USCB Officials excited for Sand Shark 20/20 project; gear up for record-breaking semester

BLUFFTON, S.C. (WTOC) - For the last 20 years, USCB has been a 4-year university for students to attend in the Lowcountry.

“I am not sure it was always fully anticipated that we would have the economic impact that we have,” Chancellor of USCB, Dr. Al Panu said.

That impact is still being felt, as the school gets ready to break another record.

“We are probably going to have a record number of first-year students again,” Dr. Panu said.

And with all the excitement around more students coming to campus, why not add a new arena to the mix that will be the new home of the USCB Sand Shark basketball teams?

“It’s electric for the community,” USCB Men’s Basketball Coach, Ron Fudala said. “It’s beyond basketball, really; it’s going to help recruit and retain elite student athletes. Our community is going to be invested in our program. It just means the world for our guys.”

The 5,000-plus-seat arena, which local governments and the state are financially supporting, is the centerpiece of the project. It also includes providing a home field for the baseball and softball teams, as well as other athletic teams that are now full-fledged members of the Peach Belt Conference, and a place to practice.

Dr. Panu says that the over $100-million project will be multiple phases and will be a place that can host graduations, commencement ceremonies, tournaments, and other community events.

“It’s been a huge thing that we have been working on for the past 5 to 6 years or more,” Dr. Panu said.

Currently, the arena is an intimate environment that can only seat 800 people, which Fudala loves, but he can’t wait to see the fans in a bigger space.

“It’s loud, and the opposing teams dread having to come to play us,” Fudala said. “Just seeing the community involved with our program, that’s what it’s about.”

Officials say the funding mechanism they are using for the project will leverage future economic growth within a specific area without raising taxes.

Currently, the university has raised nearly half of the funding needed for the new arena.