The South Carolina Gamecocks have faced several ticketing challenges in recent years, prompting official responses from the university to address and resolve these issues.
1. Student Ticketing Adjustments Amid Reduced Stadium Capacity
In response to reduced seating capacities at Williams-Brice Stadium and other venues, the University of South Carolina implemented changes to its student ticketing process. For football games, students were allowed to attend only one of the five home games for the season. Once a student attended a game, they could not request tickets for other games. The university emphasized the importance of canceling tickets by 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to the game to avoid penalties. Failure to cancel tickets could result in penalty strikes, with multiple no-shows leading to limited seating or revocation of ticket privileges for the remainder of the season.
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2. Graduation Ceremony Ticket Limitations
The growing number of graduates led to limited seating at the Colonial Life Arena, affecting the number of tickets available for families. The university’s policy allowed only five tickets per graduate, leading to difficult decisions for families. While the university aimed to be fair, some parents expressed frustration over the limitations during such a significant event.
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3. Women’s Basketball Ticketing Glitch
During a women’s basketball game, a technical glitch allowed some tickets to be sold on the marketplace when they shouldn’t have been. Affected fans were notified that their tickets were voided and refunds would be issued. The SEC and Ticketmaster worked to convert a general admission section to a reserved section to accommodate those impacted. While the situation was resolved, some fans expressed dissatisfaction with the communication and resolution process.
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4. Transition to Digital Ticketing
To streamline the ticketing process and enhance security, the university announced a move to 100% digital ticketing for the 2026 football season. While season ticket holders for the 2025 season would still receive printed tickets, the transition aimed to reduce fraud and improve the overall fan experience. Fans without smartphones were advised to contact the Gamecock Ticket Office for assistance.
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5. Refunds for Canceled Football Game
In 2018, a football game against Marshall was canceled. The university issued full refunds for all tickets purchased through the USC ticket office. Fans who bought tickets from Ticketmaster or Marshall were directed to contact those entities directly for refunds. The university also explored scheduling a replacement game later in the season to make up for the cancellation.
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6. Apology for Gameday Experience Issues
Following a home football game against Kentucky, fans reported various issues, including water pressure problems affecting concessions and restrooms. Athletics director Ray Tanner issued an apology, acknowledging the challenges and promising improvements for future games. The university committed to addressing the problems to ensure a better gameday experience for fans.
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