Columbia, SC Sports Facilities for Events
A storied college sports town, Columbia is home to enjoyable attractions and state-of-the-art facilitiesIntroduction
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA
Columbia is the home of the University of South Carolina’s immensely popular Gamecocks sports programs. The capital of the Palmetto State is more than just a storied college sports town though, bolstering its vibrant sports tourism industry with premier facilities and venues available for all ages, skill levels and interests.
Outdoor and indoor facilities capable of all levels of events are available. The 77,500 capacity Williams-Brice Stadium a football fan’s dream venue. Colonial Life Arena holds 18,000 and hosts a large number of events from basketball to pro wrestling and more.
The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia is a great place for all ages to explore. The 170-acre site has over 3,000 animals, ranging from 400 different global species. From koalas to sharks, the zoo offers interactive Outback encounters, a safari to explore African animals, and coral conservation labs. Additionally, showcasing more than 5,700 species of native and exotic plants, the Riverbanks Botanical Garden is a great place to see the beautiful, dramatic, and themed gardens.
The South Carolina State Museum provides art collections, exhibitions, planetarium shows, an observatory, a telescope collection, and 4D theater shows. The different art collections — art, natural history, cultural history, science and technology — include a total of over 1 million fossils, artifacts, specimens, and pieces of art. Outside of the art collections, in 2011, a Columbia local, Robert B. Ariail donated his world-class collection of antique telescopes and astronomical instruments to the museum, including over 200 pieces dating back to 1730.
The Columbia Museum of Art features a total of 27 galleries, with a wide range of interactive ways to explore them, such as scavenger hunts, multimedia tours, gallery games, hands-on activities, and kids’ totes. The Museum’s art focuses on equity and inclusion, as their offered art celebrates the diversity of human experience, as well as builds empathy and reflects what still needs to be done toward equity and healing. They partner with the University of South Carolina’s Center for Civil Rights History and Research to further work toward inclusivity.
From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the sand dunes of the Atlantic Ocean, the South Carolina State House stretches over 90,000 acres of protected lands, protecting the natural and cultural destinations. The State House invites guests to discover the forested mountains, towering waterfalls, blackwater rivers, scenic inland lakes, white sand beaches, ancient inland shores, and American historic sites that make up the area. The South Carolina State House can help you find the right park for you, as well as make the reservation.
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Columbia, South Carolina Sports Facility Spotlight
WILLIAMS-BRICE STADIUM
Sports Covered: Football
Opened in 1934 and renovated most recently in 2020, Williams-Brice Stadium is the home of the University of South Carolina football team. The storied stadium, nicknamed “The Cock Pit,” holds more than 77,500 people and has hosted some of the most thrilling (and loudest) games in college football history. Williams-Brice may be a football fan’s dream venue, of course, but it is also popular with concert-goers. Past performers have included Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, U2, Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones and, most recently, Beyonce and Jay-Z. Want even more variety? The stadium hosted Pope John Paul II during a 1987 Papal visit to Columbia.
COLONIAL LIFE ARENA
Sports Covered: Basketball
One of South Carolina’s most impressive multi-use arenas, Colonial Life is an 18,000-seat venue that plays host to both sports and music events. It is best known as the home court of the South Carolina Gamecocks’ men’s and women’s basketball teams, both of which have been highly successful in recent NCAA tournaments. It hosted first- and second-round NCAA men’s basketball tournament games in March of 2019. Beyond basketball, Colonial Life Arena has held concerts by the likes of Billy Joel, Elton John, and Bruce Springsteen. Overall, this is a top-notch, multi-surface facility that regularly hosts some of the most exciting events the state has to offer.
SEGRA PARK
Sports Covered: Baseball
Segra Park is the home of the Columbia Fireflies, the city’s Minor League Baseball team. The stadium, with the capacity to seat more than 9,000, opened in 2016 for the Fireflies’ first game in April of that year. Baseball fans can catch exciting minor league games here, though Segra Park is much more than just a ballpark. It is also a great choice for weddings and business meetings. Inside the stadium, the Club Lounge has space for 500 guests, while the Broad River Balcony looks out onto the field and can hold as many as 120 people. There are also batting cages that accommodate 20 guests per hour and a large conference room located just off the concourse.
CAYCE TENNIS AND FITNESS CENTER
Sports Covered: Tennis
Cayce Tennis and Fitness center is a wonderful 30 court tennis facility located right outside the heart of downtown Columbia. As longtime area tennis players know, this facility offers one of the best playing experiences in the capital city. The 30 lighted world-class courts include USTA QuickStart Courts for children eight and under, and a champion-sized stadium court with a viewing capacity for 500 spectators. The 11,000 sq. ft. clubhouse on site offers the perfect spot to kick back and celebrate after a long day of play.