Lawmakers in South Carolina are considering new legislation that would allow large-scale events like concerts, commencements and cultural events to take place at college stadiums. The Citadel stadium in Charleston is the facility at the center of the issue.
According to ABC 4 News, the concept is opposed by nearby residents who have long fought against the use of The Citadel as a venue for large events. These residents cite traffic, noise, parking and property values as their concerns against scheduling concerts and other events at the stadium.
While The Citadel is currently the home facility for the Military College of South Carolina, that use only brings six football games per year to the area.
"Our immediate concern was impeding upon home rule," a spokesperson with the city of Charleston said. "This is kind of a blanket bill, and every situation is different, whether it's Clemson or USC or College of Charleston or the Citadel. So, it's not a one-size-fits-all. The other thing that we really want to consider as we go into these mediations is the strain on public infrastructure."
The bill is on hold while community meetings are held to find a compromise between The Citadel, the neighbors and the city. Other considerations on the table include Charleston’s infrastructure and first responders. While the loudest opposition comes from the neighbors of The Citadel, this legislation would also apply to other stadiums across the state, including venues at Clemson University and the University of South Carolina.
In a statement, The Citadel operators said, “We are aware of the legislation sponsored by Senator Ed Sutton and others, and while we defer to them to describe their proposed legislation, we understand that it would apply to all state-owned institutions and is not specific to The Citadel. For context, The Citadel hosts numerous community events each year on campus, including the upcoming Charleston Wine + Food Festival’s Culinary Village, Citadel football games, multiple graduations, high school sports and more. These events improve the lives of our students, our visitors, and local residents as well as fueling the local economy. The Citadel already has the ability to host a concert as confirmed by the city's director of Planning, Preservation and Sustainability; that is not in dispute. As we understand it, this legislation seeks to maintain the ability of state institutions to continue to be active and engaged hosts of community events – a position we strongly embrace.”
