Just in time for football season, Williams-Brice Stadium is gaining its first ever on-field sponsor, thanks to a partnership between the University of South Carolina and Blanchard Machinery.
The field logos will feature both Blanchard Rental and Blanchard CAT, and will be marked at the 25 yard lines, according to a Gamecocks Online release on Monday.
This comes after the USC Board of Trustees approved the second phase of a $350 million renovation plan for the stadium back in May.
As of yet, there is no specification on how much this sponsorship costs, but the entire project is funded with athletic revenue bonds and led by the company Populous.
Along with the new sponsorship, Blanchard announced that within this five-year long partnership, the company will also assist in funding more stadium upgrades and contribute to the Student-Athlete Development Program at USC.
The Columbia-based company will do so by offering internships, post graduate jobs and assist with career-development workshops, according to Gamecocks Online.
President and CEO of Blanchard, Boyd Blanchard says he is looking forward to seeing what more this partnership with the University can achieve.
“Our relationship with the University of South Carolina goes back decades, and this partnership is the next chapter in a shared story of growth, progress, and Gamecock spirit,” he said. “We are passionate about helping build world-class facilities for our student-athletes, our fans, and our community. This is about more than a logo on the field, it’s about supporting the dreams and ambitions of everyone who calls South Carolina home.”
Jeremiah Donati, director of athletics at the University of South Carolina, says this collaboration will help improve student-athlete and fan experience at the stadium.
“Having a locally owned, alumni-led company like Blanchard invest so meaningfully in our future is a testament to their deep commitment to both the University and the entire state,” Donati said. “The addition of the Blanchard logos on the field at Williams-Brice Stadium is not just a first for our program—it is a symbol of the progress we can achieve when our community, our alumni, and our partners work together.”
Blanchard will still continue their other sponsorship programs for the school along with this new addition, including the digital displays for the football, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball teams.
