Feb. 15, 2012

Columbia, S.C. – Several pre-game festivities are planned for Opening Day at Carolina Stadium before the South Carolina and VMI baseball game on Friday. The South Carolina National Guard Band will perform the National Anthem with military representatives presenting the colors and the United States flag. It also will play a mini-concert behind the batter’s eye near the main entrance when gates open at 1:30 p.m. In recognition of the back-to-back National Championships, there will be a brief video as well as the raising of the National Championship flag. 2010 College World Series Most Outstanding Player Jackie Bradley Jr. and 2011 College World Series Most Outstanding Player Scott Wingo will throw out ceremonial first pitches to former catchers Robert Beary and Brady Thomas. Those players will be accompanied by National Championship teammates Bryan Harper, Peter Mooney, Adrian Morales, Steven Neff and John Taylor.

Opening Day at Carolina Stadium between South Carolina and VMI is sold out, the Gamecock Athletics Ticket Office announced Monday evening. First pitch for the 2012 opener on Friday, Feb. 17, is set for 3 p.m. with live video broadcast available at GamecocksOnline.com and live radio broadcast on the Gamecock Radio Network, including flagship station 107.5 FM “The Game,” in Columbia. Fans may still purchase standing room only tickets for Saturday and Sunday games in the series. First pitch for Saturday’s contest is also 3 p.m. with Sunday’s series finale slated for 1:30 p.m. To obtain single-game tickets, fans can go online to the official website of Gamecock Athletics, GamecocksOnline.com or call the ticket office at (803) 777-4274 or 800-4SC-FANS.

For Opening Day on Feb. 17 and for next Friday’s game vs. Elon, parking in the business lots will be curtailed based on the specific lots. Patrons with passes to park in lots 6, 7, 9 and 10 will be relocated to Lot 1 on Williams and Wheat St.

Please be aware on game days entrance via car to Williams, Catawba and Wheat Streets will be closed to the public and is accessible only by a valid parking pass. We encourage visitors to use public game day parking lots illustrated on the parking map. The cost is $10/$5 per vehicle. Visitors can also park for free at Colonial Life Arena Lot B, which is bordered by Blossom, Gadsden, Devine and Lincoln Streets with round-trip shuttle service available for $2 per person, which will drop off at the main entrance of Carolina Stadium. RV Parking will also be available in the Colonial Life Arena Lot B. Questions concerning RV baseball parking can be directed to Richard Evans at (803) 777-1439.

Visitors who need handicap parking should park at the Colonial Life Arena Lot B. Handicap accessible round-trip shuttle service will be available for $2 per person and it will drop off r at the main entrance of Carolina Stadium.

A link to the parking map is located here – http://www.gamecocksonline.com/ot/game-day-parking-information.html