Gamecocks in Paris: Arena, tip-off time, TV announced for game against Notre Dame
The South Carolina women’s basketball team will open the 2023-24 regular season against Notre Dame in Paris at Halle Georges Carpentier Arena on Nov. 6, it was announced Tuesday. The game will tip off at 1 p.m. ET live on ESPN.
The arena can hold about 5,000 fans for basketball games. The South Carolina faithful can purchase tickets online starting Aug. 21 or or in person at the arena box office on game day.
Paris is six hours ahead of the Eastern time zone. The Gamecocks and Fighting Irish will begin play at 7 p.m. Paris time.
The game itself was first announced April 12, with Tuesday’s news offering more details around the historic matchup.
VIP travel packages for South Carolina fans sold out in just six days, according to the Gamecocks women’s basketball Twitter account. The $1,000 per person package included a Seine River dinner cruise with the Gamecocks, brunch with the team, seats to an open practice, access to a game ticket with VIP hospitality perks and free transportation to and from each event to the “FAMS hotel,” the Castille Paris.
It is unclear how much South Carolina will profit financially off its part in the first NCAA regular season game on Parisian soil. The school’s contract with Complete Sports Management stipulates that the marketing agency will reap the proceeds from ticket sales, own the game’s broadcasting rights and be granted an “exclusive, royalty-free transferable worldwide license” to use the names, image, logos, graphics and trademarks associated with the Gamecocks.
Regardless, the game marks another big investment by South Carolina into its women’s basketball program.
USC paid CMS a $150,000 contribution “toward the event,” though the document did not specify what services that fee would cover. South Carolina is responsible for its own airfare to Paris (coordinated by CMS), and helping cover the costs of promoting the game.
One-hundred tickets will be reserved for USC, which will include four per player, team personnel and any guests of coach Dawn Staley, according to the contract. USC’s band, cheerleaders and mascot will be admitted to the game for free.
When will South Carolina’s full schedule be released?
It should be complete later this summer. Last year, the Gamecocks announced their SEC regular season schedule on Aug. 17 and non-conference schedule on Aug. 26.
What are the other top games this season?
▪ vs. UConn: The Huskies will come to Columbia this season after facing the Gamecocks in Connecticut last year. South Carolina defeated UConn 81-77, which was without top players Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd.
▪ vs. Maryland: The Terrapins will travel south to Colonial Life Arena to complete their home-and-home series with South Carolina. USC walloped Maryland in College Park last year 81-56.
▪ at LSU: The Gamecocks will travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to take on the reigning national champion LSU. Last year, the Tigers came to Columbia and lost to USC 88-64. Star player Angel Reese had 16 points and four rebounds — far below her SEC-leading average 23 points and 15.4 boards per game.
▪ at UNC: South Carolina will play rival UNC in Chapel Hill on Nov. 30 as part of the ACC-SEC Women’s Challenge. It will be the first time those teams have met in the regular season since 2013.
▪ vs. Utah (neutral site): The Gamecocks will play Utah in the 2023 Basketball hall of Fame Women’s Showcase on Dec. 10 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The Utes just finished their best season in program history, winning the Pac-12 championship and advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16.
What about USC’s SEC schedule?
While exact days and times are still to be determined, the SEC announced conference opponents for its member teams on June 28. South Carolina’s foes include:
Home games (8): Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
Away games (8): Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas A&M
