Williams Brice Stadium

Williams Brice Stadium is home to the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.  It was as early as the 1930’s that talks began to build a new stadium for the football team.  By 1934 the new stadium was opened thanks to federal funding.  During the 1934 season the Gamecocks began playing at the stadium, which was originally called the Carolina Stadium.  At that time it was able to hold 17,600 fans.  Since it first opened many renovations have been done on the stadium and in 1970 over 14,000 seat were added and Astroturf was installed on the field.  It was the $2.5 million left by the estate of Mrs. Martha Williams Brice that made these renovations possible.  And because of her extreme generosity the stadium’s name was changed to honor her.  Mrs. Brice’s husband, Thomas Brice, was a Gamecock football letterman during the 1922-24 football season.     

Renovations continued on Williams Brice Stadium after Mrs. Brice’s donation.  Before 1972 the stadium capacity was increased to 54,000 and ten years later it grew to 72,400.
In 1983, the Astroturf was removed and natural turf was returned to the field.  Then, ten years later, the field was completely resodded with Bermuda grass.

By 1995-1996, Williams Brice Stadium was upgraded to include executive boxes, club seats, and a new press box.  They also included a football office complex with a state-of-the-art video production facility.  A $13.5 million expansion featured a large meeting and banquet hall and 7,600 additional seats bringing the total stadium capacity to an amazing 80,000.
Today they have added a weight room, a recruiting and training facility, 2 racquet ball courts, a Hall of Captains, Hall of Teams, Hall of Bowl Teams, meeting rooms, a lounge and a state-of-the-art programmable scoreboard.  With all of the renovations and the number of great additions made, Williams Brice Stadium is one of the nations premier football facilities.
Gamecock football is very popular in Columbia, South Carolina.  People travel from all over the country to check out games at the Williams Brice Stadium.  If you have plans to take in a game then check into the Courtyard Columbia Downtown at USC for first class accommodations, excellent service and the convenience of being located just minutes from the university and the stadium.  There’s no better choice in the area.