The new Football Performance Center and press box addition at the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s McGurik Stadium were key in supporting the university’s move up to the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.
The Football Performance Center includes an entry lobby and hall of fame, a strength and conditioning center, a sports medicine facility, locker rooms, an equipment room, an administration and coaches’ office suite, as well as a large multipurpose room, which functions as a players’ lounge, academic center, recruiting room and hospitality room on gamedays. The room offers expansive views of the field and stadium, and opens to an entertainment terrace for an enhanced gameday experience. A 130-seat auditorium is divisible for separate offensive and defensive team meetings.
The new press box addition replaces the original undersized and outdated facility built in 1964. It includes three suites — a president’s suite, a home team suite and a visiting team suite — used for entertaining guests for sporting events and other university functions. In addition, the press box contains areas for TV and radio talent, gameday operations, home and visiting coaches, instant replay and a 50-seat writers area.
