With approval from government authorities, South Carolina has announced a plan for fans this season inside Colonial Life Arena for men’s and women’s basketball games.

Capacity will be reduced to about 3,500 available seats per game, with ticket pods in groupings of two, four and six seats with about six feet of distance between pods, the school announced. Facial coverings will be required for staff and fans at all times and in all areas of the arena, and patrons will also be required to follow the SEC and university fan safety guidelines.

There will also be new signage that explains changes in concessions, pedestrian flow on the concourse, restroom capacity and other informational signs throughout the facility.

Team benches will be moved to the opposite side of the court this season, to allow for social distancing for team personnel, and also on the scorers’ table for those positions that are critical for games, such as the official scorer, the scoreboard operator, radio crews and statisticians in addition to several others. Also of note, the first five rows of seating around the new court setup will not be available for spectator seating this season.

Gamecock Athletics has tentatively scheduled the week of Nov. 9 to begin the seat selection process. Details on seat selection, as well as student ticket distribution and parking information, will be announced soon.

All home Gamecock Athletics events are mobile-only ticketing, which allow for reduced contact at points of entry and greater flexibility to make adjustments should scheduling changes arise.

As part of the “Reinvest for Success” campaign launched on Aug. 10, any season ticket holders who would like a refund of their 2020-21 season tickets and any ticket-related expenses due to fears of COVID-19 can receive one while retaining their right to renew those tickets in 2021-22.