JBryant12
02-12-2005, 12:34 PM
Fans flock to see Gamecocks
By JOSEPH PERSON
Staff Writer
Rocky Morris did not need a survey or an architectural study to tell him that South Carolina’s baseball team has outgrown Sarge Frye Field.
As he watched a line of garnet-clad fans file into the Sarge on Friday for USC’s opener against Longwood, Morris, a local mortgage broker and longtime Gamecocks fan, announced, “We need a new stadium.”
This year more than ever, the 34-year-old, on-campus stadium is bursting at the seams.
Coming off its third consecutive College World Series appearance, USC sold a record 3,500 season tickets, including 600 standing-room-only seats. The school had 3,000 season-ticket holders in 2004, according to ticket manager Chris Massaro.
“People love their baseball,” said Massaro, adding that the school sets aside 500 tickets each game for students, faculty and staff.
To accommodate the overflow crowd at the 3,400-seat stadium, USC has rented portable bleachers from a Virginia company that installs the bleachers at The Masters and other PGA events.
The bleachers, which will seat an additional 500 fans along the right field line, should be in place for the start of the Niagara series on Feb. 25, according to associate athletics director Jeff Davis. School officials are considering adding bleachers overlooking the third base side, Davis said.
Single-game tickets will be available at the gate for 30 of USC’s 32 remaining home dates, with the exception of the Clemson games on March 13 and April 20, according to Massaro.
“Anybody can come buy a ticket. It’s a standing-room ticket,” Massaro said. “And if there are no-shows from season-ticket holders, they’re certainly welcome to come in and sit down.”
Such was the case Friday. Despite an announced crowd of 3,212, empty seats were visible along the first- and third-base sides. The 100-200 fans that stood all game chose to do so.
Still, Massaro realizes that “it’s difficult for folks” who ordered season tickets but did not receive actual seats.
That reality helps explain why Massaro is growing anxious about the stop-and-start plans for a new stadium.
“I just want it to be built,” he said.
Reach Person at (803) 771-8496 or jperson@thestate.com
By JOSEPH PERSON
Staff Writer
Rocky Morris did not need a survey or an architectural study to tell him that South Carolina’s baseball team has outgrown Sarge Frye Field.
As he watched a line of garnet-clad fans file into the Sarge on Friday for USC’s opener against Longwood, Morris, a local mortgage broker and longtime Gamecocks fan, announced, “We need a new stadium.”
This year more than ever, the 34-year-old, on-campus stadium is bursting at the seams.
Coming off its third consecutive College World Series appearance, USC sold a record 3,500 season tickets, including 600 standing-room-only seats. The school had 3,000 season-ticket holders in 2004, according to ticket manager Chris Massaro.
“People love their baseball,” said Massaro, adding that the school sets aside 500 tickets each game for students, faculty and staff.
To accommodate the overflow crowd at the 3,400-seat stadium, USC has rented portable bleachers from a Virginia company that installs the bleachers at The Masters and other PGA events.
The bleachers, which will seat an additional 500 fans along the right field line, should be in place for the start of the Niagara series on Feb. 25, according to associate athletics director Jeff Davis. School officials are considering adding bleachers overlooking the third base side, Davis said.
Single-game tickets will be available at the gate for 30 of USC’s 32 remaining home dates, with the exception of the Clemson games on March 13 and April 20, according to Massaro.
“Anybody can come buy a ticket. It’s a standing-room ticket,” Massaro said. “And if there are no-shows from season-ticket holders, they’re certainly welcome to come in and sit down.”
Such was the case Friday. Despite an announced crowd of 3,212, empty seats were visible along the first- and third-base sides. The 100-200 fans that stood all game chose to do so.
Still, Massaro realizes that “it’s difficult for folks” who ordered season tickets but did not receive actual seats.
That reality helps explain why Massaro is growing anxious about the stop-and-start plans for a new stadium.
“I just want it to be built,” he said.
Reach Person at (803) 771-8496 or jperson@thestate.com