Williams-Brice Stadium at the University of South Carolina will be beginning Phase 1 of its renovations in December after the football season ends.

The renovations were approved in October 2025 and May 2025, respectively, and were designed in partnership with Populous architectural firm. The first phase will be completed during 2025-2026, the second phase between 2026-2027 and the third phase from 2027-2028, each between football seasons.

The first phase of the upgrades received a $4 million budget, with a massive increase for Phase 2, with a $350 million budget funded by the sale of Athletic Revenue Bonds, according to university athletics documents. Bonds are sold to investors to generate funding for projects, then paid back with sports-related profits, in this case, from ticket sales, donations and concessions revenues.

Gamecock Athletics dubbed the project “Williams-Brice Reimagined” and listed three key areas of focus: overall fan experience, premium offerings and student-athlete experience.

“We are excited about our Williams-Brice Reimagined project and creating a world-class experience for our fans for years to come with the stadium renovation,” said Wesley Mallette, a USC Athletics spokesperson. “This is an important step forward for our athletics program, our fans, and our supporters, especially in today’s college athletics landscape.”

The number of suites will rise from 18 to 42, and an air-conditioned area for students will be added. The designs include large suites accommodating 32 fans and regular suites holding 20 fans each. The suites feature indoor furniture, exterior seating, display bars, buffet counters and more.

The team locker room on the field level of the stadium will be upgraded. A recruitment lounge and club also will be added on that level. New elevator and escalator cores aim to enhance transport through the levels of the stadium, according to Gamecock Athletics documents. The improvement aims to increase inclusivity and emphasize the “experiences for all” approach mentioned by Stadium Athletics.

A point of discussion after the announcement of these renovations was the potential displacement of ticket holders. An email was sent in October to all season ticket holders on the west-lower side of Williams-Brice, telling them their seating location would be affected by the renovations. More than 4,000 season ticket holders will be reseated in the stadium during and after the renovations.

“It is important to note that no seats will be impacted for the 2026 season,” Mallette said. “And the new premium selection process (for those with affected seats) is projected to run from March 2026 through March 2027.”