South Carolina is making a fresh push to unclog the entry lines at Williams-Brice Stadium, and the fix will be in place for Saturday’s game against Texas A&M.
The biggest change is timing. All gates will open two hours before kickoff now, instead of 90 minutes, which means a 1 p.m. opening for the 3 p.m. matchup. USC is also adding 22 ticket scanners along with more security screening equipment, while still urging fans to have their digital tickets loaded into their phone wallet app before they reach the stadium.
The school is also trying to give people a reason to show up earlier. Food, water and soft drinks will be half-off at marketplaces and general concession stands during the first hour gates are open. A 12-ounce Miller Lite or Coors Lite will cost $5 in that same window.
The changes come after congestion became a recurring problem this season, especially with two major shifts in how fans enter the stadium. Paper tickets are gone, so everyone needs a digital ticket ready on their phone.
On top of that, ongoing renovations have forced fans to use specific gates tied to their tickets. Put those together with late arrivals, and the result has been long bottlenecks around the stadium.
USC said the Tennessee game on Oct. 24 was the worst example yet, with more than 40,000 fans arriving at the gates in the 30 minutes before kickoff, “contributing to significant congestion.”
Even with the new measures, South Carolina still wants fans to keep their tailgates rolling as long as possible - just not until the last minute. The school said, “We recognize and respect the desire to enjoy pregame tailgate events and activities as long as possible. We kindly ask that you plan to arrive at the gates by 2 p.m., one hour before kickoff, to give yourself more time to get through screening, find your seat and enjoy the pregame festivities.”
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Shane Beamers earlier prediction about the Gamecocks playoff prospects has added another layer to the week, even if the immediate task is much more straightforward. There is also the memory of last years game against Texas A&M, which gives South Carolina a little added motivation as it tries to keep building on its momentum. For a team that has finally put together some positive results, this is the kind of late-season game that can shape how the rest of the year is remembered. [Read more 🡒]