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Re: McGuirk Upgrade
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2026 10:25 am
by Steve81
The priority has to be anything to help team performance. That said, they will do incremental improvements until we start sell the place out. That will take winning. The priority is the team and not the stadium grand improvement. 8-9M has been spent on this season, with ADA improvements, sound improvements that someone, perhaps jsf, saw during graduation ceremonies. Replacing sideline posters with video boards for additional sponsor visibility and revenue stream.
Re: McGuirk Upgrade
Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2026 3:45 pm
by Quann
^^^^
As I’ve said time and time again, that is an asinine approach to building a program. Put real money into the stadium, which shows you are finally serious about investing in this program and the recruits and results will follow. Or just keep nickel and diming everything and stay in this perpetual state of limbo. It’s pretty simple Steve and easy to see what the admin continues to choose.
Re: McGuirk Upgrade
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2026 4:19 am
by minutefanjsf
Quann wrote: Fri Jul 31, 2026 3:45 pm
^^^^
As I’ve said time and time again, that is an asinine approach to building a program. Put real money into the stadium, which shows you are finally serious about investing in this program and the recruits and results will follow. Or just keep nickel and diming everything and stay in this perpetual state of limbo. It’s pretty simple Steve and easy to see what the admin continues to choose.
agree. Waiting for the wins and crowd to come is the death knell.
Re: McGuirk Upgrade
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2026 6:14 am
by Juice Stand
Steve81 wrote: Fri Jul 31, 2026 10:25 am
...The priority is the team and not the stadium grand improvement...
But that's not really the point, is it? Regardless of what all of us think the priorities should be, the fact is that Bamford has promised big investments in the stadium, and to date we haven't seen it. ADA improvements? Making sure the stadium is accessible to your patrons is the bare minimum. Sound improvements, video boards, concrete step painting? We're talking about speakers and TV screens and lipstick on a pig, not major renovations.
The folks at the MassMutual center were able to secure $93 million, so why can't Bamford do that for McGuirk and/or Mullins? The money is out there, we know that. But we haven't seen him get any big capital projects realized over his entire tenure, and that's the point.
Re: McGuirk Upgrade
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2026 6:51 am
by Uminuteman
The "why" is obvious. He is not good at his job.
Re: McGuirk Upgrade
Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2026 10:13 am
by Jack
Quann wrote: Fri Jul 31, 2026 3:45 pm
^^^^
As I’ve said time and time again, that is an asinine approach to building a program. Put real money into the stadium, which shows you are finally serious about investing in this program and the recruits and results will follow. Or just keep nickel and diming everything and stay in this perpetual state of limbo. It’s pretty simple Steve and easy to see what the admin continues to choose.
I concur that this "incremental improvements" plan is an asinine approach. I was at McGuirk last week - I drove all around the facility and didn't see anything other than some piles of dirt, materials and staging for minor construction projects. lipstick on a pig. What this AD doesn't seem to understand is that you can't build a successful program with an either or approach - the priority must be the PROGRAM - not just the team. The team and the facilities require huge upgrades in order to win games, win the MAC and make bowl games. That all requires lots of money - the AD's job is to get the money. It's not going to come from peasants like me contributing a grand to script U - which I do. BTW - I hope I am wrong and that this is the beginning of an epic run to the top of the MAC.... we shall see.
Re: McGuirk Upgrade
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2026 6:36 am
by ZooMass84
Jack wrote: Sat Aug 01, 2026 10:13 am
Quann wrote: Fri Jul 31, 2026 3:45 pm
^^^^
As I’ve said time and time again, that is an asinine approach to building a program. Put real money into the stadium, which shows you are finally serious about investing in this program and the recruits and results will follow. Or just keep nickel and diming everything and stay in this perpetual state of limbo. It’s pretty simple Steve and easy to see what the admin continues to choose.
I concur that this "incremental improvements" plan is an asinine approach. I was at McGuirk last week - I drove all around the facility and didn't see anything other than some piles of dirt, materials and staging for minor construction projects. lipstick on a pig. What this AD doesn't seem to understand is that you can't build a successful program with an either or approach - the priority must be the PROGRAM - not just the team. The team and the facilities require huge upgrades in order to win games, win the MAC and make bowl games. That all requires lots of money - the AD's job is to get the money. It's not going to come from peasants like me contributing a grand to script U - which I do. BTW - I hope I am wrong and that this is the beginning of an epic run to the top of the MAC.... we shall see.
I did an "analysis" of the whole thing and this is "my" conclusion: between Marty Meehan and nepo-baby Ryan Bamford, the object is to essentially kill UMass Amherst athletics. I know it sounds crazy, but Bamford is untouchable as long as Meehan is Prez and we all know no athletic dept is going to "hire" Bamford after his time at UMass is over but he's making $1,000,000 a year plus a pension so what does he care. All we get from this Ithaca College fool is word salad. I just feel bad for Coach Joe he seems like a good guy and any other unlucky soul who takes a UMass HC job. It's a career killer.
Re: McGuirk Upgrade
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2026 6:43 am
by ZooMass84
Jack wrote: Sat Aug 01, 2026 10:13 am
Quann wrote: Fri Jul 31, 2026 3:45 pm
^^^^
As I’ve said time and time again, that is an asinine approach to building a program. Put real money into the stadium, which shows you are finally serious about investing in this program and the recruits and results will follow. Or just keep nickel and diming everything and stay in this perpetual state of limbo. It’s pretty simple Steve and easy to see what the admin continues to choose.
I concur that this "incremental improvements" plan is an asinine approach. I was at McGuirk last week - I drove all around the facility and didn't see anything other than some piles of dirt, materials and staging for minor construction projects. lipstick on a pig. What this AD doesn't seem to understand is that you can't build a successful program with an either or approach - the priority must be the PROGRAM - not just the team. The team and the facilities require huge upgrades in order to win games, win the MAC and make bowl games. That all requires lots of money - the AD's job is to get the money. It's not going to come from peasants like me contributing a grand to script U - which I do. BTW - I hope I am wrong and that this is the beginning of an epic run to the top of the MAC.... we shall see.
You hit the nail on the head Jack. it all requires money and when I saw the statistic that we have less corporate sponsorship revenue than UMass Lowell or South Indiana or something then it all clicked. Ryan Bamford is actively NOT bringing in $$$$$. I plan on going to Sacred Heart and or Stonehill games. When you consider that UMass hoops is scheduling UMass Boston every year it all becomes apparent. Meehan/Bamford have as their goal a D2 type UMass sports profile.
Re: McGuirk Upgrade
Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2026 10:09 am
by eldonabe
Quann wrote: Fri Jul 31, 2026 3:45 pm
^^^^
As I’ve said time and time again, that is an asinine approach to building a program. Put real money into the stadium, which shows you are finally serious about investing in this program and the recruits and results will follow. Or just keep nickel and diming everything and stay in this perpetual state of limbo. It’s pretty simple Steve and easy to see what the admin continues to choose.
We all would love to see major improement or replacement of McGuirk. In simplest terms, thre isn't enough money to do that and in the current condition of this program there never will be. As much of a headline as that $93M was to the MM Center, McGuirk pronbably needs double that to truly fix and modernize it.
They need to win some games... put all the money into that for 2-3 years and suddenly businesses will want to contribute to a team that can win some games. This team has been a doormat... use that to build up an underdog story and people will fall all over themselves to be a part of that turnaround story.
agree. Waiting for the wins and crowd to come is the death knell.