Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium: Guide for Visiting Fans

There's no commuter rail to Amherst, and no subway — you're in the Pioneer Valley, which runs on buses and cars. The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) provides bus service throughout the area , and UMass Transit operates fare-free PVTA buses in the Amherst area . PVTA bus routes B43, 31, and 32 serve the McGuirk Stadium area , stopping at various points on campus within a manageable walk of the stadium. Check the PVTA app or Transit app for real-time tracking on game days, as schedules can vary.

Driving is the dominant mode here. The stadium is easily accessed via I-91 — take Exit 19 for Amherst/Route 9 east, then follow University Drive north. The nearest major airport is Bradley International (BDL) , which sits about 45 minutes south in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. Boston Logan (BOS) is roughly 95 miles east — plan on 1.5–2 hours depending on game-day traffic on the Mass Pike. Springfield-Branford Westover Airport handles some regional traffic but has limited commercial service.

UMass has partnered with Uber and Lyft for rideshare, and a dedicated rideshare drop-off and pickup zone near the South Stadium Loop provides convenient access on game days. Ride prices from downtown Amherst (about 1.5 miles) are usually $10–15 each way outside of surge.

Massachusetts Athletics has partnered with JustPark to manage gameday parking, and all parking passes are now issued in digital format, saveable to a mobile wallet. Buy early — this is not a situation where you want to wing it.

Single-game parking passes are available for Lot 22, Lot 33, Lot 14 (RV Lot), or the ADA Lot. During the 2025 season, single-game parking was $17 when purchased in advance and $27 on gameday. Fans who arrive without a pre-purchased pass may be directed to Lot 22 or Lot 33, where admission runs $27 on gameday (card only).

Lots 22 and 33 are popular for general tailgating and are a reasonable 10–15 minute walk to the gates. Season ticket holders with passes for Lot 11 and Stadium Drive get early tailgate access — up to 4.5 hours before kickoff. For big games like Family Weekend, traditional football parking lots surrounding McGuirk can reach full capacity, pushing fans to overflow lots like 26, 31, and 68 , which are free but require a shuttle ride. On gamedays, University Drive operates one-way northbound, and Fearing Street is closed from University Drive to Sunset — know this before you start improvising your approach.

There's no hotel walking distance to the stadium itself, so pick your base wisely. Downtown Amherst is your best bet — it's about a 1.5-mile rideshare or a 25-minute walk, and it puts you in the thick of the pre- and post-game restaurant and bar scene on North Pleasant Street. The Hotel UMass (right on campus, on Commonwealth Avenue) is the most convenient option if you want to be immersed in the college atmosphere — it's about a mile from the stadium and books fast on football weekends, especially Family Weekend in October. Northampton, about 9 miles west on Route 9, is a genuinely excellent food and nightlife town and a solid alternative if Amherst hotels are sold out or price-gouging for the game. Expect Amherst-area hotels to run $150–250 on a home game night; book weeks in advance for rivalry games or when UMass hosts a name-brand opponent.

Amherst Public House — The go-to gameday spot in the immediate area. "Right down the road from UMass," per its own general manager , it gets loud and packed when the Minutemen play. Expect a wait if you roll in without a reservation on a Saturday.

The Spoke — A casual bar built for a good night out , and the kind of place that fills with a nice mix of students, faculty, and visiting fans. No pretension, good beer list, solid crowd.

Antonio's Pizza — Famous for creative and unconventional pizza toppings, Antonio's is essentially a rite of passage in Amherst. The Potato Bacon slice is the one to get, and it's ideal for a quick meal before or after the game. Slices are enormous and cheap — perfect for the budget-conscious away fan.

Johnny's Tavern — The kitchen there takes gamedays seriously, and the chef notes that UMass weekends "definitely bring in outside families and locals" — it gets busier than a normal Saturday but stays genuinely welcoming. Good for a sit-down meal without the pure chaos of a younger bar.

McGuirk Alumni Stadium gates open 90 minutes prior to kickoff. Starting with the 2026-27 athletic season, all athletic events at McGuirk Alumni Stadium will require a clear bag. The standing policy per official UMass gameday guides: all bags are searched upon entry, and bags larger than 14"×14"×6" as well as backpacks are not permitted.

Fans are not permitted to bring cans, bottles, coolers, or alcohol into the stadium. ATMs are located at the Southwest Horseshoe, adjacent to the Mullins Center Box Office on Commonwealth Ave., and at the Big Y Shopping Plaza on University Drive — but there are no ATMs at McGuirk Alumni Stadium itself , so withdraw cash beforehand if you need it.

The main entrance is on the east side. The plaza on the east side behind the ticket gates, called MinuteFan Park, hosts food and souvenir vendors and other exhibitors on game days — arrive with time to explore it. Away fans are mixed throughout the stadium with no formal designated section, so pick your seats strategically (see below).

Single-game ADA Lot parking passes are $17 in advance and $27 (card only) on gameday. ADA accessible seating is available in sections 5–7 and 15. ADA restrooms are located behind sections 10 and 20, and in the South Building at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The stadium welcomes certified service animals, and guests requiring service animals are encouraged to contact UMass Athletics as early as possible for potential seating relocation. Contact the UMass Ticket office at umasstickets@admin.umass.edu or 1-866-UMASS-TIX for specific accessibility needs and accommodations. The raised concrete design of the stadium — lowest seats are more than 12 feet off the ground — means ramps and accessible routes are important to plan ahead; call ahead if mobility is a concern.

The stadium is a simple structure with two single-level seating decks on both sides of the field. There is no formal designated away section — visiting fans are integrated throughout, so buy wherever your price point lands and you'll find pockets of your own supporters scattered around.

The seating layout divides into East Side, West Side, North End Zone, and South End Zone. The East Side offers premium seating with chair-back seats, while the West Side provides a more traditional bench-seating experience. For away fans looking to cluster together and have a good time, the south end zone is your friend — it's less densely packed with the home faithful and gives you a straight-on view of one of the two scoring zones. Avoid the student section (north end zone area) if you want a quieter experience; that's where the noise concentrates.

Seating options range from general admission bench seating to select chair-backs along the sidelines, with accessible spots positioned for easy entry. Midfield on either side gives you the best sightlines on the AstroTurf field, which plays fast — UMass games often feature offensive fireworks, so elevation matters less than a clear diagonal view of the full field.

UMass updated its concessions strategy for 2025 based on fan feedback, adding the UMass Bakeshop near Section 6 (grab-and-go beverages, pretzels, and sweets at midfield) and a new Home Dogs stand near Section 4 serving loaded grilled hot dogs. Baby Berk Food Trucks on the concourse serve burgers, quesadillas, fries, and beverages including beer and seltzers. Expect to pay roughly $10–13 for a beer and $7–10 for a hot dog or basic food item. Alcoholic beverages are sold inside the stadium through UMass Auxiliary Services , and you'll need to show ID every single time you buy — no wristbands here.

McGuirk is genuinely one of the more hospitable stadiums in FBS for away fans, partly because the home crowds — while passionate — rarely push past 14,000 even for decent matchups. The most recent sellout was in September 2014 , which tells you everything you need to know about the attendance reality. That doesn't mean the atmosphere is dead — the student section makes real noise, especially in the north end zone, and the "Power and Class of New England" marching band is legitimately good. What you won't encounter is the kind of suffocating hostility you'd feel walking into Happy Valley or Death Valley. The one thing that catches away fans off guard: the raised concrete design puts even the lowest seats well above field level , which means the stadium looks and sounds fuller than the announced crowd because sound bounces up rather than out. Bring layers — October evenings in the Pioneer Valley get cold fast, and this bowl funnels wind something fierce.

Driving: University Drive runs one-way northbound on gamedays , so plan your exit accordingly. Lots 22 and 33 — the main general-admission lots — empty more slowly than the premium lots closer to the stadium. If you're in one of those lots, wait 20–25 minutes after the final whistle before attempting to move. You'll reach moving traffic on Route 9 or I-91 within about 20–30 minutes if you're patient; the campus road network is the bottleneck, not the highway.

Transit: PVTA buses return to regular schedule post-game and don't run special event service the way a major-market system might. Head to the nearest campus bus stop and expect some wait — 10–20 minutes is realistic. Routes 31 and B43 will get you back toward downtown Amherst and connecting points.

Rideshare: The designated rideshare pickup zone is near the South Stadium Loop — walk there rather than trying to get picked up on Stadium Drive, where traffic is gridlocked. Surge pricing is real immediately after the game, especially for big matchups; waiting 15 minutes in the MinuteFan Park plaza area while surge cools down will often save you $8–12. The opinionated tip: if you're staying in downtown Amherst, just walk it. The 1.5-mile stroll along campus on a cool fall night, with the post-game buzz still going, beats sitting in parking lot traffic by a mile.

What's the best way to get to McGuirk without a car?

PVTA bus routes B43, 31, and 32 serve the stadium area. From downtown Amherst, a rideshare is $10–15 and takes about 5 minutes. Walking from central campus takes about 15–20 minutes.

What is the McGuirk Alumni Stadium bag policy?

All bags are searched upon entry, and bags larger than 14"×14"×6" as well as backpacks are not permitted. A clear bag policy takes effect starting with the 2026-27 athletic season.

How much does gameday parking cost at McGuirk?

During the 2025 season, single-game parking was $17 when purchased in advance and $27 on gameday. Buy your pass online before the game — walk-up prices are significantly higher.

What are the best seats for away fans? There is no designated away section. The south end zone and lower sideline sections on either side give you good sightlines and a more mixed crowd. The East Side offers chair-back seats for a premium experience; the West Side has bench seating.

What time do gates open?

McGuirk Alumni Stadium gates open 90 minutes prior to kickoff.

Is there an ATM inside the stadium?

No — there are no ATMs at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The nearest ATMs are at the Southwest Horseshoe adjacent to the Mullins Center and at the Big Y Shopping Plaza on University Drive. Bring a card or withdraw cash before you arrive.

What's the nearest airport?

The nearest major airport is Bradley International (BDL) in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, about 45 minutes south. Boston Logan (BOS) is roughly 95 miles east, about 1.5–2 hours by car.

Can I bring food or drinks into the stadium?

Fans are not permitted to bring cans, bottles, coolers, or alcohol into the stadium. Outside food in non-container form is generally permissible but confirm on the official UMass Athletics gameday guide before you pack a picnic.