A seasonal, air-supported indoor facility to support UMass’s entire athletic department is complete and operational for team-use.
The completion of the 96,000-square-foot field and structure was made possible thanks in large part to a generous $5.58 million donation from Marty Jacobson, class of 1968, which served as the key component to the facility project.
The new turf practice field, built behind McGuirk Alumni Stadium’s west bleachers, serves to benefit UMass’s entire athletic department and its student-athletes, along with intramural and club sports. The indoor structure, built over the field, provides the athletic department and campus recreation the ability to work indoors during inclement weather and winter seasons. The air supported “bubble” holds form thanks to the use of internally pressurized air, which inflates the material structure.
The completion of the project is part of a larger effort of enhancements to McGuirk Alumni Stadium that include new restrooms, ADA upgrades, a new state of the art video and auxiliary board, and a new hospitality plaza behind the south end zone, all of which opened in the fall of 2019.
Jacobson and his brother Richard previously donated $2.5 million in 2013 to construct the new press box at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. That structure is named the “Martin and Richard Jacobson Football Press and Skybox Complex” in their honor.
The football team will play all 2020 home games at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.
The home schedule is as follows:
Saturday, Sept. 12 vs. Troy
Saturday, Sept. 19 vs. UAlbany
Saturday, Oct. 10 vs. Temple
Saturday, Oct. 24 vs. FIU
Saturday, Nov. 7 vs. New Mexico State
Saturday, Nov. 21 vs. Army West Point
All times will be announced at a later date.