More improvements coming to Williams-Brice Stadium? It’s possible, Ray Tanner says
Williams-Brice Stadium is debuting a handful of improvements in 2022, but it might not be the last set of upgrades in the not-too-distant future.
South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner told The State at the SEC spring meetings that the school isn’t closing the door on further changes to the facility and is currently kicking around ideas as the latest round of stadium renovations enter their final stages.
“We’ve talked about other things we could do,” Tanner said. “I don’t want to get into too much detail, but yes, we’re having conversations about maybe the future Williams-Brice and things that we can continue to do to provide a greater fan experience.”
Williams-Brice Stadium is set to showcase a slew of enhancements to its gameday setup this coming fall, adding another layer of excitement for those anxiously awaiting Shane Beamer’s second season in charge in Columbia.
A new lighting system — examples of which have made the rounds on social media in recent weeks — are atop the list of shiny new toys being added the facility. USC is also in the process of adding ribbon boards to the interior of the stadium.
Other updates to Williams-Brice that will be unveiled this year include expansions to the west main concourse, the installation of two new 200-level elevators, improvements to concessions stands and additional restrooms.
An October 2021 school news release announcing the projects estimated the west main concourse renovations would cost $2.3 million, while the additions of the 200-level elevators will cost $2.4 million — though that was expected to be funded by donors.
Those improvements come on the heels of recent debut of four renovated club level lounges that opened in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, part of a $22.5 million premium seating project that lowered stadium capacity by almost 3,000 people.
“We’re still fighting the challenges to COVID presented us,” Tanner said. “We’re still trying to play catch-up as hard as we can. That starts with the excitement that coach Beamer has created. We need to do well, sell tickets. It’s no secret that football is your bellwether and we’re on a pretty good pace right now.”
A permanent home for the USC Athletics Hall of Fame?
Tanner also noted the longstanding hope to build a permanent home for the USC Athletics Hall of Fame remains on the docket, although nothing is pending on that front.
A physical hall of fame dedicated to those athletes South Carolina honored throughout its history has been discussed for years. However, with the school still recovering financially from the COVID-19 pandemic and further Williams-Brice Stadium potentially on the horizon, that project might have to continue to wait.
“We haven’t identified an area or space yet where we would do it,” Tanner said. “Ideally, I think you’ve got to be somewhere in close proximity, if not in Williams-Brice, on the grounds, because of football weekends.
“That’s something that hopefully we can we can accomplish in the years to come. That never has been taken off the list, but we have we haven’t been able to do that yet.”
USC operated at a more than $750,000 loss during the 2020 fiscal year due, at least in part due to the pandemic, according to documents obtained by The State. The school also reported less than $5 million in profit between its total operating revenue and total operating costs during the 2021 fiscal year, marking the third consecutive year it has done so after hitting that mark every year between 2015 and 2018.
“Despite going through the pandemic, despite all the things that you have to fight through, you can’t throw up your hands,” Tanner said. “You’ve still gotta plow ahead. We’re in the Southeastern Conference. We’re not looking at each other like, ‘Y’all slowing down?’ We’re trying to do the very best we can and I don’t think you get to be the best conference in the country if you take it any other way.”
This story was originally published June 9, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
