USC initiates step for proposed Williams-Brice Stadium project

USC initiates step for proposed Williams-Brice Stadium project

GENERAL. FEBRUARY 7, 2023 USC initiates step for proposed Williams-Brice Stadium project In what could become the most exciting and comprehensive development project ever undertaken in the Midlands, the University of South Carolina has started...

gamecockfanatics.com

 

[GregoryHouse]

This is huge

 

[FurmanCock]

This is huge

Is it? I was left thinking it was a big nothing burger. Hopefully, I'm wrong but what I took away is that the university has 850 acres of property it can't do anything with because it's in a flood plain, but if you want to assume the risk to build something have at it. And oh by the way, we're going to put in some more box suites.

Of course, I may just be getting more cynical as I age.

 

[Spur's Addiction]

Lot is words but not much detail. What I get out of it is the the university has a bunch of land. Will lease it to a developer and in turn that will help pay for stadium upgrades.

Sounds good but the devil is in the details.

I’ll start getting excited when stadium upgrades means something more then just adding more luxury boxes.

 

[gamecock88]

We need more luxury boxes. They’re in high demand and those that pay for them contribute more $ to the football program than the cheap seats they replace. Developing flood land to pay for it seems about right…lol. Crazy but if it works and we keep up in the arms race I’m all for it. Sounds like more to increase the average fan experience as well. Good on RT if he manages to pull this off.

 

[Longhaul]

Would not surprise me if some interest from developers preceded this announcement.

 

[AikenGameFan]

I will hold my thoughts until at least March when the developers present their plans.
Right now, all we know is that the university is willing to give up some land that is currently not being used in exchange for a developer to come make some improvements.
While the developer says what they plan with the land, they will also offer "improvements" at the stadium as part of their development.
Okay, here are some thoughts anyway, but mean nothing until we see proposals.
Do we need more suites? Yes. like quoted, that will mean more money for the athletic dept. which will lead to more stuff for the players which will lead to better recruits. Hopefully the developer will also consider the everyday average income fan and make improvements for him too.
But the bottom line is any development will improve the players wanting to be here while Beamer is attracting several with the teams performance. Better recruits, better teams, a chance to win the SEC and maybe more.
Then when we get in that class as a competitor again, even more interest from recruits and we will start luring in multiple 5 stars. When they come to visit, don't you want them and their family to see all this new super nice stuff around our stadium. What they did with the old farmers market was huge. What they actually did around the stadium itself was huge. Now develop 800 more acres around our place and make some big improvements to the stadium itself and watch where that can lead. They can give Willy B a huge facelift, and add some suites without it hurting us everyday fans at all.

 

[kingofnerf]

That part of Columbia has always been industrial for as long as I can remember.

I believe they had a housing development in that area that had issues with flooding because it's so flat around there; is that technically a flood basin for the Congaree River?

You have warehouses and frequently-used railroad tracks between the stadium and Rosewood.

You're also counting on mainly seasonal retail revenue from September thorough November and that's IF the team continues it's winning ways; it would be a ghost town during a bad season. Even then the retailers would be competing with the local established shopping areas for business revenue from back-to-school sales through the Christmas holidays.

Stadium upgrades that include adding more skyboxes are the more realistic part of the plan.

JMO.

 

[CockyCody]

I say we move the f ing railroad tracks to the flood zoned 850 acres and use some of that freed up space for whatever and solve some of the traffic woes at the same time!!! Nothing like a damn train coming through right as you leave the game.