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Earlier this month, it was announced that Capital City Stadium (where minor league teams played for over 90 years) at 301 Assembly Street would be torn down in the coming months.
We asked you on Instagram + in the newsletter what you wanted to see built on the 6-acre property on Assembly St. – which is currently owned by the city and has been under contract for development by an Atlanta developer for years – and will expire unless renewed in May.
Hundreds of you responded with ideas: From a community baseball park and outdoor music venue to Topgolf and a food hall + so much more. Our readers hit a home-run with some of these suggestions. ⚾
- Outdoor space | “It would be great to see that turned into public green space; some kind of mixed use public park: dog park, skate park, music venue, food truck corral?” – Karl H.
- Top Golf | “TOP GOLF PLZ AND THANK YOU” – @nbolton_22
- Entertainment | “Turn Cap stadium into a killer music venue!! 🤘🔥” – @jaycooljr
- Grocery Store | “As far as I understand that area is somewhat of a food desert, would be nice to see some sort of grocery store there. Or an entertainment venue!” – @arslanvali
- Mixed-use | “Walkable sidewalk built from that area to the tailgating area – possibly hotel, restaurants, a Gamecocks themed bar, apparel store - prime location that would be a great stop along point for Gameday students who live at aspire/mills/townhomes behind it…” – @mollystantonhall
Browse more suggestions below (including what y’all *don’t* want to see + pitch us your own if you haven’t yet in the comments below).
Outdoor space
- Public municipal baseball park – @DrewPastPerson
- Make it green space. In that area, it would be a welcome change. Too much retail over there. – sportswoman11
- A beautiful park with a world class outdoor music venue like Red Hat in Raleigh!! – Samuel H.
- If we can’t have a baseball stadium, a green space would be best imo. – Trey Seamus S.
- Some kind of community garden with fruit & veggie coop would be neat. – Katie Taylor F.
- Outdoor venue, concerts, outdoor movies, another park, garden for the community, great opportunity for the area. – Amy S.
- Lacrosse fields!!! Multi use but lots of lax – Katherine Nelson T.
- A park/green space...beautify the area – Sarah Fulmer H.
- Anything not controlled by Richland County Rec. Multi use fields for field sports like lacrosse, soccer, and football. – Sean K.
- Use it for practice for the different league’s!!! – Ashley Frierson F.
- Community gardens would be nice – @deannagia
- Outdoor concert venue. I’d love a Top Golf, but idk if that’s enough room for it there. – @hardcore34
- Green space with dog park – @gfgeiger4
- Dog park, pool, brewery ... any outdoor activity! 🌲🐾⛳️🏊🏻♀️⛱⛲️– @colacooking
- It would be great to see that turned into public green space; some kind of mixed use public park: dog park, skate park, music venue, food truck corral? – Karl H.
- Our city is “famously hot” but we can’t swim in the river and Columbia has one outdoor pool that nobody knows about. – @rogerloughneyjr
- A lacrosse complex!!! – Rachel Copeland S.
- Like a lot of recommendations. Unfortunate the ball team left but I get it. Beautiful legacy at the ‘ol ballpark - green space or #1 option make it a public ballpark. Please no shopping stores!!#everybodylovesaballpark. – @Tomhall58Tom
- Small grocery store/ dog park/ green space -@BraggGail
- Make it green space. In that area, it would be a welcome change. Too much retail over there. – @sportswoman11
Entertainment
- An entertainment complex. – @Beatkentucky
- Movie theatre if there isn’t one going up on bull street, or outside concert venue – Cameron R.
- Would be cool if you could convert into concert venue or brewery. – @gamecockbryman
- Turn Cap stadium into a killer music venue!! 🤘🏼🕺🏽🔥– @jaycooljr
- Amphitheater! Been thinking that for years now – @wm_4iv
- Outdoor concert area or of course the REAL @topgolf – @gamecocktoothdoc
- Yes to concert venue – @simstap
- Columbia’s very own amphitheater! – @the_pat_attack
- Go kart arena, Dirt bike arena 🙌🏽– @wendydiazf
- the city already owns the property! maybe turn it into a multi-use venue for the city....a place to hold all the festivals the city has throughout the year (instead of being on random roads around town) make it an amphitheater or concert venue!!! – @eleuther0mania_564
Topgolf
- TOP GOLF PLZ AND THANK YOU – @nbolton_22
- @Topgolf !!! – @kaceymarie28
- top golf!! – @nicolettewalters
- Top golf Like in Charlotte is a great idea. Drive in movie theater another option – @seth_quarles
- Top Golf – Christime Judd H.
- The real “Top Golf” please… – Chris D.
- Top golf pls 😩– @maggieannglass
- @topgolf would be perfect there. – @therealstevendiaz
- @topgolf !!!! – @emjeanot
- How about we compromise and have a top golf and an Aldi’s! I am tired of driving out to garners ferry – @esthermaldonado
- With all of the above, @topgolf! ! –@mtcopelan
- Top golf – @bhowarddd
- Top golf!!!! Yes. – @kerrieammons
- Topgolf – Steve L.
Food/drink
- @HuHot Mongolian Grill – @chavisjm
- another brewery?!? Lol geez. How about a distillery? – @tequila_tiger9
- Brewery!! Leave the building I know some people have loved that park back in the day! – @ohnovtecdaily
- This city absolutely needs a food hall and it would be perfect for this location. This site, with a food hall along with other shops could turn into a hub that links Williams-Brice to Main Street and The Vista. But knowing Columbia it will probably turn into apartments. – @jyswitzer
Grocery store
- Please no more student or mixed housing. How about a grocery store? A brewery/distillery? Several small stores? – Opa_opa_yall
- Aldi or lidl for cheap groceries for students – Brandon B.
- That area is in bad need of a small shopping center that includes a grocery store. Restaurant or two. and a auto parts store for the growing Olympia area. – @CarolinaMark3
- A Lidl US store and farmers market. Goodness, what an amazing combination that would be! – Lydia Valentine S.
- Grocery/convenience store, nice restaurants, and brunch spot! – @thatredhott
- Trader Joe’s! – @antoniafrontz
- As far as I understand that area is somewhat of a food desert, would be nice to see some sort of grocery store there. Or an entertainment venue! – @arslanvali
- I would love to see the old stadium be turned into a bulk store! something sustainable where you have to bring your own containers to cut out single use plastic. – Lauren F
Shopping center
- Walkable sidewalk built from that area to the tailgating area— possibly Hotel, restaurants, a gamecocks themed bar, Gamecocks apparel store- prime location that would be a great stop along point for gameday or students who live at aspire/mills/townhomes behind it- could connect all areas with well lit lighting! – @mollystantonhall
- How about a built downtown-like area? Sidewalks, local (non chain) restaurants with outdoor seating...? – @shegambolsinpearls
- An amazing hotel with a rooftop bar would be really cool. And then fill the rest of the area with bars, restaurants and retail. – @bradkingsmore
- Something like Ponce City Market in ATL – Sarah L. F.
- Indoor vendor marketplace – Anne Spencer A.
- That area is in bad need of a small shopping center that includes a grocery store. Restaurant or two. and a auto parts store for the growing Olympia area. – @CarolinaMark3
Anything but..
- Bombers stadium was so fun! Anything but the Wal-Mart – @actuallyashleyl
- Anything but Walmart, dollar general, 10 minute oil change, mattress store, or a fast food chicken restaurant.....I think that’s it haha – @csparrow6789
- ETA.... no top golf. Columbia already has one and it would only appeal to a small subset of people. Why not build something with mass appeal that has staying power? Plus, isn’t golf meant to be played outside? – @shegambolsinpearls
- There was talks years ago of making it a Walmart and many fought against it. They ended up opening the neighborhood Walmart store on Knox Abbott instead. I agree it shouldn’t be a Walmart though. – @hardcore34
- Not more apartments. – @erinpaterin