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Williams-Brice BRYAN JOHNSTON Asst. Sports Editor As the days get warmer and longer, fall approaches rapidly. With that season, comes another season. That's right, it's almost time to start thinking about the beloved Southern tradition of SEC football. But this summer in Columbia there is a second team trying to prepare for the opening game against Central Florida: the Williams-Brice construction crew. As the Sept. 7 opener quickly approaches, the crew from the SebrillGriffin construction company, who was also involved in the building of the Jacksonville Jaguars stadium, is working at a feverish pace to get the addition completed. But the question everybody is asking still remains: Will Williams-Brice Stadium be ready? "Right now, we are on pace to have the renovations completed a week prior to the opening game," Athletics Director, Mike McGee said. "It will be finished." Anyone here for summer school or orientation may take a trip down George Rogers Boulevard to check out the stadi um. After the initial shock of how large the structure is wears off, you'll notice the cranes and construction equipment in the south end zone. So what exactly is going on? What's happening is another renovation to Williams-Brice Stadium in hopes of making it not only one of the finest stadiums in the conference, but in the nation. Started last December, the South End Zone Project is the latest in a series of renovations. Last year, executive suites and a new press box were finished on the west side, and last winter the coaches' 7^ ~^ R ^Ljf m*r ff MJF WWW Corner mm ^m IVJiK/i [f< fSPUl Wednesday, June 19, 1996 s Stadium renov . ^ The south end zone additions are moving ah< premium seating, a new upper deck, new enc banquet hall, and a state-of-the-art scoreboa offices were finished in the north end zone. At a cost of $13.5 million, funded solely by athletics department sources, a twolevel deck is being added to increase seating. "The demand for more club seats has always been there and (the addition) is an efficient way of producing income," McGee said. As if 72,400 seats weren't imposing enough to opponents, the athletics department is adding another 7,600 seats to bring the stadium's capacity to around 80,250. ' 1 ^Jrt'%3 Ortl Pan i gljlw-r mmm J [i K] The Gamecock abaUSi rations continu k k 1'w, i "" "' J ' v&8LA*mM ROBERT WALTON The Gamecock >ad as scheduled. The nroiect includes new I zone stadium lights, new sound system, a rd. Another reason for the addition and renovations is to keep up with other teams in the division. Even with 7,600 more seats, Carolina still has the fourth smallest out of the six stadiums in the SEC East. Tennessee has 102,000, Georgia 86,117, and Florida 83,000. Only Kentucky with 57,800 and A 1 f\nf\ liotm o m oil nr vaiiuci uni, ti,uuv/, nave otaui ums in the division. The 80,250 seats bumps USC's stadium above LSlFs and now makes Williams-Brice Stadium the sixth largest out of 12 stadiums in the Southeastern Conference. For those of you unfamiliar with the hodox Christian ] -Orthodox Camp >*-* ? TAB VA Iv Av V" mlK/i [lore information about OCF or on Orthodox parishes, please cal 15 le on schedule project, here's what going on. The deck is divided into two levels. The lower level is being called "In the Zone." This section will hold 1,600 premium club seats that were pre-sold last summer. These seats will be the closest premium club seats to the field in the entire stadium. The upper section is being divided into two sections. The lower part is being called "The Terrace" while the upper part is for normal seating. Behind the deck will be a 11,5Q0square-foot lounge and banquet hall that will be used during the game. It will also be rented out for meetings that fall on non-game days. The lounge will also have r* 1 <-**?rrn onynnn fnlmnciAn a iaigu oti ctu The upper deck will be accessible by ramp and an escalator is available to* "scholarship" members and above. The project meets all American Disability Act requirements. A brand-new, state-of-the-art sound system is being put in. A new light system is also being installed in the south end zone. Plus, there is a good possibility a high-tech scoreboard will be installed before the project is complete. So the countdown continues. It may be only 30 days until the Olympics begin in Atlanta, but the magic number for Gamecock fans is 80. That is the number of days until the Central Florida Knights come to Columbia to give the Gamecock football team its first challenge of the season. Right now, the stadium looks nowhere near complete as only the aisles and a few sections of concrete where seats will be are in. But the athletics department is confident the new-look WilliamsBrice Stadium will be finished in time. Let's just hope the team that plays in the stadium will look as good as the stadium itself. ii Fellowship us Ministry - >. I!! I ' ' I in ! . Jj I e of Columbia's three 1 252-6758.