South Carolina Unveils $350 Million Williams-Brice Stadium Renovation Plans
South Carolina football fans got a fresh glimpse into the future of Williams-Brice Stadium on Wednesday, as the university released new renderings and details of its massive renovation project. The announcement came just one day after the state’s fiscal accountability authority gave the green light to the Gamecocks’ proposed $350 million budget, officially clearing the final regulatory hurdle.
The centerpiece of the project will be the demolition of the Floyd Building in the north end zone. Removing that structure will create space for a new, expansive concourse area directly behind the student section — nearly five times larger than what exists today.
“This new concourse area will feature a ground level with permanent concessions and new restrooms as well as space for students to socialize,” USC said in its release.
While the scale of the project is massive, South Carolina officials stressed that they are determined to minimize disruptions for fans during football season. According to the school, construction will begin following the conclusion of the 2025 season and will be spread across three phases lasting through the 2028 football season:
- Phase One (2025–26 offseason): Renovation of general concourses and the student section.
- Phase Two (2026–27 offseason): Construction of premium seating areas, including the 100–200 level sections.
- Phase Three (2027–28 offseason): Renovations in the southeast corner of the stadium.
A major driver of the project is the need to modernize South Carolina’s premium seating options. Currently, Williams-Brice has just 18 suites — the fewest in the SEC. The renovations will more than double that number, boosting it to 43 total suites (33 traditional suites and 10 founders’ suites). In addition, the stadium will add or renovate nine different club spaces, significantly enhancing the gameday experience for premium ticket holders.
According to documents USC submitted to the state fiscal authority, revenue generated from these upgrades is expected to surge. The school projects that by 2028, “new tickets” from suites and club areas will bring in over $25 million annually, climbing to more than $31 million by 2029 — and continuing to increase from there.
However, there will be trade-offs. South Carolina acknowledged that it expects to lose around $9 million annually from existing seats that will be eliminated to make room for the new luxury spaces. The school has not disclosed exactly how many seats will be lost in the process. Still, Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati emphasized that no seating will be impacted during the 2025 and 2026 seasons, giving fans a buffer before the most disruptive stages of construction begin.
Beyond the fan experience, the renovations will also transform the football team’s own facilities inside the stadium. Plans call for a full redesign and modernization of:
- The football locker room
- The coaches’ locker room
- The recruiting lounge
- The training and interview rooms
- The equipment room
The project will also relocate the visiting locker room, moving it from the northwest corner of the stadium to a new space in the southeast corner.
While conceptual renderings of the football-specific upgrades have not yet been released, the scale of the project underscores South Carolina’s determination to keep pace with the facility arms race in the SEC. With luxury seating expansion, upgraded team facilities, and enhanced fan spaces, Williams-Brice Stadium is on track to undergo one of the most ambitious stadium transformations in college football over the next four years.
