Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium

McGuirk stands at 300 Stadium Drive, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003. Most regional drivers approach from Interstate 91 Exit 19 via Route 9, then use the campus approach printed on the pass. University Drive may operate one-way northbound, and Fearing Street may close between University Drive and Sunset Avenue.

Driving & Parking

• Lots 22 and 33
  These are the principal single-game public choices. They operate as separate lots in 2026 rather than one combined area, so use the exact digital pass and entrance issued for the game.
• Lot 11 and Stadium Drive
  The closest inventory serves donors, designated season patrons and student-tailgate operations. In 2026, eligible season members in Lot 11 and on Stadium Drive receive access four and a half hours before kickoff—30 minutes earlier than general patrons.
• Lot 14
  This is the designated RV lot. Buy the correct RV product rather than trying to place an oversized vehicle in a standard space.
• Accessible parking
  A dedicated ADA Lot offers single-game passes. Accessible seating is available in Sections 5–7 and 15, with accessible restrooms behind Sections 10 and 20 and in the South Building.
• Digital passes
  UMass parking is mobile and transferable through the ticket account. Download it to the phone wallet before reaching the scanner; 2026 single-game pricing is announced separately and should not be inferred from 2025 rates.

Public Transit

• PVTA campus service
  The regional system's campus network includes stops identified as McGuirk Stadium/Lot 11, and Routes 34 and 35 have served the stadium area. These services can reduce the walk from central campus.
• Verify the operating day
  UMass Transit schedules vary by semester, weekday, weekend and academic break. A route appearing on a campus map does not guarantee a postgame trip after a night kickoff.
• Regional connections
  PVTA routes link Amherst with Northampton, Holyoke and other Pioneer Valley communities, but most longer-distance travelers will need a transfer before reaching campus.
• Walking from central campus
  McGuirk sits southwest of the academic core. The walk is manageable for mobile visitors, but leave time to cross busy University Drive and use staffed routes when traffic control is active.

Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)

• UMass introduced a designated football pickup and drop-off zone near the South Stadium Loop. Use that pin rather than Lot 11 or a random point on Stadium Drive.
• The university coordinates event directions with Uber, Lyft, Waze and Google, but police control supersedes the app as one-way operations begin.
• After the game, walk fully to the South Stadium Loop zone before ordering. University Drive congestion can delay drivers, and moving the pin repeatedly makes the match harder.

McGuirk's lots normally open four hours before kickoff, while certain season-ticket locations receive the additional 30-minute window. The most visible student gathering occupies Lot 11, and the traditional Minuteman March brings the team, band and spirit groups toward the stadium two hours and ten minutes before kickoff. Gates open 90 minutes out.

Tailgating

• Lot 11 student tailgate
  This is the exclusive student-tailgating area. All students may join, but vehicles require the current student product and must arrive within the announced entry window; the lot closes its tailgate at kickoff.
• Lots 22 and 33
  Public patrons can tailgate in these assigned areas beginning four hours before the game. Their separation in 2026 makes it important to meet friends in the same lot before reaching campus.
• One vehicle, one space
  Parking spaces are for vehicles, not extra tents or games. Use the grass immediately in front of or behind the vehicle while preserving drive aisles and emergency access.
• Responsible setup
  Kegs, glass containers, drinking games and amplified DJ-style systems are prohibited. Alcohol consumption begins only when the lots open, and UMass is a smoke-free campus.
• After the game
  Lots remain open for a limited period, historically 90 minutes. Follow the directed exit pattern and any student-vehicle removal rules printed with the pass.

Pregame Bars & Restaurants

• Hangar Pub & Grill
  Just north of Route 9 on University Drive, the Hangar is the natural sports-bar choice for wings, sandwiches, craft beer and groups approaching from Hadley.
• Antonio's Pizza
  The North Pleasant Street landmark has served inventive pizza by the slice since 1991. It is quick, unmistakably Amherst and especially useful for fans staying downtown.
• Bueno y Sano
  Founded in Amherst by a UMass alumnus, this casual counter beside Antonio's specializes in burritos, tacos and quesadillas and handles a faster pregame meal well.
• Amherst downtown
  North Pleasant Street and Amherst Common sit roughly a mile away. Check posted restrictions before leaving a car there.
• UMass Dining
  Campus dining is a genuine part of the local identity. Operating hours vary on football weekends, but central-campus cafes and dining commons can help visitors combining the game with a campus tour.

• Minuteman March
  Two hours and ten minutes before kickoff, supporters line the announced Stadium Drive route near Lot 11 to welcome the team with the band, cheerleaders and Sam the Minuteman.
• Power and Class of New England
  The UMass Minuteman Marching Band supplies a huge sound for the 17,000-seat bowl. In 2026 it moves to Section 18, directing more sound toward the home sideline in Sections 1–10.
• Pregame band show
  The band's field performance faces the west, press-box side. Find a seat before the final pregame sequence rather than waiting at concessions until the team entrance.
• Sam the Minuteman
  The colonial-era mascot visits tailgates and fan areas, joins the team arrival and leads maroon-and-white crowd prompts inside.
• Postgame alma mater and show
  Win or lose, the band traditionally performs after the game and joins fans for “When Twilight Shadows Deepen.” Staying through the last note also lets the first outbound traffic wave pass.
• Band Day
  One selected home game can bring thousands of regional high-school musicians into McGuirk for a massed halftime performance—one of the venue's most impressive annual sights.

• Warren P. McGuirk identity
  The 1984 rededication honors the dean and athletics director who led UMass athletics for 23 years and helped create the stadium.
• Martin Jacobson Football Performance Center
  The 55,000-square-foot north-end building places locker, training, meeting and coaching facilities directly behind the end zone.
• Martin and Richard Jacobson Press & Skybox Complex
  The west-side structure houses broadcasters, coaches, media, game operations and hospitality while marking the home-sideline side.
• South-end field-level plaza
  The open hospitality and concession area allows fans to gather near field level instead of remaining in a conventional concourse.

History & Notable Moments

• First game (1965)
  Massachusetts defeated American International 41–0 on September 25, three weeks before the formal dedication victory over Rhode Island.
• Boston College record crowd (1972)
  A venue-record 20,000 watched UMass beat Boston College 28–7 on November 25.
• NCAA women's soccer championship (1987)
  McGuirk hosted the national championship, illustrating the building's adaptability beyond football.
• FCS playoff classic (2006)
  A 17,000-person sellout watched UMass defeat rival New Hampshire 24–17 in the national quarterfinals during a perfect 8–0 home season.
• FBS return to Amherst (2014)
  A sellout against Bowling Green marked the first on-campus home game of UMass's FBS era after the program's initial Gillette Stadium arrangement.
• Fan-experience renovation (2019)
  A new video board and sound system joined the south-end hospitality plaza, restrooms and accessibility work.

McGuirk consists chiefly of east and west grandstands along the sidelines, with open gathering and facility space at the ends. The compact design produces good proximity throughout, but most seats are metal bleachers exposed to the weather. The west side is the home and press-box side; the band performs toward it at halftime. Gates open 90 minutes before kickoff, and there is no reentry once a ticket is scanned.

• Home sideline, Sections 1–10
  West-side seats face the band's halftime performance and place fans behind the Massachusetts bench. Central sections offer the most balanced view.
• East sideline
  Opposite-side seats can provide strong value and a direct view of the home grandstand. Afternoon sun and wind direction vary, so dress in layers rather than relying on shade.
• Student sections
  Student seating has historically occupied Sections 9, 10 and 18–20. In 2026 the band moves into Section 18, so verify the current student map before choosing a neighboring public seat.
• Section 18 band area
  The new 2026 in-game home of the Minuteman Marching Band is ideal for maximum atmosphere and less suitable for anyone seeking quiet conversation.
• Accessible sections
  Sections 5–7 and 15 provide accessible inventory. Contact the ticket office in advance, especially when companion seats or mobility assistance are needed.
• Jim and Ellen Hunt Hospitality Suite
  Inside the north-end performance center, this donor space overlooks the field from an outdoor balcony and includes catered food, snacks, televisions and a cash bar.
• Seat cushions
  Cushions must be less than 18 inches wide, and stadium-style seats cannot have arms. Most of the bowl is uncovered, so bring permitted rainwear rather than an umbrella.

UMass Dining runs a more ambitious program than the building's size suggests. The operation combines permanent stands, branded concepts, food trucks and a south-end social space. Locations can evolve by season, but the 2025 overhaul supplies the current baseline. Alcohol purchasers must show valid identification with each transaction, and outside food, beverages, cans, bottles and coolers are prohibited.

• Massachusetts Thruway (Sections 15 and 16)
  The main east-side entry doubles as a concession experience with popcorn, candy, beer, ice cream and other quick game-day items.
• The Barracks
  The south-end field-level zone combines burgers, hot dogs, fried chicken sandwiches, boneless wings and fries with beer, wine and cocktails, plus picnic tables and a drink rail.
• Berkshire BBQ (Section 10)
  This popular UMass Dining stand serves a rotating cookout-style menu. Students may use eligible UCards, and season members can purchase a discounted advance barbecue product.
• Minute Wings (Section 3)
  Boneless wings, fries, popcorn and alcoholic beverages make this a substantial west-side stop.
• Deli Delish and Dogs & Dough
  The east sideline adds cheesesteaks and Italian sandwiches at one concept, and hot dogs, fried dough, lemonade and chocolate-drizzled strawberries at the other.
• Baby Berk and Batch Ice Cream
  UMass Dining's mobile brands rotate through the south-end Barracks area with burgers, quesadillas, fries and frozen treats.

• Beginning with the 2026–27 athletic season, McGuirk uses a clear-bag policy. A clear plastic bag may be no larger than 14 by 6 by 14 inches.
• A one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag is also approved. Clear does not include patterned plastic or mesh.
• One small non-clear clutch, with or without a shoulder strap, may be no larger than 5 by 8 inches.
• Diaper bags are specifically approved under the published policy. All bags, including exceptions, are subject to visual inspection before entry.
• Ordinary purses, backpacks, drawstring bags, grocery bags, oversized totes, patterned plastic bags, fanny packs and mesh bags are prohibited.
• The prior non-backpack allowance is obsolete. Pack to the new dimensions, leave umbrellas and outside food or drink behind and remember that McGuirk does not permit reentry.