Credit One Stadium’s inaugural college basketball weekend is growing into a premier tripleheader featuring nationally recognized men’s and women’s programs in one of the country’s most unique outdoor venues.
The University of South Carolina women’s basketball team, led by head coach and Hall of Famer Dawn Staley, will face the College of Charleston in a marquee matchup at 4 p.m. The University of Virginia men’s team will play Vanderbilt University at noon, and the College of Charleston men’s basketball team will face The Citadel at 2 p.m.
“Every season we are looking to work with groups committed to growing women’s basketball, and we’ve found them in this event,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said. “A unique venue for basketball and VIP experience packages that provide opportunities to enjoy the best that Charleston has to offer, what more could fans ask for? For our Charleston FAMS, it will be great to visit them for a game to repay them for all their drives to Columbia throughout the season.”
South Carolina’s appearance brings one of the nation’s premier women’s basketball programs to Charleston and builds upon Beemok Sports & Entertainment’s longstanding commitment to elevating women’s sports. The LinkU Invitational will transform Credit One Stadium into a distinctive college basketball destination, combining elite competition with hospitality, entertainment and fan programming throughout the weekend.
“Dawn Staley is one of the most influential coaches in all of sports, and South Carolina has become the gold standard in women’s college basketball,” said Bob Moran, president of Beemok Sports & Entertainment. “The opportunity to welcome a program of this caliber to Credit One Stadium is incredibly special. The LinkU Invitational creates a college basketball weekend unlike anything else in the country and reinforces Charleston’s place as a premier destination for innovative sporting events.”
“We’re excited to have such a unique opportunity in front of our home fans. It’s a tremendous venue and outstanding competition. We look forward to a historic event to kick off our season,” said Amanda Butler, head coach of the College of Charleston women’s basketball team.
With the addition of a women’s game, South Carolina, The LinkU Invitational and the College of Charleston have tapped GS Global Sports to manage game and facility operations.
“We sincerely appreciate LinkU for inviting GS Global Sports to be part of The LinkU Invitational,” said Glenn Smith, CEO of GS Global Sports. “It is a privilege to support this outstanding event and to provide comprehensive game and facility operations for the universities participating.”
The weekend begins Friday evening with a Chalk Talk bringing together participating teams, partners and invited guests. It will feature coaches and players, offering fans an inside look at the teams and matchups before Sunday’s games.
On Saturday, with college football in full swing, Uptown Social will host watch parties for the participating schools, giving fans a place to cheer on their teams and connect with fellow supporters throughout the day.
On Sunday, before the opening tip, Credit One Stadium will transform into a pregame destination with curated food and beverage offerings, family-friendly entertainment and a game-day atmosphere surrounding all three matchups.
“From the beginning, our goal was to create more than a basketball event. We wanted to build a weekend that celebrates college basketball and gives fans experiences they can’t find anywhere else,” said Austin Elrod, founder and CEO of The LinkU. “With Chalk Talk on Friday night and three incredible games on Sunday, this has become a true destination weekend for fans and student-athletes alike.”
Tickets and VIP experience packages are available at creditonestadium.com/