Making Spence Park nicer than the Grove.

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Fire pits would be nice. A few good looking women walking around with assorted cigars and scotch would be a real plus as well.

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More and fancier tailgate areas are all but certain with Hyman running the show. He was all about it at USCe. Spence is great but I don't know if it is big enough and the new pond may make it even more complicated. Some folks will get mad when they start charging for spots as well but I think that is inevitable.

He took the old Farmers Market and made it in to a Tailgate haven that the team walks through. Just opened this year:

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some sort of bat sanctuary in the center of the pond

kill mosquitoes and helps move them out of Kyle

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I mean I'm all for it, but the smell of guano might not be the best compliment to tailgating. We should build a bat sanctuary though somewhere close but not necessarily there, or let them return to Kyle. I realize it is a nuisance, and it costs a shite ton of money but I legitimately despise mosquitoes. Seriously I do.

Awesome. Absolutely love the VIP restrooms. Spence needs that in a bad way. I love the brick as well. All that flat grass looks perfect for tailgating. If Hyman really does prioritize tailgating, I would love to see what he, or Populous, or anyone has in mind. Honestly just as, or more important than, Kyle Field renderings to me. Would love if the water they supposedly have to put in Spence gets bricked in. We already have a lot of beautiful trees, I would love to see how they could layer the levels around there and make a bunch of giant steps down there.

South Carolina also is the home of the Cockaboose, though that was in place before Hyman. The key is he saw what Ole Miss does with the Grove and went about purchasing the land of the old "Farmers Market" near the stadium and built this.

One noteworthy thing is the parking spaces were intentionally made grass and not pavement which not only looks better but has a very different feel to it. The perm bathrooms are also first rate and well done. They apparently have the team march through and do some stuff with cheerleaders and such there, essentially it is set up to be the center of pregame activity.

They charge from $280-750 for spaces based on location and such. Here is the info on their website:

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FARMERS MARKET

(GPS Address 1001 Bluff Road)
The Gamecocks' new parking facility, located on the former Farmers Market site, will be open for the 2012 football season. This exciting, state-of-the-art project will include shaded tent zones, cable TV hookups, electrical outlets, and permanent restrooms. The central open space, called the Garnet Way, is a grassy promenade lined with scarlet oaks and provides a route for the marching band, cheerleaders, and football team to parade through the venue on the way to the stadium.

Two premium areas are available for season parking. Amenities including permanent restrooms, cable and electrical outlets are available in this area. Click HERE for a guide to electrical and cable hookups.

Reserved parking in the Farmers Market is sold out.

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I don't know that the same thing would quite work at Spence because of the landscaping in terms of parking at least. I don't know that that is an issue though. USC needed the parking but we really don't with all of our garages (and likely the new small ones next to Kyle). A pure field with no cars like The Grove is possible.

More parking, less fire hazard. Plus, all that tree pollen combined with barbecue smoke is hell on my allergies. Makes perfect sense if you think about it.







Or maybe he was just joking

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Why on earth would you cut the trees down?

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I hope we don't, and I hope we plant more.

Nothing.