Massachusetts Athletics Football Gameday Updates

AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Athletics Department has announced a series of gameday updates for the 2025 football season at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.

Massachusetts Football returns on August 30 to open the 2025 season at McGuirk Alumni Stadium against Temple. Tickets are available now: UMassAthletics.com/tickets.

Parking (Map)
Massachusetts Athletics has partnered with JustPark to streamline the gameday parking experience. Beginning this season, all parking passes will be issued in a digital format, allowing them to be easily saved to a mobile wallet and aligning with the department's fully digital ticketing system.

To ensure the smoothest arrival on campus, fans are strongly encouraged to secure their parking passes when purchasing game tickets. Fans who arrive without a pre-purchased pass may be directed to Lot 22/33 or the ADA Lot, where admission will be available for $27 on gameday (card only).

Digital parking passes are fully transferable through each fan's online ticket account, providing added flexibility.

To keep traffic flowing efficiently, Massachusetts Athletics encourages fans to have their pass ready to be scanned upon arrival.

Game Day 101 | Tickets | Script U Scholarship Society

Student Tailgating
Lot 11 will serve as the exclusive student tailgating location for the 2025 season. Massachusetts Athletics is committed to creating a vibrant and safe gameday atmosphere for students to gather, celebrate and show their collective pride prior to kickoff.

Students who wish to park in Lot 11 may purchase a parking pass for $10 at the Mullins Center Box Office beginning two days prior to each game. A valid UCard and license plate information are required. Passes are digital, non-transferable and tied to the student purchaser. All students, not just those with parking passes, are encouraged to join the Lot 11 tailgate experience and to bring their friends.

Student parking passes are only available for Lot 11 and students will be turned away if they attempt to park in other lots. Student vehicles must enter Lot 11 between 4 and 2.5 hours prior to kickoff. Pass holders not arriving in the 90-minute window will not be admitted. Student tailgating will officially open four hours prior to kickoff and will close at game time. Vehicles cannot exit until halftime and must be removed within two hours after the game.

ADA Accommodations
Single-game ADA Lot parking passes are $17 in advance and $27 (card only) on game day. ADA accessible seating is available in sections 5-7 and 15. ADA restrooms are located behind section 10, section 20, and in the South Building at McGuire Alumni Stadium. Please contact the UMass Ticket office (1-866-UMASS-TIX or umasstickets@admin.umass.edu) for more details.

Concessions
Fan feedback from last season was instrumental in shaping an updated concessions strategy for 2025 with a focus on variety, quicker service, better wayfinding and improved access to gameday classics.

On the west side of the stadium, the UMass Bakeshop (Section 6) debuts with quick grab-and-go favorites like beverages, pretzels and sweets, ensuring fans seated at midfield don't have to go far for a drink and snack. The new Home Dogs stand (Section 4) will serve loaded grilled hot dogs, chips and beverages. Concessions also remain available at Section 3 with Minute Wings, featuring boneless chicken wings, fries, beer, wine and popcorn.

The Barracks, introduced last season, returns in 2025 and expands with relocated favorites Baby Berk and Batch Ice Cream, along with the addition of Cutwater Spirits. The Barracks will serve burgers, hot dogs, fried chicken sandwiches, boneless wings, fries, beer, wine, cocktails and more. New picnic tables, pub table tops and the return of a drink rail lounge will make the south endzone a festive place to gather.

The popular Berkshire BBQ (Section 10) returns with a rotating cookout-style menu. It will be available for all fans to purchase on gameday while remaining part of meal plans for students to use with their UCard. Season ticket members also receive a 50 percent discount when purchasing in advance of gameday.

The Massachusetts Thruway (Sections 15 and 16) will welcome fans with gameday classics including popcorn, candy, beer and ice cream. Two new stands also debut along the east sideline: Deli Delish (cheesesteaks, gourmet Italian, beer, wine) and Dogs & Dough (hot dogs, fried dough, lemonade and Driscoll's chocolate-drizzled strawberries).

Fan Experience Enhancements
Fan feedback from the 2024 season also played a key role in shaping modifications and enhancements to the gameday experience for 2025.

Minuteman March
The Minuteman March will occur 2 hours and 10 minutes prior to kickoff for each home game

Smoother Arrival and Departure
UMass has teamed up with Uber, Lyft, Waze and Google. A new rideshare drop-off and pickup zone near the South Stadium Loop will provide convenient access, while updated traffic maps and parking lot directions ensure fans arrive with ease.

Board Show Enhancements
Fans can expect more replays, upgraded graphics and new fan cams. Plus, new interactive videoboard features will be brought to life through a partnership with Tagboard, an industry leader in sports entertainment.

Stadium Audio
One of the most frequently mentioned areas of fan feedback was inconsistent stadium audio. Levels have been thoroughly tested across the stadium and will be carefully monitored each game day, creating a crisp, balanced sound that lets fans enjoy the music, hear the announcer clearly and feel the energy without being overwhelmed. UMass has partnered with 7 Point Audio to help fine-tune music and announcements in the stadium and provide a more balanced gameday sound.

In-Venue Emcee
A familiar presence at Mullins Center, Emma Ryan joins the football gameday team as emcee, bringing energy, excitement and fun to promotions while helping spotlight fan amenities.

Fun for Families
Younger fans will have plenty to cheer about this fall. Youth Day on Sept. 6 will showcase inflatables, face painters, balloon artists and more, with additional family-friendly activities planned for select games throughout the season.

Entering MACtion with a Bang
The final two home games, part of the Minutemen's first midweek MACtion slate, will feature fireworks and flame effects that light up McGuirk and bring extra electricity to the closing stretch of the season.

Direct-to-Fan Updates
Through an expanded partnership with Vozzi, fans will receive exclusive ticket offers, special promotions, and unique experiences right on their phones. Signing up is easy — just text 'UMASS' to 833-362-1739.

Scoreboard

University of Massachusets Athletics

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