Going to Umass game, have some questions, never gone to a game. | The Boneyard

Going to Umass game, have some questions, never gone to a game.

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Scoe

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I have been to Amherst for basketball and hockey games, but never football games. I got a few questions.

How is the drive in, the tailgating, anywhere to walk to a restaurant/ bar from the parking lot, how is the atmosphere there. How does it compare to the rent as far as stadium and the drive in and out. Appreciate any feedback.
 
Scoe said:
I have been to Amherst for basketball and hockey games, but never football games. I got a few questions.

How is the drive in, the tailgating, anywhere to walk to a restaurant/ bar from the parking lot, how is the atmosphere there. How does it compare to the rent as far as stadium and the drive in and out. Appreciate any feedback.
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Easy getting in. Tailgating is in a big parking lot. Atmosphere inside isn't anything special. Last year the stadium was like 70% empty. I think there's a bar probably like a 15 minute walk from the stadium? I think I remember driving by it last year after I went past Big Y
 
Scoe said:
I have been to Amherst for basketball and hockey games, but never football games. I got a few questions.

How is the drive in, the tailgating, anywhere to walk to a restaurant/ bar from the parking lot, how is the atmosphere there. How does it compare to the rent as far as stadium and the drive in and out. Appreciate any feedback.
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It is a dive which is kind of inexplainable because the UMass Amherst campus is a beautiful campus. Amherst has a lot going on - more than Storrs.

Here’s a tip: UMass has the best food in the country for like 8 years running. Not to far (you can walk 5 min) from the stadium they have the Berk and Hamp dining halls. You can eat there for $15.

I know a dining hall at College, how good can it be?

IMO it’s next level and better than most restaurants - it’s just a’int right how good the food is LOL
 
Driving into the campus will be super easy. Huge parking lot to tailgate. What I did last year and will do again this year is stop at the Whole Foods on the way and pick up some sandwiches or whatever you’re in the mood to eat and snack in the parking lot before the game. Very good chance you’ll be able to pick up tickets on the secondary market in the parking lot or next to the ticket office on the way in. Tickets are fairly inexpensive and probably could be had for $20 or less. inside the stadium is pretty bare bones with not much atmosphere. Good news is you’ll be able to sit pretty much wherever you would like once inside the stadium.
 
It was good by old Yankee Conference standards, made some upgrades to field, press box, scoreboard on one end, facility at other end, same capacity at 17k.
 
.-.
UMass has decent tailgating as the students go to the tailgate and not the game. Unfortunately, the students will not be there as the dorms are closed for Thanksgiving break so the campus will be quiet. Still, decent area for tailgating. Amherst has some good restaurants, but they are about 1.5 miles from the stadium. I think there is a dive bar closer to the stadium.

Stadium is pretty bare bones.

As for driving in and out, kind of like going to a Gampel game.
 
Scoe said:
I have been to Amherst for basketball and hockey games, but never football games. I got a few questions.

How is the drive in, the tailgating, anywhere to walk to a restaurant/ bar from the parking lot, how is the atmosphere there. How does it compare to the rent as far as stadium and the drive in and out. Appreciate any feedback.
Expand ...
Not sure it's still there but Rafters was a great bar for something to eat and drink before a basketball game.
Met Mark Whipple there one night when I went to see UConn and UMass. Fun guy to speak with and with his success there I always wondered why UConn didn't hire him when we had the chance........two times.
 
Amherst is nice for dinner afterwards.

McGuirk reminds me of the Sambadrome in Rio (without the scenery):

McGuirk:
magerk-jpg.104975


Sambadrome:
SDSCENE.jpg
 

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My daughter goes to UMass so I've been to a few games. Here are my recommendations:
  • Lower your expectations for every aspect of the experience. It is more like a high school stadium than FBS stadium.
  • For tailgating, buy your pass online before the game. I like lot 22.
  • The police wander around the tailgate and are not super-patient when the game starts. They REALLY urge you to go to the game.
  • The concessions inside are terrible. Full stop. They are disorganized, slow, hard to get to, and have limited options. I waited in line for 10 minutes last game and they ran out of beer.
 
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BlueandOG said:
My daughter goes to UMass so I've been to a few games. Here are my recommendations:
  • Lower your expectations for every aspect of the experience. It is more like a high school stadium than FBS stadium.
  • For tailgating, buy your pass online before the game. I like lot 22.
  • The police wander around the tailgate and are not super-patient when the game starts. They REALLY urge you to go to the game.
  • The concessions inside are terrible. Full stop. They are disorganized, slow, hard to get to, and have limited options. I waited in line for 10 minutes last game and they ran out of beer.
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Ya not suprising and definetly not expecting much. All I care about is a UConn win, I would actually rather go to to a game with a dive of a stadium then a nice luxurious stadium.

Went to a Cowboys-Giants game at Jerry's world a couple years ago, the stadium was amazing but you felt like you were a mile from the field, it didn't really feel like you were at a football game, granted was standing room only tickets.
 
When I've gone (coming from the Hartford area) I've always parked in the South Stadium Loop lot. Easy in, easy out, short walk to the gate on the visitor side. Definitely eat and try to be fairly full out in the parking lot rather than waiting in the line for the "concessions", regardless of when you go to get in line you will miss a chunk of game time with little visibility of the field. Beer lines can get long on the outside of the lot, try to time it right or get your fill of that in the lot as well.
 
Scrutineer said:
Not sure it's still there but Rafters was a great bar for something to eat and drink before a basketball game.
Met Mark Whipple there one night when I went to see UConn and UMass. Fun guy to speak with and with his success there I always wondered why UConn didn't hire him when we had the chance........two times.
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Rafters is now a dispensary. The Hangar across from there. I like it.
 
If you're of a mind to park for free with the cost being a bit of a walk (think gray lot), there's a parking lot for professional offices (insurance, etc) across the street at link below. Wasn't hassled in 3 previous trips, although past results may not be predictive
maps.app.goo.gl

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl
 
BlueandOG said:
My daughter goes to UMass so I've been to a few games. Here are my recommendations:
  • Lower your expectations for every aspect of the experience. It is more like a high school stadium than FBS stadium.
  • For tailgating, buy your pass online before the game. I like lot 22.
  • The police wander around the tailgate and are not super-patient when the game starts. They REALLY urge you to go to the game.
  • The concessions inside are terrible. Full stop. They are disorganized, slow, hard to get to, and have limited options. I waited in line for 10 minutes last game and they ran out of beer.
Expand ...
Their concessions are better than those at Gampel, so it will be considered an upgrade for some folks.

Gampel uses my childhood reading lamp to heat food up and makes me leave the venue to get beer, it does not get worse than that.
 
Scrutineer said:
Not sure it's still there but Rafters was a great bar for something to eat and drink before a basketball game.
Met Mark Whipple there one night when I went to see UConn and UMass. Fun guy to speak with and with his success there I always wondered why UConn didn't hire him when we had the chance........two times.
Expand ...
Rafters is gone unfortunately. It is now a cannibus dispensary - a sign of the times.

Walking distance from game, again the Hamp and Berk dining halls are both 5 minute walk - come early or stay late - hard to say this about a college dining hall but that food is next level! Like worth a 10 minute RT Walk.

Want to drink BYOB or head into downtown (1 mile) plenty of great bars that should be very quiet as students are gone.
 
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UCan3 said:
Walking distance from game, again the Hamp and Berk dining halls are both 5 minute walk - come early or stay late - hard to say this about a college dining hall but that food is next level! Like worth a 10 minute RT Walk.
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I believe the dining halls are closed due to the Thanksgiving break.
 
UConnJim said:
I believe the dining halls are closed due to the Thanksgiving break.
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Oh good call, Jim.

I just checked and Worcester Commons is open next Saturday which is the best dining hall on campus.

That one is not walking distance from the stadium but IMO worth making the short drive and eating there.

Every type of cuisine - top notch - treat yourself! For $15 you get a $35 type meal!

The Hamp if you get there early has a “grab and go” from 7AM - 11PM which you can walk to. Actually perfect if you’re tailgating!
 
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outlaw said:
Where can we buy the parking pass?
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If you have tickets, but no parking you'll have to call the ticket office, otherwise you should have the option to buy parking after you buy your tickets, alternatively there should be some lots that have gameday parking.
 
UCan3 said:
Rafters is gone unfortunately. It is now a cannibus dispensary - a sign of the times.
Expand ...
Massachusetts dispensarys >>> Connecticut dispensarys . worth the drive over the border if you are close enough. My friend in Bennington VT goes to North Adams for her "supplies"
 
I don’t know about this game with the school closed for bears but I ve always found UMass fans very hospitable and very passionate and this goes back decades. More students.. Much more so than UConn fans who tend to be more corporate. Partly I suppose it is location. Greater Hartford has a more corporate community than Greater Springfield. Especially north and west. But that’s just a guess.
 
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