McGuirk Upgrade

[ZooMass84]

^Short answer? Yes

I really plan on going to the Sacred Heart game and/or Stonehill (can't believe we are playing these games). My son goes to Wisconsin so that would be a plane ride........Camp Randall holds 80k. they play Notre Dame at lambeau first game. I guess I'm glutton for punishment: I will STILL follow every UMass game either in person/on TV (maybe a MACtion tuesday night on ESPN2 or ESPNU) or on the laptop. That missed FG vs Liberty by Jacob Lurie tore my fucking heart out. Couldn't hit a fucking 30 yarder. Friend of my son's kicks 40 yard FG in HIGH SCHOOL. RANT OVER.

[eldonabe]

^Short answer? Yes

I really plan on going to the Sacred Heart game and/or Stonehill (can't believe we are playing these games). My son goes to Wisconsin so that would be a plane ride........Camp Randall holds 80k. they play Notre Dame at lambeau first game. I guess I'm glutton for punishment: I will STILL follow every UMass game either in person/on TV (maybe a MACtion tuesday night on ESPN2 or ESPNU) or on the laptop. That missed FG vs Liberty by Jacob Lurie tore my fucking heart out. Couldn't hit a fucking 30 yarder. Friend of my son's kicks 40 yard FG in HIGH SCHOOL. RANT OVER.

I bet the AD at your son's high school is better at his job than Bamford is.

[Floyd]

I really plan on going to the Sacred Heart game and/or Stonehill

No you don't

[Jack]

Last season AD Bamford promised that phase 1 of the $25M McGuirk upgrade would be “upgrades to the fan experience before the 2026 season.”
Any news on what the specific upgrades have been to the fan experience at McGuirk ? The hope opener is little more than 90 days away and I'm trying to decide whether to renew STs. Thanks.

[minutefanjsf]

Last season AD Bamford promised that phase 1 of the $25M McGuirk upgrade would be “upgrades to the fan experience before the 2026 season.”
Any news on what the specific upgrades have been to the fan experience at McGuirk ? The hope opener is little more than 90 days away and I'm trying to decide whether to renew STs. Thanks.

Better sound system (I saw what looked new speakers atop the stadium at every section during graduation), digital banner along the front wall of the stands (clock scores, etc.), bannisters in every section, and some other ADA things like seats that are not just a place to park wheel chairs in the aisle.

[Jack]

Thanks for that update jsf - those all sound like good improvements. You'd think that the Athletic Department would be promoting these improvements to ST customers .... It's like the AD doesn't truly perceive that it is competing for consumers in the sports entertainment business. You't think that Isenberg and the AD would be seizing this as a great opportunity to develop marketing and revenue growth opportunities - especially coming off the disastrous 2025 season - rising from the ashes as it were...

[eldonabe]

Any updates on Phase 1... any shovels in the ground, any paint being painted? Cutting any grass.... and the Trees... MY GOD the Trees!


Oh man, I can't wait to see these "massive" improvements take shape. We gonna fuck up da MAC now fo` sho`!

[SignMan]

^
I'd be impressed if it were announced...
The McGuirk Upgade Committee (MUC) is introducing a new collaboration with the Dining Commons...
No...not to improve game day stadium food for the fans in the stands...
but...to...
use the coffee grounds from all DCs (there must be a significan amount of them...
to use in the ground around the new(?) McGuirk trees...
Yes, they do provide nutrients to most plants (outdoor only...per SM the Agronomist)...

I periodically am able to get coffee grounds for free from Fresh Market stores here in Naples, and I am using them mostly for a tree ouside the back of our pool cage (the seriously good one we had built, after I consulted with Zullo for his approval)...
The tree seems to like them...

SM knows more than just signs ...

Hoping we start winning some games...
considering going to Troy...

SM

[69MG]

This tells us where UMass stands in the state's priority list:

Daniel Warner
@dwarner1313
·
8h
Massachusetts just gave $93 million to renovate the MassMutual Center can UMass get some stadium and arena upgrades?

[SignMan]

^
Ask our A.D., Chancellor, President, BOT.
What are they doing about it?
Are there any Alums in the MA House of Reps & Senate?
Back 20 - 30 years ago, when the program was good, we had about 15 or so, including some who came to lots of the games, who promoted funding for us.
I solicited all of them.

[ZooMass84]

^
Ask our A.D., Chancellor, President, BOT.
What are they doing about it?
Are there any Alums in the MA House of Reps & Senate?
Back 20 - 30 years ago, when the program was good, we had about 15 or so, including some who came to lots of the games, who promoted funding for us.
I solicited all of them.

SM. you hit the nail on the head: are there any UMies anywhere in state government? Governor, lt governor, AD, Prez, etc?? even the Apple guy who gave 50M none of it went to athletics......so sad....can we win a game or two this year

[Juice Stand]

Yup, I just posted this in the Ryan Bamford thread in the "other UM sports" section before I saw it mentioned here. Article link: https://www.westernmassnews.com/2026/07 ... s&tbref=hp

[minutefanjsf]

Yup, I just posted this in the Ryan Bamford thread in the "other UM sports" section before I saw it mentioned here. Article link: https://www.westernmassnews.com/2026/07 ... s&tbref=hp

Yup. The state (legislature) owns the mass mutual center, now. Springfield transferred ownership about two decades ago. McGuirk being owned by the university not the state adds an extra layer, but it shouldn’t be a prohibitive layer.

[eldonabe]

To me this has become a chicken and egg thing. I say the LAST thing they focus on right now is that concrete barn.

This football program has major problems and instead of fixing something / anything completely, they continue to this buckshot approach and spray money all over the place which accomplishes nothing except spent money.

Everything revolves around success on the field right now. Winning cures all ills as they say. Every cent possible should be spent on coaches and players - period. Screw the building, screw concessions, screw aesthetics.... even the parking situation.


If Umass is winning games, people will not care about the creature comforts of that stadium. Eventually they will but not right now..
If Umass is winning gmaes, people will tailgate wherever they can and have fun in pre-gamming when they knbow they are going in to see a decent product
If Umass is winning games, people will suffer for a couple hours with minimal food options
If Umass is winning games, who gives a shit if there are trees and bushes outside
If Umass is winning games, people will figure out parking and getting to the barn to watch and be a part of it


I am not saying never fix these other things, but those are useless if there is nothing to see to begin with.

[SignMan]

I am compiling a list of current UMie Legislators...
will post it as soon as I complete my research on it...

The big Q is what will we/you do with it?

I will pose suggestions re that...

Your 30 -Years SM