Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center – South Carolina State Bulldogs
- David Welch
- Mar 14
- 5 min read
Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.29
Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center 300 College St Orangeburg, SC 29117
Year Opened: 1968
Capacity: 3,200
Be a Dog
On February 8th in 1968, shots rang out on the campus of South Carolina State University in response to student protests over the segregation of a local bowling alley. Following the chaos, 28 students were wounded and three, Henry Smith, Samuel Hammond, and Delano Middleton, were killed. To memorialize these three, South Carolina State University named their newly completed multi-purpose arena the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center, lovingly referred to as the SHM Memorial Center.
Prior to opening Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center, the Bulldogs played at Dukes Gymnasium, which is still in use for South Carolina State volleyball. The Bulldogs currently play as members of NCAA Division 1 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), where they have played since 1970.
Food & Beverage 1
There is not a lot to mention by way of concession options – the most notable item on the menu is the corn chips with nacho cheese sauce. Most of the other items on the menu are along the lines of snack foods, such as chips and a handful of candy items. The most popular option is the Italian ice cart just inside the main entrance, with more than half a dozen flavor choices. Beverages include Pepsi products and Gatorade.
Concessions are cash only, so make sure to be prepared if you want to grab a snack.
Atmosphere 4
The white exterior and red roof of SHM Memorial Center stands out on campus. At first glimpse of the columns and tall, narrow windows, it might be easy to mistake the building as a library. Once inside, however, you are quick to feel that this is truly a special college basketball experience, warts and all.
The seating setup creates a pit-style gymnasium. The upper level of seating is broken up by a stage at half court, on the team bench side of the floor. Wooden, auditorium-style seats encircle the court approximately 10 feet above the playing surface. Court level seating is made up of three sections of high-backed, cushioned seats.
A small, four-sided scoreboard hangs over center court and provides fans with basic game time and score, as well as team foul information.
Pep bands have long been a part of the college basketball tradition, and the presence of South Carolina State’s ‘Marching 101’ at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center keeps that tradition alive – the band fills most of the time during stoppages in play. The Marching 101 does a good job bringing the passion of a full marching band into the basketball arena.
Neighborhood 3
One of the most popular attractions in Orangeburg is Edisto Memorial Gardens; the gardens feature walking trails throughout the over 4,000 species of plants inside. In addition, the Cecil Williams South Carolina Civil Rights Museum, a bit out of downtown, looks at the fight for civil rights in South Carolina through the lens of photographer Cecil Williams. Also, nearly a dozen historical markers within blocks of campus tell of Orangeburg’s civil rights history.
One of the more iconic restaurants in town is Duke’s Bar-B-Que, which has been open since 1955 – their fried chicken and mac-and-cheese come highly recommended. Duke’s is only open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, so weekday visitors are out of luck.
Fans 3
South Carolina State typically brings in around 600 fans per basketball game. Despite this being one of the smaller numbers in the conference, the involvement of the fans does make it feel like a much larger crowd. The fans come to have all-around fun, both in rooting on the Bulldogs and dancing to the music of the in-game DJ.
Access 3
If coming to Orangeburg from north of Columbia or coastal South Carolina, Interstate 26 provides a direct route to town, while those coming from a western approach will likely contend with a series of state and US highways.
The South Carolina State athletic complex is gated, so visitors must pass through a guard shack before proceeding. If arriving early enough this doesn’t create much of a hassle, but the closer to tipoff, the more traffic coming into the facility can start to back up a bit.
Parking can be found on three of the four sides of the arena, but the lone entry point is located at the front of the building, away from the parking lots.
There is not a lot of space to navigate when initially entering the gym, and the lobby can become pretty crowded before you move upstairs to the concourse. Also, once on the second level the concourse, which passes under the upper level of seating, is fairly narrow. That said, during times when large numbers of fans are moving, such as the minutes leading up to tipoff, at halftime, and after the game, can create crowded walkways. The use of exit points around the upper concourse does help alleviate overcrowding after the game, however.
Return on Investment 5
For just $10 admission and free parking, and with concessions more than reasonably priced, the South Carolina State basketball experience certainly is worth the price of admission. The courtside, high-backed cushioned seats run $25.
Extras 4
A display near the entrance honors the memories of Henry Smith, Samuel Hammond Jr., and Delano Middleton, ensuring their legacies remain a visible part of the South Carolina State University community. Their tragic deaths during protests against segregation are a significant part of the school’s history, and the memorial arena serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made in pursuit of justice.
Banners showing the Bulldogs’ MEAC regular season and tournament championships, along with a third banner acknowledging NCAA tournament appearances, hang over the team benches.
The passion and excitement the Marching 101 brings into the arena cannot be underestimated; the exuberance of their music and their accompanying dancing creates a fun college basketball experience.
Following the game, the basketball team gathers at midcourt to pay honor to the university – it is nice to see the team, alumni, and community come together to show respect for the institution they love and represent.
Final Thoughts
The facilities at South Carolina State might be a bit dated and do not have many of the amenities found at larger programs, but they more than make up for it when it comes to the overall gameday experience. The passion of the fan base, paired with the atmosphere complemented by the Marching 101, creates a truly special college basketball experience.
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