Council approves $2-per-ticket stadium facility fee for Bridgeway Station to fund infrastructure

During a public hearing under South Carolina Code section 6-1-330, a city staff presenter described an ordinance to establish a $2 stadium facility fee on the sale of each ticket to commercial events at the Bridgeway Station stadium. The staff presentation said the facility is anticipated to be partially operational in May–June of the year discussed and fully operational in 2027, and that the initial phase of construction is projected to cost more than $28 million with the city’s contribution about $4.5 million.

City staff explained the fee would be excluded for city-sponsored events and certain nonprofit or charitable events when no private profit is realized. The ordinance, the presenter said, sets administration and remittance procedures, audit and reporting requirements, and creates a new capital fund to hold fee revenues for stadium-related capital and maintenance expenses.

Staff estimated fee revenues between $166,000 and $230,000 in the first full year of collection (2027) and provided a five‑year forecast in the supporting materials. After the public hearing and a subsequent return to unfinished business, a council member moved to approve the ordinance on second reading and the motion received a second. The roll call on the record consisted of a voiced "aye" and the presiding official declared the motion carried; no roll-call tally with member names was given on the audio record.

The ordinance was approved on second reading; the council did not record further amendments or schedule a final adoption date during the meeting transcript. Staff indicated that the fee proceeds will be used only for stadium capital and maintenance as described in the ordinance.