Gamecocks Set to Play at Spirit Communications Park

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The South Carolina Gamecocks announced their 2018 baseball schedule after the Thanksgiving holiday. With that announcement, the Columbia Fireflies are proud to announce that Spirit Communications Park will play host to a neutral site game between the College of Charleston and the Gamecocks on Wednesday, May 9^th at 7pm.
South Carolina will be the home team and will be in the 3^rd base home dugout - the same dugout former Gamecock great Gene Cone called home for the 2017 season as a member of the Columbia Fireflies. "We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to host a Gamecock baseball game here at Spirit Communications Park," said Fireflies president John Katz. "Carolina has such a storied baseball history, and we're looking forward to giving the players and fans from both teams a first-class experience that they will remember for years to come."
South Carolina head baseball coach Mark Kingston's team has a familiar face to Fireflies fans on his roster, as former Fireflies ticket intern, senior 3B Jonah Bride, returns to Spirit Communications Park. The College of Charleston is coached by former South Carolina head coach, Chad Holbrook.
Giving back to the community is extremely important to both the University and to the Fireflies. In that spirit of giving, a portion of all ticket sales from the game will be donated to Palmetto Health Children's Hospital.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for our baseball program to take part in a game that benefits a great cause in Palmetto Health Children's Hospital," said USC Athletics Director Ray Tanner. "Our team will enjoy playing in Spirit Communications Park and it should be a tremendous experience for our squad."
There will be an advance ticket purchase window available to Columbia Fireflies and South Carolina Season Ticket Holders during the week of January 8, 2018. Tickets will go on general sale on January 15, 2018.
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About the Columbia Fireflies
The Columbia Fireflies are the South Atlantic League affiliate of the New York Mets. Winners of Ballpark Digest's Best New Branding and Logo Award in 2016, the Fireflies play games across the southeast and mid-Atlantic regions, including against in-state rivals in Charleston and Greenville. The team partnered with the city of Columbia and Hughes Development to construct Spirit Communications Park, a multi-use outdoor sports and entertainment venue at the center of the BullStreet Neighborhood. The Columbia Fireflies are owned by Hardball Capital, owners of the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Midwest League and the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League. For more information, visit ColumbiaFireflies.com, or follow the Fireflies on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About the University of South Carolina Athletics
The University of South Carolina is a member of the Southeastern Conference. The University sponsors 21 varsity sports programs and is home to more than 550 student-athletes. Gamecock Athletics develops our student-athletes intellectually, athletically, socially and culturally to compete relentlessly for championships and to attain high levels of achievement at the University, and throughout life, in harmony with our University's mission and vision.
About Spirit Communications Park
Spirit Communications Park, the 2016 Ballpark Digest Ballpark of the Year, is a 365-day per year multi-use sports and entertainment venue located in the heart of downtown Columbia, SC. Spirit Communications Park is the home ballpark for the Columbia Fireflies, the South Atlantic League affiliate of the New York Mets. Designed for baseball, concerts, football, soccer and a host of other activities, the venue seats approximately 9,000 for sporting events and up to 15,000 for major outdoor concerts. With 16 luxury suites and a 7,000 square-foot Club Level Lounge, Spirit Communications Park can also host everything from business meetings to wedding receptions, and everything in between. The venue is open 365 days a year and serves as a public park with the wrap-around concourse representing 1/3 of a mile for walkers and joggers. For more information, visit www.SpiritCommunicationsPark.com.
About Palmetto Health Children's Hospital
Palmetto Health Children's Hospital is South Carolina's first children's hospital and has more than 150,000 children's visits each year. It offers more than 30 subspecialties to meet the unique health care needs of children and has central South Carolina's only Children's Emergency Center. With more than 350 professionals who work exclusively with children, Palmetto Health Children's Hospital has a team of highly skilled and trained experts unmatched by any hospital in the Midlands. Palmetto Health Children's Hospital is the place to go for children's medical care, because the best care matters. For more information, visit PalmettoHealthChildrens.org.