The place to tailgate Thursday: USC Alumni Center

Gamecocks everywhere will be gathering around televisions Thursday night to watch Carolina usher in a new football era with Coach Will Muschamp.

Perhaps the headquarters of such gatherings will be at the USC Alumni Center, at the My Carolina Alumni Association’s Hometown Tailgates.

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“It’s the first time we’ve ever done a tailgate for an away game,” said Jack Claypoole, executive director for My Carolina Alumni Association.

The USC Alumni Center at 900 Senate St. in The Vista opened a year ago, and gives the alumni association the opportunity to have such events, Claypoole said. “The building gives us so much flexibility.”

Big screen televisions will be showing the USC vs. Vanderbilt football game and there will be Carolina cheerleaders and tailgate games, food and drink.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun for Gamecock fans,” Claypoole said.

Doors open for the pregame Happy Hour (with cash bar) at 4:30 p.m. The viewing party tailgate buffet (with cash bar) begins at 6:30 p.m. and kickoff is at 8 p.m.

There are two options for tickets:

▪ Pregame Happy Hour, game viewing and tailgate buffet:

Tickets are $18 per person for My Carolina Alumni Association members or $25 per person for non-members. Tickets include seating, tailgate style food, tailgate games, cash bar and more.

▪ Pregame Happy Hour and/or game viewing only.

Free for members and non-members, includes seating, tailgate games, cash bar and more. The tailgate buffet is not included.

This story was originally published August 31, 2016 at 2:08 PM.