Quote:The stadium improvements project will include a state of the art video board and auxiliary board. The video board will replace the existing structure in the south end zone and the auxiliary board will be located on the far-right corner the Martin Jacobson Football Performance Center. The system will also feature an enhanced audio speaker system replacing the previous units and providing a better overall fan experience.

Paul '87 and David Manganaro made a $500,000 gift in December to support the video board that will be 48-feet wide by 20.4-feet high. UMass has again partnered with Daktronics, the leader in videoboard technology, to bring this significant upgrade to the in-stadium atmosphere on game days.

This will be the second project between the University and Daktronics after the new end wall and centerhung system was installed in the Mullins Center prior to the fall of 2017.

A new hospitality plaza will be created in the South End Zone as well offering the opportunity to enjoy the game from field level with food and beverage options available in that location. This addition will now give fans and donors two exciting, premium vantage points to watch UMass football between the plaza and the Hunt Hospitality Suite and Balcony in the North End Zone.

The initially announced air-supported bubble has been enhanced to be an entirely separate turf field practice space which will have a seasonal dome. The 240-foot wide by 400-foot long turf facility will offer an expanded space for teams to practice while the seasonal, air-supported dome will provide the ability to work indoors during inclement weather and during the winter seasons.

The practice field will be placed parallel to McGuirk Stadium behind the Martin and Richard Jacobson Press and Skybox Complex. A generous $5.58 million gift from Martin Jacobson this past June was a key component to the facility project which will benefit the entire athletics department, its student-athletes, club sports and intramural sports.

"This project will have a long-term positive impact on our athletic department, fans who visit McGuirk Alumni Stadium and UMass students," said Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford. "The South End Zone project will give us some terrific entertainment space and the new HD videoboard and sound system will enhance the fan experience inside McGuirk. We are also thrilled with the new indoor turf facility and know it will give our sport programs and student body training opportunities during the winter months."

Further enhancements to the fan experience include the addition of new restrooms to both the East and West sides of the stadium along with several ADA enhancements in the stands and surrounding areas.

By the start of the 2019 football season, the McGuirk Stadium enhancements (turf field, videoboard, south hospitality plaza, restrooms and ADA upgrades) will be complete. The bubble over the new turf practice field will be installed in November 2019.