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Greenville Business Magazine

The Business Narrative: New Mauldin Multi-Use Stadium

Oct 31, 2024 09:22AM ● By Donna Walker

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Triumph Soccer Announces New 10,000-Seat Multi-Use Stadium at BridgeWay Station

MAULDIN - The Greenville Triumph Soccer Club and Greenville Liberty Soccer Club along with the city of Mauldin announced plans Oct. 30, 2024, for a 10,000-seat multi-use sports and entertainment stadium as part of a development agreement with Hughes Investments at BridgeWay Station.

 

Officials said that as the permanent home for Greenville Triumph and Liberty, the stadium will serve as a hub for professional and youth sports while also hosting field sports such as lacrosse, rugby and football and a venue for concerts, festivals, and various community events.

 

Estimated to cost between $80 million and $100 million, the stadium is expected to break ground in early 2025.

 

Officials said the project marks a significant step forward in positioning Mauldin and the greater Greenville area as a premier destination for sports tourism and community gatherings in South Carolina.

 

Project partners include Greenville Pro Soccer, the ownership group of the Triumph and Liberty; the state of South Carolina; and the city of Mauldin.

 

Officials said with a planned opening in 2026, the new multi-use sports and entertainment stadium will be poised to celebrate the excitement of the FIFA World Cup coming to North America that summer when soccer fans across the region gear up for one of the world’s most anticipated sporting events.

 

“This stadium represents the next chapter for our clubs,” said Joe Erwin, chairman of Greenville Triumph SC and Greenville Liberty SC. “We’ve always envisioned a home that would not only serve as a place for soccer matches but as a gathering point for the entire community to enjoy an array of field sports, concerts and community events.”

 

Based in Greenville, South Carolina, the Greenville Triumph SC fields a men's professional soccer club completing its sixth season in USL League One.

 

The Greenville Liberty, a women’s pre-professional team, played its inaugural season in the USL W League in 2022 and recently completed its third season.

 

To further its support of youth soccer, the Greenville Triumph SC partnered with Special Olympics South Carolina to launch a Unified Soccer Team this year featuring a blend of players with intellectual disabilities and peer partners.

 

In addition, the Greenville Triumph Soccer Club brings together youth soccer players from clubs and organizations across the region to form U20 boys and girls all-star teams representing Upstate South Carolina, the Triumph and Liberty in the USL Academy League.

 

The announcement was made at an event on the plaza of BridgeWay Station where Mauldin Mayor Terry Merritt called it a historic day for the city of Mauldin.

 

“Our city has experienced tremendous growth over the last several years, and this stadium is another example of how we’re investing in the future,” Merritt said.

 

Located at the center of BridgeWay Station, a mixed-use development, the stadium is situated on Interstate 385 at the southern gateway into Greenville.

 

“The vision for this stadium extends well beyond Mauldin,” state Rep. Bruce Bannister, Republican chairman of the SC House Ways and Means Committee, said in a statement. “This project will be a catalyst for economic growth and tourism not only in the Upstate but throughout South Carolina.”

 

Bannister added, “It represents a successful public-private partnership that will enhance the quality of life for our residents, create jobs, and drive investment in our state.”

 

Phil Hughes, president of Hughes Investments, said in a statement that the stadium will be a key feature of BridgeWay Station, a development with residential, commercial, and entertainment options.

 

“This stadium aligns perfectly with our goal of creating a vibrant and engaging environment that offers something for everyone,” Hughes said. “The stadium will contribute significantly to the vibrancy of our community.”

AAC East, LLC Expands Marlboro County Operations

AAC East, LLC (AAC East), a producer of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC), announced it is expanding its Marlboro County, South Carolina, operations.

 

The company’s $6 million investment will create 25 new jobs, according to Gov. Henry McMaster’s office.

 

AAC East produces and distributes AAC, a sustainable, lightweight and energy-efficient alternative to concrete, used in commercial and residential floor and wall systems.

 

The company’s Bennettsville facility provides AAC blocks and panels to customers across the eastern U.S.


AAC East’s expansion includes equipment upgrades as well as building and land improvements for its existing plant located at 166 Industrial Lane in Bennettsville.

Operations are online. Those interested in joining AAC East should apply in person at the Bennettsville facility.

Koops Automation Systems Expands Greenville County Operations

Koops Automation Systems, a provider of custom automation equipment, announced it is expanding its operations in Greenville County, South Carolina.

 

The company’s $10.2 million investment will create 26 jobs, according to Gov. Henry McMaster’s office.

 

Headquartered in Michigan, Koops designs, builds, and integrates innovative special machines and automated equipment. The company offers solutions for manufacturers in various industries including automotive, life sciences and construction.

Koops will relocate to a larger, 80,000-square-foot facility at 120 Elcon Drive in Greenville, allowing for additional capacity to serve customers across the Southeast.

Those interested in joining Koops should go to the company’s careers page.

The state’s Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project.

2024 Upstate Diversity Leadership Award Recipients Announced

On Thursday, October 24, 2024, the Greenville Chamber and the Riley Institute at Furman presented the 2024 recipients of the Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards during the Greenville Chamber’s Diversity and Economic Inclusion Summit.

 

Now in its 20th year, the Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards program honors individuals and organizations throughout the Upstate community for achievement in promoting diversity and inclusion.

 

The 2024 Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards recipients are:

 

K-12 School: William “Bill” T. Wylie Valued Lives Award for School Excellence – AJ Whittenberg Elementary

 

Outstanding High School Student – Chandler Sherman, Christ Church Episcopal School

 

Outstanding College Student – Elizabeth Caldwell, Clemson University

 

Outstanding Nonprofit Organization – Beauty Marks for Girls, Jennifer Jones

 

Outstanding Business – Think Up Consulting

 

Calder D. Ehrmann Outstanding Individual – Jil Littlejohn Bostick, Winnebago Industries

 

Outstanding Contribution to International Diversity - Amberly Chirolla, Lutheran Services of the Carolinas

 

The Upstate Diversity Leadership Awards originated as part of a capstone project in the 2004 Upstate Class of the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leaders Initiative.

 

This group of Riley Fellows shared a vision to create an annual event to honor outstanding individuals and organizations in the Upstate who are making a positive difference through diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

 

This was the first celebration of its kind in the state to recognize individuals and organizations for their accomplishments in uplifting diversity in the Upstate.

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