In its continuing desire to compete for Southeastern Conference and national championships, University of South Carolina Athletics is announcing a ticket price increase in football for the 2018-19 school year.
"We've come a long way in the last eight years," said Director of Athletics Ray Tanner. "Prior to this decade, we were finding our way in the SEC. Since 2010, we have achieved broad-based success in our athletics program. We have established a solid foundation and are now ready to take it to the next level, but we need to continue to maximize our resources to help us achieve our goals."
South Carolina's athletics budget ranks 10th in the SEC with expenses increasing by 65 percent since 2010. The USC athletics department is self-sustaining in its operating budget, relying mostly on donations, tickets, conference membership distribution and sponsorships for its revenue. USC Athletics is one of only 20 self-sustaining athletics programs in NCAA Division I.
"This additional revenue will help sustain the cost of attendance requirements for more than 500+ student-athletes, retain the tremendous coaches we have here, continue to build and maintain top-notch facilities and fund all of our athletic programs as we compete for SEC and national championships," said Tanner.
Season football tickets for 2018 will increase $50 each, an average of $7 per home game. This will mark the first football season ticket price increase since 2013.
Gamecock football season ticket prices have historically been ranked in the middle of the Southeastern Conference, placing ninth last season. Even with the current price increase, Gamecock season ticket prices will remain in the middle of the SEC.
Since 2010, the Gamecocks have won 13 SEC regular season and tournament championships and four national championships.
Coach Will Muschamp's football program finished 2017 with a 9-4 overall record, finishing second in the SEC East, and a 26-19 win against Michigan in the Outback Bowl. The Gamecocks return 55 lettermen, including 16 starters for the 2018 season.
Last year, South Carolina finished 19th among all NCAA Division I athletics departments in the Learfield Directors' Cup Standings, recognizing total sports success. The finish was the third highest in school history. In the current academic year (2017-18), 14 of South Carolina's 19 athletic programs have been ranked in the Top 25 at one time or another, with 10 teams currently ranked.
"The cost to compete and win at the highest levels has undoubtedly increased," added Tanner. "The increases in football season ticket prices came after careful deliberation and discussion regarding the impact on our fans. The successes that we have shared and the quality of the student-athlete experience here is in large part because of you - our fans. I believe the best is still yet to come."
Specific information on these increases and payment plan options will be available at GamecocksOnline.com and in the Gamecock Club Playbook, scheduled to be sent out to Gamecock Club members in the spring.
FROM USC MEDIA RELATIONS
