10 new things at Williams-Brice Stadium

The $14.5 million Springs Brooks Plaza around Williams-Brice Stadium is ready for its debut this weekend. It replaces decades of asphalt parking lots with a tree-lined, campus-like atmosphere.

Ten things you’ll notice:

1. The Bignon Gameday Center

Located on the Northeast corner, the new building hosts the ticket office, a merchandise store and spaces for police and EMTs on Gameday. Another ticket booth is located on the West side of the stadium.

2. Bricks

There are 3,407 bricks with engraved messages from donors placed throughout the plaza, with opportunities available to purchase bricks that will be placed for the 2016 season.

3. Archways

Fans can enter the stadium through brick-lined archways, each sponsored by a family or booster. Each gate will lead to one of the ramps, and fans can now walk completely around the stadium.

4. George Rogers statue

The statue honoring USC’s Heisman Trophy winner is 13-feet tall and weighs 1,400 pounds. It will be located in the Northwest corner, near the intersection of George Rogers Boulevard and Bluff Road, with him looking at the stadium.

5. The Grove lite

The trees – oaks, maples, elms and of course palmettos – are designed to give Williams-Brice the look and feel of The Grove at Ole Miss. It will take a year or two for the trees to fully bloom but once they do, a satellite image will have two spots of greenery in downtown Columbia – the Horseshoe and the stadium.

6. New restroom facilities

Two restroom buildings are on the East and West sides of the stadium. So long, Port-O-Johns!

7. Cockabooses are part of the plaza

The fence separating the private-property Cockabooses from the plaza has been removed. A more open feel from the iconic railroad cars to the stadium is the result.

8. Think of a satellite

The plaza was designed to mimic the stadium’s overall look. Black bands separate the concrete and lead from the stadium’s main supports to the street. If looked at from space, the stadium would be the center of an orb that radiates from Key to Bluff roads.

9. The South wall

A long brick wall is on the South side of the stadium. Eventually, it will be decorated with pictures and memorials to great players and teams of the past.

10. More food options

Carolina shrimp and grits, and Carolina peaches and cream are new on the West side. The East side will host the Black Bean Company (sandwiches, salads and wraps) and Section 6 has a Centerplate location labeled “Marketplace Fresh” for sandwiches, wraps, salads and fruit. Marco’s has taken over the pizza concessions, while Bojangles’ will have a location along with Thai Kingdom and Carolina Kernals Gourmet Popcorn. Food trucks will be spaced in Gamecock Park, near the indoor practice facility.

This story was originally published September 10, 2015 at 2:13 PM with the headline "10 new things at Williams-Brice Stadium."