Batter up! USCB plans a baseball grandstand and more athletic facilities for Bluffton campus
The smack of a bat connecting with the ball, concession hot dogs, organ music rallying players for a ninth-inning comeback. It’s quintessential America, and the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s baseball team nearly has it all. What’s missing? Scores of university students cheering on their team, which is a tricky feat when the field is in Hardeeville, miles away from the Bluffton campus.
The Hilton Head area university has plans to change that with new on-campus fields. The school doesn’t have funding or a timeline, but they outlined an $18.3 million plan to build a baseball field and other facilities on its Bluffton campus. With a $70 million convocation center in the works, the school’s plans to improve its athletic facilities are a step towards more boisterous campus life for students and add much needed athletic facilities in the Lowcountry for the school and other organizations.
Though there is no exact timeline, the University of South Carolina Beaufort plans to carry out its athletic master plan in four phases.
Plans for Athletic Facilities
“We don’t have anything hard and fast,” USCB Vice Chancellor Beth Patrick said of projected cost and timelines. However, Huntress Sports, an athletic design company, created a plan with estimated costs in August 2023. The plans include:
- One new baseball field
- One new softball field
- One new and/or renovated soccer field with a 400-meter track and field
- Two 750-seat bleachers
“Our next step will be to begin to look for a plan of how we’re going to fund this,” Patrick said. “It’ll probably be from a multitude of sources.” Beaufort County and the state are paying for the school’s planned $70 million convocation center.
Next Steps and Vision
Envisioned in this projection, part of the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s athletic master plan includes a new NCAA baseball field and a new NCAA softball field with parking and concessions. The school also plans to have a new or renovated soccer field with a track around it.
Conclusion
The plan to bring baseball grandstands and additional athletic facilities to the Bluffton campus of the University of South Carolina Beaufort signals a new era for sports on campus. While the timeline and funding details are yet to be finalized, the prospect of more on-campus fields for baseball, softball, and soccer is an exciting development for students and sports enthusiasts in the Lowcountry.
Author: STAFF HERE HILTON HEAD
The HILTON HEAD STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREHiltonHead.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the RBC Heritage golf tournament, Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival, and the Gullah Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, plus leading businesses in tourism and hospitality that power the local economy such as Sea Pines Resort and Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAiken.com, HEREBeaufort.com, HEREChapin.com, HERECharleston.com, HEREClinton.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGeorgetown.com, HEREGreenwood.com, HEREGreenville.com, HEREHiltonHead.com, HEREIrmo.com, HEREMyrtleBeach.com, HERENewberry.com, HERERockHill.com, and HERESpartanburg.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.
