Pardon the dust. Williams-Brice Stadium just completed Phase 1 of a three-part upgrade. The good news? Many of the changes will be easy to see and feel when the Gamecocks open the season at home on Saturday, Sept. 5 against Kent State.

Here's what’s new and what fans need to know before kickoff.

The statue from the former Floyd Building now greets fans on the east side of the stadium beneath a new “Welcome Home” sign. | Photo by COLAtoday

What’s new inside

The biggest upgrade may be one fans have requested for years: more women’s bathrooms. East Ground now has 7.5 times more bathroom capacity for women, while West Main has 2.5 times more for both men and women. The new layouts should keep lines moving so you don’t miss LaNorris Sellers finding Nyck Harbor for a touchdown.

Cool off at The Coop, one the new grab-and-go marketplaces. | Photo by COLAtoday

Fans will also find new grab-and-go marketplaces with self-checkout stations, speakers carrying game audio around the concourses, a sensory room, and Williams-Brice’s first Nursing Mothers Room.

Look for the Gamecock statue moved from the former Floyd Building to one of the renovated entrances on the East side. New "Welcome Home" signs greet fans on the way in and send them off with a “Forever to Thee.”

The future home of the Student Club is already taking shape. | Photo by COLAtoday

Students get a few upgrades of their own. The Cockpit concourse is wider with new concessions and bathrooms, and the shell of the new Student Club is now in place. The club won’t open until 2027, but its air-conditioned lounge will be a cool addition.

The visiting team also has a new locker room on the opposite side of the stadium, so their players won’t have to weave through waving Carolina flags, cheerleaders, Gamecock players, and dodge the Cockyboose.

Check your ticket

Williams-Brice is fully digital this season, so download your ticket and save it to your phone’s wallet before leaving home. Your ticket will also show which gates you can use. Make sure you use the gate listed on your ticket. It’ll put you on the right side of the stadium and help keep everyone moving.

Take it from me: Phone service can get spotty with more than 77,000 fans at the game. Last season, it took me three hours to add my ticket to my wallet because I couldn’t get a solid connection.

Pro tip: Use the gate identifier tool to double-check your entrance, and arrive earlier than usual.

Get there early

Give yourself extra time Saturday, both getting to Williams-Brice and heading inside. Tailgate away, but don’t wait until you hear the National Anthem to get to your gate. With new traffic patterns, assigned entrances, and digital tickets, the first home game may come with a few hiccups.

Your usual drive may look different, too. The three lanes closest to the stadium on George Rogers Boulevard will close between Key and Bluff roads, with the remaining lanes carrying westbound traffic only.

If you’re parking at the fairgrounds, drive in through Gates 6, 7, or 10. Gates 8 and 9 will be for pedestrians before the game, and Gate 9 will become a vehicle exit afterward.

The renovated concourse pairs new lighting and Gamecock branding with grab-and-go marketplaces and expanded restrooms. | Photo by COLAtoday

Beat the heat

Saturday will be hot, maybe the hottest home game ever, but there are a few more places to cool down this season. The new food marketplaces we toured are air-conditioned, and new water bottle-filling stations have been installed throughout the stadium.

Fans can bring one sealed or empty clear, disposable plastic water bottle. Cooling towels and personal fans are encouraged, but lithium-battery fans should stay home.

That's a lot to remember. Here's a handy interactive stadium map to find your gate, seats, concessions, restrooms, and Guest Services.