What's New at Williams-Brice Stadium in 2021
It’s not like we are counting, but there will have been 644 days since the last time Williams-Brice Stadium could welcome home 77,559 screaming Gamecock fans this Saturday. That’s when Carolina opens the 2021 season at home against Eastern Illinois at 7 p.m.
There has been a lot of changes and upgrades to Willy-B since the end of the 2019 season as well as game day operational changes due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gamecock fans will be able to enjoy a new $2.4 million videoboard installed by ANC, a leading sports marketing and signage company. The new board will be nearly twice as sharp than the previous board.
In place last season were club seating throughout Williams-Brice Stadium. These include the 2001 Club (southwest corner), Cockaboose Club (south endzone), Traditions Club (400 level) and the Horseshoe Club (100 level).
Pregame activities, including tailgating, will continue to be a part of game day. These include Gamecock Walk, which will have wider walk through for the student-athletes, coaches and staff, and live music at Gamecock Village, starting at 3 pm for the Eastern Illinois game. Rally towels will be distributed around Williams-Brice Stadium for free while supplied last. These will also be available for purchase at all physical concession stands.
As you plan your Gamecock game day, please be aware of the following security, health-related changes:
- New for the 2021 season, all fans will be required to go through a security screening before entering Williams-Brice Stadium. Fans do not need to remove any items from their pockets or bags and will be instructed to move through the metal detectors in a timely fashion. Fans with bags will continue through the security screening and proceed to the closest bag check area. Printed and digital tickets will be scanned at the gate entrance.
- The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), a Gamecock sponsor, is offering free COVID-19 vaccinations in Gamecock Village prior to each home football game. For the Eastern Illinois game, the time period is from 2:30 pm until 6:30 pm.
- Face coverings are strongly encouraged for all indoor and enclosed areas of the stadium unless eating or drinking. The CDC states that, to maximize protection from the Delta Variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, everyone should wear a mask indoors in public, even if you are fully vaccinated. Hand sanitizers will be available throughout the stadium for use. Please frequently wash and sanitize your hands. Event staff on the field, serving food and working in indoor/enclosed spaces at Williams-Brice Stadium will be wearing masks.
- Williams-Brice will be operating under a heat management plan for the first part of the 2021 home schedule. This plan includes the following:
- Water Bottles: Fans are permitted to bring one (1) empty, clear bottle of water OR one (1) sealed bottle of water into the stadium. This policy will allow fans to stay hydrated on their walk to Williams-Brice Stadium and refill their bottle upon entering the stadium. All glass bottles are still strictly prohibited in Williams-Brice Stadium.
- Water Refills: South Carolina once again offers bottle filling stations at locations throughout the stadium. These bottle filling stations are located near existing water fountains.
- Water Fountains: The usage of traditional water fountains or other self-service drinking stations will be prohibited. This does not apply to apparatuses that use touchless technology.
- Water Monsters: Water Monsters will be available throughout Williams-Brice Stadium. Fans can fill their water bottles and cups free at any water monster location.
Concessions and merchandising locations in Williams-Brice Stadium will no longer accept cash and only debit or credit cards. Information on concessions, merchandising and contactless payments includes:
- Reverse ATM’s can be found on West Main, West Upper, East Ground, and East Upper. Simply exchange your cash for a debit card at any Reverse ATM location throughout Williams-Brice Stadium.
- Beer and wine will be sold throughout Williams-Brice Stadium. Patrons purchasing beer or wine will be carded at the point of sale and will be limited to two beverages per sale. Per SEC Regulation, beer and wine sales at Williams-Brice Stadium will end at the end of third quarter.
- In addition to the merchandise location in the Bignon Gameday Building, Williams-Brice Stadium offers two merchandise locations on gameday. Merchandise locations in Williams-Brice Stadium can be located on West Lower by the Letterman’s Lounge and East Ground by the picnic tables.
Individual game and season tickets are still available and can be purchased online at gamecocksonline.com/tickets or by calling 800-4SC-FANS.
