Overall Rating
4.5
By Tay
A fun time but so pricey
Colonial Life Arena - Columbia
Not a bad seat in the house and always a fun atmosphere. Some truly wild concession prices and the quality is not always there, even from the businesses within (ex Salsaritas). $12 for a half full box of soggy nachos with a sprinkle of cheese on top? Oof. $12 for a beer? Bigger oof. Been to arenas all over the country and that’s ridiculous
By Nancy
Men’s Basketball
Colonial Life Arena - Columbia
Gamecock men's basketball was amazing this year. Fine young me. The CLA experience was first class.
By SC Gamecock Fan
Great Experience
Colonial Life Arena - Columbia
Great experience at the CLA. Easy getting in and out of the venue.
By Gamecockof88
House was Rockin!!
Colonial Life Arena - Columbia
Was used to games at Carolina Coliseum, as old school here, but Colonial Life Arena is a great venue to watch Gamecock men's basketball. The CLA is very fan friendly, easy access to restrooms, food, and fan gear. Friends that went to game had been to NBA games at Lakers and a a few other colleges, but said this was the loudest, most exciting, enjoyable game they had seen. Of course the 10 point come back win in the second half was incredible to feel the energy in the stadium explode!! Hooked on Gamecock basket ball now in person as TV does not do the game experience any justice.
By SC Gamecock Fan
CLA Great Location for Events
Colonial Life Arena - Columbia
The Colonial Life Arena is a great venue for basketball and concerts. The atmosphere can be electric during SC basketball games and concerts are great because of the good acoustics and smaller venue for a more personal feel.
By ColaGamecockFan
Great experience
Colonial Life Arena - Columbia
The event was well attended and the crowd got into the atmosphere. I wish the coach had called a timeout in the final minute but you live you learn, or do you??? The band and the music were good.
By amaksim
Go Gamecocks!
Colonial Life Arena - Columbia
Great game and awesome venue! The crowd was great and the player's are impressive.
By Horrible seats with screaming students Seating chart online did not show student section
Bad
Colonial Life Arena - Columbia
Horrible way to have a bad evening all caused by not designating student section
By Tully, Malik &Jabari
It was Gamecocktacious!!🏀🔥
Colonial Life Arena - Columbia
Had an AWESOME time!! This was our first Gamecocks basketball game but we will Definitely be back! We went to see a basketball game and Enjoyed sooo much more!! It started with the selfies (A'ja Wilson)🥰,the free concessions were a hit🥤🌭🍿, the "Poppin"interactions with the crowd🎶, the cheerleaders📣,@#Cocky❤️,and just the "Atmosphere of it All"! The Men'sGamecock Basketball were on🔥🔥!! It was the TOTAL package.🏀🏀 #GAMECOCKFAMILY
By Rob
Best place for tickets
Colonial Life Arena - Columbia
I always purchase my tickets from Ticketmaster! Never a problem!
South Carolina Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena
Columbia, South Carolina, is home to one of the top basketball programs in the Southeastern Conference. The University of South Carolina Gamecocks play at Colonial Life Arena, which opened in 2002 and seats 18,000. They are coached by Frank Martin, who successfully led the Kansas State Wildcats to four NCAA tournament appearances in five seasons before moving on to South Carolina in 2012, leading the Gamecocks to their first men's Final Four appearance in 2017.
South Carolina Gamecocks Men's Basketball History
The University of South Carolina first fielded a men's basketball team in 1908, and achieved success in the Southern Conference in the 1920s and '30s, before joining six other SoCon teams to form the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1953. The legendary Frank McGuire, who had previously led St. John's and UNC to Final Four appearances, led the Gamecocks from 1964 until his retirement in 1980. During McGuire's reign, South Carolina reached the NCAA Sweet 16 three years in a row, from 1971 to 1973, in addition to winning the ACC regular season and tournament championship once apiece in their final two seasons in the conference.
Eight-time NBA All-Star and Basketball Hall of Famer Alex English starred at South Carolina in the mid '70s, and was arguably the first African-American star athlete in the school's history. South Carolina moved from the Metro Conference to the Southeastern Conference in 1991, with coach Eddie Fogler leading the Gamecocks to an SEC regular season championship in 1997. Former Wake Forest head coach Dave Odom led South Carolina from 2001 to 2008, appearing in three postseason NIT championships, winning in 2005 and 2006 behind the play of tournament MVPs Carlos Powell and Renaldo Balkman. In 2017, the Gamecocks made their first appearance in the Final Four, beating Marquette, Duke, Baylor and Florida before bowing to Gonzaga in the national semifinal. South Carolina became the tenth team to have both their men's and women's teams reach their respective Final Four in the same year, with coach Dawn Staley's women's team winning the 2017 NCAA championship.