McGuirk Upgrade

[MajBugman]

I know that one time they said that one option was that they would enclose the end zone with the scoreboard with seats ans put up a new video board but who knows if that is being considered.

My feeling is they will do incremental expansion. First put in 3K temporary seats. Maryland did that for a while. Show you can fill that up, and bring in extra revenue. Then start with the real expansion.

[Swampy]

Maybe if they played BC or uCon there's a chance but until they can get the students to stay until halftime I don't see them ever getting to 25K.

[UMass02]

UMass should work on filling the 17K that McGuirk currently holds, after which the school can focus on expansion. If a conference affiliation hinges on expansion to 25K, that's another story. After reading MM, I like Bamford's ideas for expansion, but they need to be guarded and not rushed.

In the short term, UMass can find ways to make the game-day experience more fan-friendly. Before the first game at McGuirk, the school needs to review last season's fan experience (ranging from parking, traffic, everyone's favorite porta-potties, etc.) and see what went well and what needs improvement. One complaint I heard was about parking. Some fans found it frustrating that they could not park near their tailgate partners as they were directed to park in specific spots. I also think the four-hour tailgate rule needs to be reviewed, especially for the season-ticket holder lot where there are few problems (compared to the general lot with students).

[UMass1991]

UMass should work on filling the 17K that McGuirk currently holds, after which the school can focus on expansion. If a conference affiliation hinges on expansion to 25K, that's another story. After reading MM, I like Bamford's ideas for expansion, but they need to be guarded and not rushed.

In the short term, UMass can find ways to make the game-day experience more fan-friendly. Before the first game at McGuirk, the school needs to review last season's fan experience (ranging from parking, traffic, everyone's favorite porta-potties, etc.) and see what went well and what needs improvement. One complaint I heard was about parking. Some fans found it frustrating that they could not park near their tailgate partners as they were directed to park in specific spots. I also think the four-hour tailgate rule needs to be reviewed, especially for the season-ticket holder lot where there are few problems (compared to the general lot with students).

Well, one way of reducing the complaints around parking is assigned lots. I know, blaphsemy!

[UMass02]

Well, one way of reducing the complaints around parking is assigned lots. I know, blaphsemy!

They do have assigned lots at McGuirk. Season ticket holders park in one (Yellow) and the rest of the fans park in another (Purple/Green). Unfortunately, once you get to the lot, you are directed to park in specific spots.

One way to help mitigate traffic would be to extend tailgating hours for season ticket holders. Perhaps six hours before and two hours after (whereas it's currently four hours before the game and one hour after). That way traffic could be staggered, especially for coming to the game. In addition, it could be used as a perk for buying a season ticket.

[Berkman]

I was never directed to any specific parking spot in the yellow lot. The problem I had was getting to it. They put all that stuff in the road from the softball stadium to the north entrance of the yellow lot. So you had to go down MA Ave ? take a right toward the stadium, then a right back north and then a left into the yellow parking lot. I talked to a bunch of people and they said that it was the campus police dept. that control the traffic and they made these directions to get to the yellow parking lot. They should have some of their officers try doing that and we would see how fast they change that.

So I suggested that they go and make a road, even if it was not paved, from the road that goes past the track complex on the west side of the stadium to the yellow parking lot and have the traffic enter the yellow lot that way. It could come in next to Gladchuck ? field.Too simple of a solution to be considered. Of course now that I am living in NC that won't be a problem for me anymore unless of course I do actually come back to MA to go to the Kent St. game on Oct 17th.

[MJatUM]

All the lots I've parked in for Patriots games have had parking lot attendants directing you into a specific spot. Is the easiest and most efficient way to fill the lot.

If you're not going to go to a game because you can't park directly next to people you are meeting there then you've got some issues. Unless you actually have issues, in which case I believe you can be accommodated with a closer spot to the stadium.

There are always going to be traffic issues with NO real roads to the stadium. Rte 9 is worse than Rte 1 getting out of Gillette. Less people attending = less traffic, more people attending = more traffic. The knife cuts both ways folks!

[Berkman]

There are always going to be traffic issues with NO real roads to the stadium. Rte 9 is worse than Rte 1 getting out of Gillette. Less people attending = less traffic, more people attending = more traffic. The knife cuts both ways folks!

Fortunately for me when I was going to the games, since 1965, I would take RT 119 all the way to UMass. I have suggested to anyone who would listen that comes up from the south on I 91 or takes the MA pike to I 91 to NOT get off on the RT 9 exit but drive further up I 91 and get off at the Whatley exit like if you were going to Yankee Candle. Then take RT 116 to the campus. It is a few miles longer but a heck of a lot less traffic problems. Return the same way and you don't get involved with the RT 9 traffic mess.

The only traffic problems are when you get to the campus even when I get there at least an hour before game time.

[UMass02]

If you're not going to go to a game because you can't park directly next to people you are meeting there then you've got some issues. Unless you actually have issues, in which case I believe you can be accommodated with a closer spot to the stadium.

Try organizing a tailgate. Would you like to carry my supplies across the lot because I was running late and couldn't park near my friends?

[Old Cage]

because I was running late

This from the absolutely very first guy to show up at McGuirk yellow lot on game day.

[njumass08]

^ I think I usually win the title for first in the yellow lot. Or tie with IV.

[rsox1221]

Last year for HC there was no direction to a specific spot, but as has been said, there is so much shit in the way of getting to yellow lot it's a hassle. I long for the days when we could park on the grass, that was a tailgate.

They could always start with assigned spots, though that's tough to enforce. On the flipside they could charge a premium fee for it. Personally I hope they avoid that.

The best thing to do is get there early. Always will be. Meet with your tailgate partners and drive in all at once. Never any issues parking next to anyone.

[Swampy]

Fortunately for me when I was going to the games, since 1965, I would take RT 119 all the way to UMass. I have suggested to anyone who would listen that comes up from the south on I 91 or takes the MA pike to I 91 to NOT get off on the RT 9 exit but drive further up I 91 and get off at the Whatley exit like if you were going to Yankee Candle. Then take RT 116 to the campus. It is a few miles longer but a heck of a lot less traffic problems. Return the same way and you don't get involved with the RT 9 traffic mess.

Hey, don't be sending more people (cars) through the center of Sunderland. If they're not going to stop at the Corner Store, Dimo's, Blue Heron, The Bridgeside, Frontier Pizza, The O's or Bub's we don't need the extra traffic. Of course, if they're going to stock up at Billy's and Bub's on their way to tailgating then that's ok.

[UMass02]

This from the absolutely very first guy to show up at McGuirk yellow lot on game day.

Argh! Can't do that anymore!

Our tailgate group usually meets up together and goes in together, though there are times when one of us is running late and it becomes a hassle.

The traffic situation at McGuirk is something that needs to be addressed. I know they won't find anything perfect trying to get 17K in and out of there, but there needs to be an improvement in traffic control over what I saw last season. I still think staggered arrivals and departures for tailgating will help.

[MJatUM]

Try organizing a tailgate. Would you like to carry my supplies across the lot because I was running late and couldn't park near my friends?

It sucks for sure but that's just the way you fill a parking lot for any well attended event. You can't have people dodging cars that are hunting for parking spots and driving freely through people playing catch with a ball or playing baggo or whatever. As many have stated I don't recall there being anybody directing us to a specific spot in the yellow lot. I always meet up with people at Gillette and unless you're behind them pulling in, you're not going to be able to park next to them. It's just how it's done.