Checked October 2, 2026 on the arena's official site (coloniallifearena.com) and South Carolina Athletics (gamecocksonline.com). Event times and policies can change, so open the event page on the arena site before you leave.
Colonial Life Arena is the University of South Carolina's 18,000-seat arena at 801 Lincoln Street, Columbia, SC 29201, between the Vista and the USC campus. It opened on November 21, 2002 and cost $64 million (gamecocksonline.com). It is home to Gamecock men's and women's basketball and hosts most of the big concerts, comedy tours and family shows that come to Columbia.
The essentials
| Address | 801 Lincoln St, Columbia, SC 29201 |
|---|---|
| Seats | 18,000 |
| Doors | Usually 1 hour before the event |
| Tickets | Mobile entry through the Ticketmaster app |
| Bags | Clear, up to 12" x 6" x 12", or a clutch up to 4.5" x 6.5" |
| Parking | Nearby lots, $10 to $30 on event day, no advance sales |
| Payment inside | Cashless: cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay |
| Re-entry | None |
| Guest Services | (803) 576-9200 |
Upcoming events at Colonial Life Arena
| Date | Event | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Thu Oct 8 | Phil Wickham | 7:00 pm |
| Sat Oct 10 | Cash Money & No Limit Tour | 8:00 pm |
| Fri Oct 23 | Women's basketball vs. Benedict (exhibition) | 7:00 pm |
| Tue Nov 3 | Men's basketball vs. Stetson | 7:00 pm |
| Fri Nov 6 | Rod Wave | 8:00 pm |
| Sun Nov 8 | Men's basketball vs. Southeast Missouri State | 7:00 pm |
| Wed Nov 11 | Men's basketball vs. Saint Peter's | 7:00 pm |
| Sat Nov 14 | Men's basketball vs. Gardner-Webb | 7:00 pm |
| Tue Nov 17 | Women's basketball vs. Florida Gulf Coast | 7:00 pm |
| Wed Nov 18 | Men's basketball vs. Elon | 7:00 pm |
| Nov 28–29 | PowHER Player Classic (women's basketball) | See site |
| Fri Dec 4 | Leanne Morgan | 7:00 pm |
| Sat Dec 5 | Pentatonix | 7:00 pm |
| Sat Jan 23, 2027 | The Red Clay Strays | 7:00 pm |
| Apr 10–11, 2027 | Monster Jam Freestyle Mania | See site |
Source: coloniallifearena.com events, checked October 2, 2026. The arena also lists The R&B Tour (Oct 29), but that show is at Williams-Brice Stadium, not the arena; for stadium parking see our Williams-Brice parking guide.
Colonial Life Arena parking
The arena does not own or run the parking around it, so prices and payment are set by each lot's operator and can change without notice. The arena's guidance is that event-day parking runs $10 to $30, with no advance sales (Know Before You Go).
The lots the arena points to (Directions & Parking):
- 816 Greene Street (surface lot; the arena's pick for accessible parking)
- 650 Gadsden Street (surface lot)
- 722 Devine Street (surface lot)
- 930 College Street (surface lot)
- Discovery Garage, 821 Park Street
Other lots sit between Greene and Blossom Streets. The City of Columbia's downtown parking map shows the garages, and USC's campus map shows university lots.
Tips:
- Bring a card and some cash. Payment rules vary by lot operator.
- Arrive early for sold-out concerts and big SEC games. Everyone is funnelled through the same few streets around Lincoln and Greene.
- Leave a little later. Waiting 15 minutes after the encore often beats sitting in a queue to exit a garage.
Accessible drop-off: at the corner of Lincoln and College Streets, near the Lincoln Street entrance. The driver drops guests off, parks elsewhere and meets them inside. Accessible parking spaces in nearby lots require a valid state-issued placard, sticker or plate.
Colonial Life Arena bag policy
Allowed (Know Before You Go):
- A clear bag up to 12" x 6" x 12" (a logo no larger than 4.5" x 3.4")
- A one-gallon clear freezer bag
- A small clutch up to 4.5" x 6.5", clear or not
- Medically necessary items, after inspection. Diapers can be carried in a clear bag.
Everyone walks through a metal detector, and bags are searched. A clear bag from a Williams-Brice game works here too, since both use the same 12" x 6" x 12" limit.
What you can't bring
From the arena's A–Z guide: weapons, outside food and drink, glass bottles, cans and empty water bottles or mugs, cigarettes and vapes, umbrellas longer than 23 inches, standard and collapsible strollers, professional cameras (lenses over 200mm or detachable lenses), tripods, selfie sticks, video cameras, laptops and tablets (tablets are allowed at Gamecock events), and oversized signs or props. Point-and-shoot and phone photos without flash are fine.
Tickets and entry
- Mobile entry only for most events. Download the Ticketmaster app and add your tickets to your phone's wallet before you get to the arena, so you aren't waiting on a download at the door.
- Tickets are sold on Ticketmaster or at the Prisma Health Box Office, open Tuesdays 9 am–4 pm and Fridays 11 am–4 pm.
- Doors open about an hour before the listed start time. Some shows differ, so check the event page.
- No re-entry. Each ticket scans once.
- Kids: most events have no age limit, and the arena asks that anyone under 18 come with a parent or guardian.
Food, drink and money
Concession stands line the main concourse, and the arena is cashless: major credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. If you only have cash, reverse ATMs inside turn it into a prepaid Visa card. No outside food or drink is allowed.
For dinner before a show, the Vista is a short walk down Lincoln Street. Our best brunch and date ideas guides cover places nearby.
Accessibility
The arena offers accessible seating, wheelchair-accessible entrances and areas, and services for guests who are blind or have low vision and guests who are deaf or hard of hearing. There is also a nursing parents' room. (Know Before You Go)
- Assisted listening headsets come from Guest Services. Call (803) 576-9062 three business days ahead.
- Sign language interpretation needs three weeks' notice by email to the arena.
- Sensory bags with noise-cancelling headphones and fidgets are at the Guest Services kiosk near Section 118 (ID required).
- Guest Services is on the main concourse behind Section 101 and in the lobby near the entrance, open from doors until the end of the event.
Lost something?
Lost and found items are held for up to 14 days, then donated. Fill in the lost-item form on the arena's A–Z guide after the event.
Gamecock basketball at the arena
South Carolina women's basketball is one of the biggest draws in Columbia. Athletics says the program has led the nation in attendance for the last 11 seasons (gamecocksonline.com). Buy women's games early. Men's games are usually easier to get into. The season opens at the arena in late October with the women's exhibition against Benedict.
Make a night of it
- Before the show: dinner in the Vista, a walk along the Three Rivers Greenway on a warm evening, or the South Carolina State Museum by day.
- More events this season: our October–November events calendar and things to do this weekend.
- The full list by category: things to do in Columbia, SC.
Frequently asked questions
Where do you park for Colonial Life Arena?
In the surface lots at 816 Greene St, 650 Gadsden St, 722 Devine St and 930 College St, or the Discovery Garage at 821 Park St. The arena says event-day parking costs $10 to $30, set by each lot's operator, with no advance sales.
What is the bag policy at Colonial Life Arena?
Clear bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear freezer bag, or a small clutch up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Medically necessary items are allowed after inspection, and everyone goes through a metal detector.
How many seats are in Colonial Life Arena?
18,000, according to South Carolina Athletics. It opened on November 21, 2002 and cost $64 million.
What time do doors open at Colonial Life Arena?
Usually one hour before the scheduled start time, but some events differ, so check the event page.
Can you pay cash at Colonial Life Arena?
No. The arena is cashless and takes major credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Reverse ATMs inside turn cash into a prepaid Visa card.
Does Colonial Life Arena allow re-entry?
No. Tickets scan once, and leaving the arena means buying a new ticket to get back in.