McGuirk Upgrade

[InnervisionsUMASS]

^^^^
I’ll be honest, I haven’t tailgated in a long time for a game (having young kids kind of takes away those times of being able to just hang in Amherst for a whole weekend like I did in my mid 20s ). How does the tailgate compare to the 2000s IV? I know we were only FCS during that tenure but that stretch from like 2004-2008 was pretty awesome. The tailgate atmosphere felt big time and I’ve been to ND, Michigan and FSU games, it was legit. Wondering how it feels compared to that period when I came back for a lot of games post graduation.

It's not the same, the environment then was amazing. Right now it is hindered by poorly planned structured rules, and more obviously, a lack of success. But the potential is there... it is a powder keg ready to blow, in the best of ways.

[ZooMass84]

I think they should put a strip club in the Endzone section with windows to view the field and the dancers. It can be sponsored by the Womens Studies program

I remember The Combat Zone, maybe The Junkyard can go back in time!!!!

[ZooMass84]

The junkyard meets the Combat Zone!!!

[ZooMass84]

Old CPAs don’t die, they just lose their balance!!!!

[JoleonLescottsHair]

^^^^
I’ll be honest, I haven’t tailgated in a long time for a game (having young kids kind of takes away those times of being able to just hang in Amherst for a whole weekend like I did in my mid 20s ). How does the tailgate compare to the 2000s IV? I know we were only FCS during that tenure but that stretch from like 2004-2008 was pretty awesome. The tailgate atmosphere felt big time and I’ve been to ND, Michigan and FSU games, it was legit. Wondering how it feels compared to that period when I came back for a lot of games post graduation.

It's not the same, the environment then was amazing. Right now it is hindered by poorly planned structured rules, and more obviously, a lack of success. But the potential is there... it is a powder keg ready to blow, in the best of ways.

Who needs an amazing FCS environment when you can have an FBS morgue?

[Steve81]

Do miss parking across the stadium on the grass and seeing the entire Dallas Mall horseshoe covered with people and cars. Now in lot 11 and it is OK. Last year it was wild walking through lot 25 with all the students and some overwhelmed families. Guess that is why the have move the students to the back part of lot 11, but no entertainment and music like before. Some families seemed to enjoy the space of the south lawn.

[Quann]

This epitomizes the incompetence of the administration running things for the last 13 years. Instead of building on the already great game day experience of the fcs days, they completely changed it and destroyed it. Brilliant! They can’t do anything right when it comes to football.

[doubledribble]

This epitomizes the incompetence of the administration running things for the last 13 years. Instead of building on the already great game day experience of the fcs days, they completely changed it and destroyed it. Brilliant! They can’t do anything right when it comes to football.

And let’s charge $ for parking!

[minutefanjsf]

This epitomizes the incompetence of the administration running things for the last 13 years. Instead of building on the already great game day experience of the fcs days, they completely changed it and destroyed it. Brilliant! They can’t do anything right when it comes to football.

[minutefanjsf]

This epitomizes the incompetence of the administration running things for the last 13 years. Instead of building on the already great game day experience of the fcs days, they completely changed it and destroyed it. Brilliant! They can’t do anything right when it comes to football.

My experience tailgating has changed multiple times due to the stupid changes. I’ve always been in lot 11. In FCS days (99-up to the jump up) we were way in the back where students are now. It was great especially with young kids an open space. Even as the kids got older great. Then Gillette for a couple of years. Coming back to lot 11, RB had the dim idea to put students where we’d been for years. It was okay, because we had to sit on the other side of the stadium. So, we went to where the player parents are now. The student DJ rave in the same lot with the STH was stupid. Then they put up a tent (commonwealth club) with a ton of generators there. Forced us to move to avoid the noise. So noise on both ends of the lot. They moved the commonwealth club and life was good for a year…..then the gridiron club which I’m a member of took the current maroon lot over and we were told we wouldn’t be displaced, but were. Next three seasons donated at the new $250 level to stay there, which is now $1000. Way too much involvement and change by the department. The kids should be on the mall and where the players go in. It is a ghost town funeral march into the stadium all because someone wants to control it and hopes that by putting students in the back of lot 11 they will enter the game. Have two or more student entrances, at least one on each side, maybe even one by the south loop. Let the kids tailgate wherever they want. And, let people tailgate until at least halftime if not the whole game. Letting them stay outside until halftime could entice them to come in to hear the band, and god forbid if the game is close stay until for the second half. In the mid 1990s, we tailgated for the whole game and celebrated scores when we heard the cannons. We could see the scoreboard by putting someone on our shoulders, too.

[harbo]

Random question. When UMass hosts College GameDay, where is the best place to herd the students to participate in the festivities? Including the student kick for tuition money.
According to a 2019 Hustle Belt article, the MAC has participated in College GameDay twice. An October 25, 2002 game pitted 12th ranked Northern Illinois against 23rd ranked Bowling Green in a rare alignment of nationally-ranked MAC teams. And a November 19, 2016 game, 14th ranked Western Michigan hosted GameDay against Buffalo, with the acknowledgement that WMU and Alabama were the last two undefeated teams left and GameDay was brought from both schools.

We got Northern Illinois coming in a few weeks for a Thusday night game which could be a battle of winless (in-conference) teams. Let's emulate GameDay's field goal kicking contest with some halfway legitimate prizes. Anything to get some students involved.

[Quann]

Soooooooo, are we going to do anything to the stadium or let yet another offseason go by with zero improvements?

[stevemaz]

Random question. When UMass hosts College GameDay, where is the best place to herd the students to participate in the festivities? Including the student kick for tuition money.
According to a 2019 Hustle Belt article, the MAC has participated in College GameDay twice. An October 25, 2002 game pitted 12th ranked Northern Illinois against 23rd ranked Bowling Green in a rare alignment of nationally-ranked MAC teams. And a November 19, 2016 game, 14th ranked Western Michigan hosted GameDay against Buffalo, with the acknowledgement that WMU and Alabama were the last two undefeated teams left and GameDay was brought from both schools.

We got Northern Illinois coming in a few weeks for a Thusday night game which could be a battle of winless (in-conference) teams. Let's emulate GameDay's field goal kicking contest with some halfway legitimate prizes. Anything to get some students involved.

got a few years to figure this out.. id say they are here in 2030

[Steve81]

Soooooooo, are we going to do anything to the stadium or let yet another offseason go by with zero improvements?

Idk about next season. Think it is also good idea to get Thorr and others input. Kind of have to figure out the long term plan, so a short term 25M is half or more is not throw away money. Maybe something small, which was always the plan. This is Massachusetts with tons of red tape and agencies. There is a UMass building approval and stuff to start, UMass campus plans, getting those financial approvals and scheduling. Someone posted the plan stuff and there, BUT, not approved. Then epa and putting out to bid, and finally construction time

[minutefanjsf]

Soooooooo, are we going to do anything to the stadium or let yet another offseason go by with zero improvements?

Idk about next season. Think it is also good idea to get Thorr and others input. Kind of have to figure out the long term plan, so a short term 25M is half or more is not throw away money. Maybe something small, which was always the plan. This is Massachusetts with tons of red tape and agencies. There is a UMass building approval and stuff to start, UMass campus plans, getting those financial approvals and scheduling. Someone posted the plan stuff and there, BUT, not approved. Then epa and putting out to bid, and finally construction time

From what I understand, there will be things for next year…video boards and other amenities like this to enhance fan experience. The big stuff, permanent concessions, etc. are not for this year.