A wide variety of accommodations are available including accessible seating, visual & hearing impaired services, wheelchair accessible areas and entrances, a nursing parents room & sensory kits. 

View Accessibility Guide

No professional cameras, which include detachable lenses. No professional or non-mobile phone video cameras. No flash. No iPads/tablets, GoPros, selfie sticks, or glow sticks. For concerts and events, no audio, video, or photographic recording is permitted.

Please note that some event guidelines may differ by event. 

Colonial Life Arena is a cashless facility. All points of sale (including concessions and merch) are cashless inside the arena. Reverse ATMs can be found in the box office lobby and on the concourse behind sections 106/107 allowing cash to be exchanged for a debit card. 

While bags are not encouraged, the following outlines the bags that are permitted:

• Clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags that do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12" -- A logo no larger than 4.5" x 3.4" can be displayed on one side of a permissible clear bag.
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar)
• Small clutch bags no larger than 4.5" x 6.5" -- approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap
• Medically necessary items (after proper inspection and tagging)

Full List of Prohibited Items

The doors generally open one (1) hour prior to the scheduled game/event time. This may vary, depending on the event. Door times specific to each event are listed on the respective event pages. 

Be sure to download your mobile tickets to your phone wallet before you arrive at the arena. Mobile ticket entry is required (with the exception of tickets purchased at the Prisma Health Box Office). View a helpful mobile ticket guide here. 

Effective January 1, 2024, a vertical ID is no longer be accepted as a form of identification for purchasing alcohol.

All parking is available for cash only ranging from $10-$30 on the day of the event (no advance sales available). Accessible parking is available in most, if not all, lots. 

Surface lots located between Greene & Blossom Streets, and the Discovery Garage at 821 Park Street, across from the Arena, will be available for patron parking.

Colonial Life Arena does not own or operate parking lots or garages. Prices and accepted payment methods are determined by owners/operators & can change without notice.

Parking Map

The following items are not permitted inside the Colonial Life Arena: 

• Outside food and beverages
• Cigarettes, e-cigarettes, & vape pens 
• Umbrellas exceeding 23 inches in length (small collapsible umbrellas are preferred)
• Strollers (Except those modified to accommodate HC patrons)
• Laser pointers
• Bull horns and noisemakers
• Confetti
• Pom Poms 
• Fireworks, firearms or weapons of any kind (that includes mace)
• Framed backpacks
• Glass bottles, aluminum cans or empty bottles of any kind
• Banner size posters (subject to change depending on the event)
• Ice chests (coolers) or thermos containers
• Distribution of leaflets and brochures
• Aerosol cans
• Skateboards or roller blades
• Stools, folding chairs, stadium seatbacks or seats with armrests
• Water Bottles or Mugs
• Animals (unless certified for the disabled)
• Beach balls and other inflatable items
• Balloons (including helium)
• Professional Cameras/Extended Lenses/Professional Photography Equipment
• Tipods (including uni-pods) 
• Selfie Sticks
• Laptops
• Tablets (except for Gamecock Athletic Events)
• Video cameras (unless otherwise specified by the event)
• Bags are subject to search at all events

Colonial Life Arena is a non-smoking and non-vaping facility with a no re-entry policy. For the health and well-being of all Gamecocks, the Columbia campus is a completely tobacco-free campus. All forms of tobacco use are prohibited on all University of South Carolina leased, owned and controlled property and in vehicles parked on University of South Carolina property. For more information visit sc.edu/tobaccofreeusc 

Management reserves the right to adjust these policies at any time with no prior notification.

Walk-through magnetometers will be in use for all patrons. When approaching the security checkpoints at all entrances, keep all items in your pockets and bags. If you have a bag, proceed to the designated bag check areas. Clear bags are required. Tickets will be scanned once you are through the security checkpoint. Patrons are encouraged to arrive early and allow ample time for processing. Diapers and additional baby supplies may be carried in a clear bag. Family members, including children, are allowed to carry an approved bag into the arena. View clear bag policy here.

Be advised that all persons, upon entering property/arena, consent to a search of their person and property at the time of entry and during their stay on the premises. Colonial Life Arena has a no-re-entry policy; tickets can only be scanned for one use. 

For the best experience, please plan to arrive early in anticipation of traffic congestion and to ensure you have ample time to park. New traffic patterns are in place surrounding the Arena.