The University of South Carolina‘s $22.5 million Williams-Brice Stadium renovation plan is moving forward, as the project has received phase II approval.
Under a plan being pursued by athletics department officials, Williams-Brice Stadium would receive several upgrades that revamp the offerings to fans. New premium spaces are part of that strategy, including the 2001 Club–an air-conditioned space located beneath approximately 33 new four-person loge boxes that will offer an up-close look at the players as they enter the field. In addition, a new air-conditioned club area spanning over 9,000 square feet will be added to the stadium’s west side behind sections 101-105, while renovations are also on tap for the 400 level of the east side and the south end of the stadium’s lower bowl.
The proposal took another step forward when the university’s board of trustees gave Phase II approval at its meeting on Monday. The athletics department still has to continue the state approval process, but Monday’s decision keeps the project on target for a planned completion by the 2020 season. More from The State:
The jewel of the project is the 2001 Club, which will offer a field level view of the Gamecocks entering the playing field on Saturdays through a glass corridor. The setup will be similar to the Dallas Cowboys’ entrance at AT&T Stadium. Other renovations meant to boost South Carolina’s recruiting efforts will be made to the first floor of the Crews Building.
“You add (the new football operations building) to what this project does for recruiting on game day, and we are light years ahead of where we were just three years ago when I started,” head coach Will Muschamp said.
The renovations are scheduled to begin as soon as the 2019 home schedule is complete and be ready in time for the 2020 season.
“It’s an ambitious project in a short amount of time,” [athletics director Ray] Tanner said.
Trustees granted Phase I approval to the project back in September.
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