At the Student Government Association meeting on April 8, Athletic Director Ryan Bamford outlined how that decision is expected to reshape the future of UMass athletics, from funding and facilities to on-field success.
“Why is college football so important?” Bamford asked. “It is the most important economic engine in college sports.”
As Bamford explained, moving from the A-10, a basketball-centric conference, to the football-focused MAC is projected to grow the athletics department’s revenue by three to four times by 2030. That increase is expected to fund facility renovations and improve performance across programs.
That vision did not immediately come to fruition, as the Minutemen endured a winless football season in 2025.
Bamford emphasized the impact athletics have on campus life and the student experience, saying “Other than commencement, those six football games are the highest attended campus events at UMass. The next eight are six hockey games and two men’s basketball games.”
He added that Football and ice hockey games, during homecoming weekend, each drew around 20,000 attendees, while approximately 15,000 people gathered in Lot 22 during family weekend. UMass Athletics has also brought more than 5,000 local children to football and women’s basketball games, potentially introducing future students to the university.
Bamford also noted that athletic facilities are shared with recreational and club sports participants, with no additional fees or direct university funding dedicated to maintaining those spaces.
In the 2025 fiscal year, UMass operated with a $1.8 billion budget. Of that total, $29 million was allocated to athletics, representing just 1.6% of overall spending, Bamford said. Of that athletics budget, approximately $2.1 million is directed toward football, which Bamford described as the most important economic driver in college sports.
Bamford also dived into general operating support, institutional funding and student fees, showing that UMass allocates 2.11% of its budget to athletics. Comparable schools in the MAC average 4.73%, while other successful conferences average 4.81%. UMass ranks last among MAC schools and 37 out of 40 public research universities in this category.
Of the funding allocated to athletics, football receives about 13%. At many peer institutions, such as James Madison University, football programs receive closer to one-third of total athletics funding.
Bamford also compared student fees that support athletics. The average in-state undergraduate student at UMass contributes about $459 through tuition-related fees. At the University of Connecticut, students pay more than $1,000, while students at JMU contribute roughly $3,000.
Over the past decade, UMass has invested $1.5 billion into campus projects. Only 3% of that total has gone toward athletic facilities. Bamford acknowledged the importance of academic buildings, noting they play a role in recruiting, but emphasized that athletics often must rely on self-generated revenue and private gifts to fund major projects.
“This is the highest on campus, $42 million, which is 3% of $1.5 billion, and we funded almost two thirds of the total project cost,” Bamford said. “61% came from department revenue or gifts to athletics.”
Bamford said McGuirk Alumni Stadium’s declining reputation is due to years of underfunding, pointing to its recent labeling by The Athletic as “the worst football stadium in the country.” He said the designation underscores the need for significant investment moving forward.
Bamford outlined plans for phased renovations, beginning with an approved first phase that includes accessible seating, railings in every aisle, new LED boards and upgraded speakers and subwoofers. The projected cost of phase one is $8.5 million.
Bamford also presented conceptual renderings of future upgrades, with a goal to modernize McGuirk, shed its negative reputation and create a more engaging game day environment for fans and recruits.
Alongside updates on athletics, university officials also addressed concerns about campus WiFi, particularly in high-density areas such as football and hockey games.
In a previous meeting, SGA raised concerns about campus WiFi, and found that there are many places on campus with little to no wifi. Chief Information Officer Operations Head Rachel LaRue and her team addressed these concerns at the meeting and presented updates and planned improvements.
LaRue noted that many reported connectivity issues stem from cellular limitations rather than WiFi. Providing reliable service in large venues like McGuirk and the Mullins Center remains a complex challenge the university continues to evaluate.
She said Orchard Hill, which has the weakest WiFi coverage on campus, will receive 30 additional access points per building this summer.The buildings currently have 44 access points but still experience significant dead zones.
Another initiative discussed at the meeting is a pilot program to bring wireless internet access to campus bus stops. The program will begin with several of the most frequently used stops by fall 2026, with plans to expand based on results.
“We don’t have any infrastructure that goes to bus stops currently,” Jim Mileski, the chief technology officer at UMass, said. “We don’t have what we need to get wireless at a bus stop, but that’s something that we’ve heard for the first time in the last year, and we are actively pursuing a pilot program.”
Jonathan Charlier can be reached at [email protected].
