Gamecocks are back at Williams-Brice. It ‘feels really good’ but looks very different
Barely five seconds into Tuesday’s news conference, South Carolina football head coach Will Muschamp paused and repeated himself.
“I’m gonna say that again, because that feels kind of good to say,” he began. “We got Tennessee. Saturday night. 7:30. Williams-Brice Stadium. SEC Network.
“Feels really good to say that.”
For months, Muschamp wasn’t sure when he’d be able to say those words again. But there indeed will be a football game played at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday, and it will be unlike any game that has ever been played there.
The school released an extensive list of safety measures and new gameday guidelines as Gamecocks fans and students prepare to attend the first USC football game played during the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 20,000 socially distanced fans will be allowed to enter a stadium that has a new capacity of 77,559. As of Thursday morning, a limited number of tickets were still available.
The fans who do attend will experience a much different atmosphere than the one they’re accustomed to.
“(COVID-19 has) impacted almost everything that we have done,” USC head of marketing Eric Nichols told The State. “I mean, the band size is impacted. Obviously, the crowd size is impacted. Most of what we do is to try to create a home-field advantage and create a memorable experience for fans, and I think we’ll still be able to create a memorable experience for fans. But the typical methods that we would use are not at our disposal.”
For the sake of safety, certain sacrifices had to be made. There won’t be a pregame Gamecock Walk this year, a tradition in which the team walks by fans gathered in Gamecock Park. Sir Big Spur, USC’s live rooster mascot, is prohibited from attending. Because only essential personnel are allowed on the field, the marching band, cheerleaders, dancers and even mascot Cocky will be relegated to the stands.
Nichols said USC tried to preserve as much of the traditional gameday experience as possible. One of the bigger challenges, he said, was figuring out a way to maintain the team’s iconic “2001” entrance. Due to the on-field restrictions on essential personnel, the Gamecocks won’t be able to include their usual pyrotechnics. However, Nichols said USC will still use smoke with the entrance.
“We would ask fans for a little bit of patience if things aren’t smooth,” Nichols said of the gameday experience. “We have certainly never done it like this before. So we’re gonna do our best.”
Gates will open two hours before kickoff, and in an effort to avoid overcrowding, there will be suggested times posted on tickets for when fans should enter the facility.
University-owned parking lots will open two and a half hours before game time. Tents are prohibited and tailgating is discouraged in those lots.
The school has also been in contact with nearby privately owned lots about appropriate safety measures, but USC cannot dictate what they do. Some of those lots, like The Coop on Key Road, will continue to allow tailgating, albeit with restrictions and safety protocols outlined by the Department of Commerce and the governor’s office. Other lots could be more or less restrictive.
Face masks are required to enter Williams-Brice Stadium, and there are arrows on the ground as well as signage throughout the concourse designed to direct traffic in a socially distant fashion. Each row will contain two pods of seats, spaced apart and located at each end of the row for easy access. Fans will only be allowed to sit in chair-back seats and seats marked by special stickers.
Concession stands will still operate and offer grab-and-go meals as well as serve alcohol, but they won’t accept cash. Fans must use credit or debit cards or another cashless option.
“From our perspective, we’re hoping that our fans will really view themselves as teammates in this situation,” said Chris Rogers, USC’s senior associate athletics director for administration. “Obviously, there’s been a lot of blood, sweat, tears put into getting to the point of being able to put on the event. And it’s important fans understand for us to be able to continue putting on events that we have to follow those safety protocols.”
Rogers, who gave reporters a tour of the stadium Wednesday, said that the school is treating Saturday’s game like “a medical event first and a football game second.” And Nichols said there will likely be some “learning on the fly” as the school holds its first football game in the COVID-19 era.
“I think I’m just excited to see what 20,000 Gamecock fans can sound like,” Nichols said. “Many of us were there for the Missouri game when the rain dispersed most of the people out of the stadium, but yet we still had an unbelievable home-field advantage.
“So I’m expecting that.”
USC football home game protocols
▪ Ticketing: To offer greater convenience and safety, mobile-only ticketing (excluding premium seating) will be in place for the 2020 season. Fans should review the Digital Ticketing Guide for a step-by-step guide to access mobile tickets via the Gameday App.
▪ Parking: For the 2020 season, Athletics Department-controlled lots will open two and a half hours prior to kickoff. Athletics Department-controlled parking spaces in Gamecock Park and the Fairgrounds will only be available to patrons for the games in which they have purchased tickets. Paid gameday parking will not be permitted in Gamecock Park or Fairgrounds. Parking lots will close 90 minutes after the conclusion of the game.
▪ Tailgating: Tailgating, including grills, coolers and large buffet-style spreads, is discouraged, and tents are prohibited. Large gatherings will be asked to disperse.
▪ Shuttles: For the 2020 season, shuttle service will be limited to students with a valid Carolina Card. There will be no public shuttles operating for the 2020 football season.
▪ Stadium Entry/Exit: Gates will open two hours prior to kickoff and will include signage to facilitate social distancing. To alleviate crowding at entrances, fans should plan to enter at the time recommended on their ticket. Face coverings (over the nose and mouth) are required for entry to Williams-Brice Stadium and in all common areas around the stadium. Face shields are not acceptable facial coverings for entry to the stadium.
▪ Concessions/Merchandise Sales: All points-of-sale throughout Williams-Brice Stadium will be cashless. Fans must use credit or debit card or a mobile-pay option (i.e., Google, Apple) to purchase concessions and merchandise. Queuing at points of sale will be designed to allow for physical distancing between guests. Some concessions stands will not be open due to the lower seating capacity this season, however, the service ratio will be higher than when the stadium is at full operation.
▪ Restrooms: All restrooms will be open with modified layouts and an attendant to regulate entry to allow for proper social distancing.
— South Carolina’s official release on protocols
This story was originally published September 24, 2020 at 11:25 AM.
