A University of South Carolina athletics fundraising drive is being extended, with a goal to raise part of a $21 million Williams-Brice Stadium renovation.
South Carolina initially began a fundraising campaign to help pay for the upcoming Long Family Football Operations Center, and it has been a success. Of its $30 million goal, the university has raised over $28 million. As was announced on Monday, South Carolina is extending the fundraising campaign in order to reach a newly increased goal of $40 million.
The extra revenue from the fundraising campaign would help pay for upcoming Williams-Brice Stadium renovations that were announced in September, covering nearly half of the $21 million cost estimate. Future work at the stadium would take place over multiple phases, with an overhaul of the Floyd Building to be completed in 2019 and the addition of new premium areas to follow in 2020. More from The State:
The changes to Williams-Brice will affect all four sides of South Carolina’s home football stadium. A $750,000 project to renovate the first floor of the Floyd Building on the north side of the stadium is projected to be completed in time for the 2019 season. A $21 million project that will add premium areas to the south, east and west sides of the stadium is expected to be completed in time for the 2020 season.
In total, the renovations are expected to create 9,000 “premium access opportunities,” athletics director Ray Tanner said in September. The athletic department expects to earn more than $1 million annually (after repaying the $1.3 million of annual debt the project will create) by selling the access to the premium areas, Tanner said.
The extended fundraising effort was touted by the university in Monday’s announcement as a way to build off of current momentum.
“The support we have received from our donors for the Long Center project has been amazing,” Athletics Director Ray Tanner said in a press statement. “This campaign has been the most successful effort in our department’s fundraising history. It only makes sense that we utilize this wave of momentum to get started with the work that needs to be done to Williams-Brice.”
“The Long Center has already had a tangible impact on our recruiting efforts,” head football coach Will Muschamp said in a press statement. “The facility is exactly what our program needs. With the transition of many of the football functions going to the Long Center, we want to create spaces in Williams-Brice Stadium that will maximize gamedays for recruiting as well as benefit the experience for our fans.”