Williams-Brice Stadium Set for Major Makeover as Soon as Palmetto Bowl Ends
As part of its summer countdown to the 2025 football season, The State is answering 25 burning questions about the South Carolina Gamecocks. Question No. 6 takes a deep dive into the timeline and scope of the highly anticipated Williams-Brice Stadium renovations.
While some fans groaned when the 2025 Palmetto Bowl against Clemson was slotted for a noon kickoff, Greg Hughes saw opportunity.
Hughes, CEO of Contract Construction and a 1994 USC Honors College graduate, is one of the key figures overseeing the Williams-Brice overhaul. He joked that the second the game ends on Nov. 29, he’ll be ready to put his crew to work.
“I hope we win by 100, get out of there and we can get started,” Hughes quipped. “I’m actually glad it’s a noon game, because we could possibly start at about 5 o’clock. We’ll start tearing some stuff up and get going.”
And they’ll need every minute. From the end of the 2025 season to the start of the 2026 home opener against Miami, Hughes and his team will have 281 days—just over nine months—to make significant progress without disrupting the football calendar.
Although the full stadium renovation isn’t slated for completion until August 2027, the first phase of work will focus heavily on the west side. The plan includes gutting and redesigning the club level areas, increasing suite capacity from the SEC-low 18 to a total of 43 (33 regular suites plus 10 founders suites). This boost in premium seating is projected to bring in millions in additional revenue.
However, what fans will likely notice most are the quality-of-life upgrades throughout the stadium.
Wider concourses, modernized bathrooms, new escalators to replace the infamous winding ramps in the south upper deck, and the addition of two large video boards in the south end zone corners are all part of the blueprint. Students, meanwhile, can look forward to an air-conditioned lounge space beneath their section, which administrators hope will help keep them in the stands longer during games.
As officials emphasize, the impact of these renovations will be universal.
“Every single person who walks into Williams-Brice Stadium will feel the effects of these upgrades,” one USC administrator said.
Of course, not everyone will be thrilled. A small percentage of changes will involve tradeoffs—longtime season ticket holders who’ll be relocated to accommodate new suites, or fans who’ll miss the character of the iconic ramps or the old-school bathrooms.
But sentimentality aside, USC is forging ahead—and fast. So, if you’re one of those nostalgic fans who loves the quirks of the old Willy-B, make sure to soak it all in this season. Because after Nov. 29, the wrecking crew won’t waste any time.
