College football facilities continue to get nicer and more expensive, as programs seek to keep up with their competition.

South Carolina is the latest SEC school to explore renovations to its football facilities.

The school has proposed an expensive renovation to Williams-Brice Stadium. The renovation would include new suites on the east side of the stadium, and a $50 million operations building.

The 100,000-square foot operations building will include new offices for the coaches, meeting space for the players and coaches, a weight room for the football team and a locker room facility for the Gamecocks.

The project was given Phase 1 approval Friday by the university Board of Trustees’ building and grounds committee.

“I think today’s action was very important as we go through this (coaching search) because we are moving forward with a football operations center and the new football coach will have input in this facility,” South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner told The State. “It is exciting that we are moving forward in this direction. If we weren’t, that would be a hindrance in this process.”

The coaching staff currently uses office and meeting space on both ends of Williams-Brice Stadium. The team shares a weight room at the stadium with the school’s other sports.

The university will take out loans to pay for the new facility.

“I am comfortable going forward in the next year we will have additional resources to service this debt on an annual basis,” Tanner said.

The renovations on the east side of the stadium would add 18 suites. Those renovations are expected to cost about $30 million. In order to fund the project, the South Carolina athletic department will seek donations and will try to pre-sell suites.

Earlier this year, the Gamecocks opened a new indoor practice facility, which cost $14.3 million.

“It’s very important, but I think it’s important on two fronts,” Tanner told The State. “It’s important from a practical standpoint for your teams to have an opportunity for us now, with two practice fields right out that door here, if there’s an inclement weather issue, they can come in.

“And certainly from a recruiting standpoint, it shows the kind of commitment and dedication you have for your football program.”

On Friday, the board also approved two more projects. Two permanent 40-foot tall filming towers will be built at the team’s new outdoor practice fields. The towers will cost a total of $350,000. And the board approved the addition of VIP parking and facilities on a vacant site near the stadium, where a Bojangles used to be located. That project will cost $850,000. Tanner said the parking spaces could sell for as much as $5,000 each.