,000 and serves as the home of the Gamecocks, the university’s American football team.
The board of trustees has approved the request for proposal process to retain an architecture firm to design the initial phase in a “transformational” enhancement of Williams-Brice Stadium.
USC, in partnership with its athletics department, has been developing a masterplan for the stadium’s renovation over the past year. The process involved input from stadium development experts Nations Group and premium seating specialists Elevate.
The project will initially focus on the design of the West and East side of the stadium. Included in the initial plans are premium suites of varying sizes and the installation of club seats.
Construction work on the first phase of the stadium project is scheduled to conclude prior to the start of the 2027 college football season. The university said that “significant potential changes” are being considered for other areas of the stadium. It is not expected that any Gamecocks fixtures will be relocated during the project.
Funding for the project will come from capital gifts, suite and premium seating purchases, and related revenue streams.
The plans tie in with ongoing efforts to engage a developer to create a retail, food and lodging district adjacent to Williams-Brice Stadium. Planning also continues on other master facility projects, such as new student housing.
Thad Westbrook, chair of the university’s board of trustees, said: “Today is a significant day for our institution and I hope it is the beginning of many big milestones ahead as we realise this incredibly transformative vision for athletics and our football programme that will have an impact on all areas of our university and the region.”
USC president Michael Amiridis added: “This ambitious project will improve significantly the experience of our fans and supporters for many years to come. These improvements will also make our stadium more attractive to additional athletic and entertainment events, which could increase even further USC’s economic impact in Columbia and the Midlands.”
