Jan. 25, 2005

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Colonial Center looks to welcome its one-millionth fan on Wednesday, January 26 at the USC basketball game against Vanderbilt. Dr. McGee, USC Cheerleaders, Cocky, and USC athletic staff will be on hand to surprise the one-millionth fan through the turnstile. Game time is set for 8 p.m. and tickets are available.

“We expect a sizeable crowd to attend the basketball game this Wednesday and our records indicate that we will certainly surpass the one-millionth fan mark at the Colonial Center sometime before the game begins,” said Tom Paquette, General Manager for the Colonial Center.

The millionth fan to enter the turnstiles will receive a prize package filled with tickets to the SEC Basketball Tournament, USHRA Monster Jam, AND 1 Streetball Live Tour, Professional Bull Riding, Disney on Ice and Rascal Flatt tickets, t-shirts, gift certificates, and an autographed basketball signed by Dave Odom.

“This is an incredible milestone to surpass in such a short time”, said Dr. McGee, Athletic Director for The University of South Carolina. “It is gratifying to see how Columbia, the Midlands and the entire state have received the Colonial Center. It has had such a positive effect on our community and it is hard to imagine us without it. I would like to thank Global Spectrum for their efforts in bringing top-notch entertainment to the Colonial Center for the community to enjoy, and for running the building smoothly and efficiently. This is indeed a shining moment for the Colonial Center that I am proud to welcome and recognize.”

The University of South Carolina’s Athletic Department is the primary operator of the Colonial Center. Global Spectrum, a subsidiary of Comcast-Spectacor, the Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment firm which owns the Wachovia Center, the Wachovia Spectrum, the Philadelphia Flyers, and the Philadelphia 76ers, manages over 40 facilities worldwide, and has been selected by USC Athletics to manage the Colonial Center.