Williams-Brice Stadium

• South Carolina Gamecocks (NCAA, since 1934 )

The Williams - Brice Stadium is a football stadium on the campus of the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. It serves as the venue for home games of the college teams South Carolina Gamecocks. The stadium has a capacity of 80,250. The attendance record of 85,000 was set on 17 November 2001 in a game against the Clemson University.

History

The stadium was built in 1934 with the help of the Works Progress Administration as Columbia Municipal Stadium. Originally, it provided space for 17,600 spectators. In 1941 it was transferred to the University of South Carolina and renamed Carolina Stadium.

One end of the stadium was filled during the 1940s and brought the stadium into a horseshoe shape. The capacity was almost doubled and was now 34,000. More than a decade later the stadium was finally closed and was now able to accommodate 43,000 spectators.

The first major renovations were carried out in 1970, whereby the natural grass was replaced with artificial turf. Two years later, an upper deck was added, thus increasing the seating capacity to 54,000 on the west side. These extensions were made possible by funding from Martha Williams -Brice, her husband from 1922 to 1924 played for the Gamecocks Football. In her honor, the stadium was renamed on September 8, 1972 in Williams - Brice Stadium.

1982 upper deck was also added on the east side and the capacity further increased to 72,400. During the 1982/83 season, the artificial turf was again replaced by natural grass at the urging of new coach Joe Morrison finally.

During the last decade, renovations and improvements were carried out in the stadium and thus brought the capacity further to today's 80,250 to nearly $ 30 million.

Events

In addition to the home games of the Gamecocks, even many concerts take place at Williams - Brice Stadium. Mention may be made about the joint concert of Metallica and Guns 'n ' Roses on 7 September 1992, and the U2 concert on 23 September of that year as part of their Zoo TV tour. Paul McCartney and his band gave a concert on May 7, 1993 and September 25, 1994 The Rolling Stones came on as part of their Voodoo Lounge tour.

In addition, here, Pope John Paul II in 1987 in front of 60,000 people attending.