Ray Tanner talks, updates South Carolina stadium project
A few months ago, South Carolina released plans for a game-changer project to develop the area around Williams-Brice Stadium.
It was in the ground stages, and Requests for Information (RFIs) were due back to the university in early March.
But as the semester gets started and football season looms, there isn’t a lot to report from one of South Carolina athletics’ biggest undertakings ever.
[Enter to win two FREE season tickets to football, MBB, WBB, and baseball from 107.5 The Game!]
“I think I even made a comment that this summer we’d have a little more information,” Ray Tanner said. “We’re continuing to make progress on that. But we don’t have anything at this point that we can share. But I hope that we will be able to sooner than later.”
The project is designed to develop the area around Williams-Brice and enhance the experience and amenities around the surrounding area. The project has the potential to cost close to $1 billion for a chance to take the next steps around the football stadium.
The goal of the project–which is still in the information-gathering stage–is to determine the viability of developing more than 800 acres of South Carolina property.
[Garnet Trust: “We Can Build Champions!”]
That centers around the area near the Congaree River and near the Long Football Family Operations Center.
Top 10
- 1
Nico Iamaleava injury
Tennessee QB suffers upper body injury vs. Mississippi State
- 2
Kirk calls out trash throwing
Herbstreit: "Enough is enough, clowns"
- 3
Ole Miss storms field
Celebration starts too early after beating Georgia
- 4
Herbstreit 'retired' from CFP show
College football analyst no longer on Tuesday rankings reveal
- 5
Tour of Oxford
Goalposts visit local landmarks after Georgia upset
There is also the possibility of redoing some of the area around Colonial Life Arena too.
Despite not having much to report right now, Tanner is still optimistic about the direction of the project.
“Yes, we are. I’m noticing a lot of other schools are popping up now with different ideas and moving in that direction,” Tanner said. “We think we’re a little bit ahead of that pace. But the pathway to get there is not as easy as you would like for it to be. But it’s a major project.”
[Get news from GamecockCentral via email]
The process is still going to take a bit. But South Carolina thinks this has a chance to significantly improve things around the stadium and take things to another level.
“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to move forward on needed facility improvements through a partnership that doesn’t require public financing,” said Ed Walton, executive vice president for administration and CFO.
“We intend to develop a project and select a partner who has a strong track record of creating commercial projects that benefit the entire community through job creation and new businesses that will make Columbia and the Midlands more vibrant than ever.”
