UMass Athletics Announces Fan Experience Elements, Updates For 2019 Football Season

AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts football will begin its six-game home slate at McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Sat., Sept. 7 against Southern Illinois at 3:30 p.m. Before the first home game of the 2019 season, UMass Athletics will introduce fans to a number of experiential updates surrounding gameday at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The information below details the introductions and updates to existing experiences.

MINUTEMAN MARCH

The Minuteman March will now begin at the Northwest corner of the Bernie Dallas Mall.
The team will arrive two hours, 10 minutes prior to kickoff at each of the six home games.
Fans are asked to line the walkway from Bernie Dallas Mall to the FPC to support the team as it arrives on gameday.
A diagram of the new Minuteman March route is available here

FAN ACTIVITIES TENT

UMass Athletics returns its fan activities tent with a variety of events geared toward all age groups. Those activities will include:
- The Happy Face Painter
- Bounce House
- Sam the Minuteman coloring sheet
- Poster-making station
- Temporary tattoo station
- UMass Athletics student-athlete meet & greet (participating teams/individuals to be announced ahead of each home game)
- Photo station with Sam the Minuteman
- Opportunities to win UMass-branded prizes, including pens, keychains, keytags, cell phone wallets, stadium cups, car magnets, vehicle decals and more

PREGAME CROWD-SOURCED SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

Fans can contribute song suggestions to a Spotify playlist that will be used during pregame warmups at each of the six home games.
Limit of five song suggestions per fan.
The playlist will be in-use on shuffle during all pregame activities while UMass is not warming up on the field.
Contribute song ideas via Spotify here

COMMONWEALTH CLUB – SOUTH ENDZONE PAVILION

The Commonwealth Club has moved inside the stadium and will have a permanent presence beyond the South endzone at McGuirk Alumni Stadium
Season passes have sold out for the 2019 season; however, a limited number of individual passes for each gameday will be sold beginning with the Sat., Sept. 21 contest against Coastal Carolina
Food and beverage will be available for purchase within the Commonwealth Club, a space which offers fans a unique, field-level view of the action.
For more information on the Commonwealth Club, contact the UMass Athletics Tickets Office at 1-866-UMASS-TIX

STADIUM IMPROVEMENTS

UMass Athletics will debut its new, state-of-the-art videoboard and sound system as well as the Commonwealth Club with the Sat., Sept. 7 game against Southern Illinois.
Fans will also see the addition of the North endzone's auxiliary scoreboard for the first time on Sat., Sept. 7 against Southern Illinois.
The restroom facilities on the Northeast and Northwest sides of the stadium will not be completed or available for the Sept. 7 home game against Southern Illinois. The project team is working to complete the restroom facilities as quickly as possible for use at future games this season.

GAMEDAY PROMOTIONS

Sat., Sept. 7 • Southern Illinois • 3:30 p.m. • Valley Tally
Giveaway Item: UMass-themed mini-cowbells (limited number available; first-come, first-served)

UMass will celebrate all of the great businesses in our area when the first annual Valley Tally game encourages local businesses and restaurants to display their UMass pride, and come out to the game.
Game programming will include announcements surrounding businesses in attendance, and all that they offer to the community.
UMass Athletics will also host a school supply drive to benefit Holyoke Public Schools during the day. Fans are encouraged to bring items and drop them off at the Fan Experience Tent prior to entering the stadium.

Sat., Sept. 21 • Coastal Carolina • 3:30 p.m. • Youth Sports Day & International Students Day
Giveaway Item: Youth goody bags (limited number available; first-come, first-served)

UMass encourages all youth sports teams to come out to McGuirk Alumni Stadium for our annual youth day. A full kids carnival will be set up on gameday for all kids to enjoy free of charge
Additionally, International Students Day will celebrate the varying cultures of students at the University of Massachusetts. The entire international programs office on UMass' will be in attendance for the game.

Sat., Sept. 28 • Akron • 1 p.m. • Hall of Fame Game & Flagship Families Day

The four UMass Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2019 honorees and their families, friends and former teammates will be in attendance following the morning induction ceremony.
Former UMass Athletics Hall of Fame inductees will also return to participate in the day's celebration.
Flagship Family Day includes two tickets to the game against Akron, with more available for purchase at a discounted rate. The Flagship Family ticket package includes one adult ticket and one youth ticket.

Sat., Oct. 26 • UConn • 3:30 p.m. • Homecoming
Giveaway Item: Chancellor Subbaswamy Bobblehead Doll

UMass invites all alumni back to Amherst for the 2019 Homecoming Weekend.
Fans currently have the opportunity to purchase tickets to hockey or basketball games
The Homecoming ticket package includes tickets to Friday's hockey game, Saturday's football game and parking for the football contest. Parking in the lots available near the Mullins Center continues to be free of charge.

Sat., Nov. 2 • Liberty • Noon • Band Day & Hometown Heroes Day

High school bands from across New England will be in attendance to participate in the once-per-year tradition of completing a halftime performance in conjunction with the marching band.
Discounted tickets will be available for those who have served or who continue to serve their respective communities.

Sat., Nov. 23 • BYU • Noon • Senior Day

UMass football will celebrate the Class of 2019 prior to the game

Single game, season, group and homecoming ticket packages for the 2019 UMass football season are available currently. Season tickets are available for $120 per ticket while individual group ticket discounts for 10 or more are also available. UMass Athletics is also offering a Homecoming weekend ticket package, which features admission to UMass hockey against AIC on Friday evening and UMass football vs. UConn on Saturday, along with a parking pass for football (parking at hockey is complimentary) for $35.

Follow University of Massachusetts football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).

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UMass Athletics Announces Fan Experience Elements, Updates For 2019 Football Season

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