When the UMD soccer team takes the pitch Thursday night, it will have been 103 days since any of the school’s 16 varsity programs engaged in official competition—103 nevertheless eventful days for the athletic department. Returning UMD supporters and new ones alike will be greeted this fall by a few notable alterations made within the department in recent weeks.
Uniform outfitter Beginning this season with men’s and women’s hockey, sportswear manufacturer Under Armour will serve as the official uniform, apparel and footwear provider of Bulldog athletics.
After a bidding war with Nike/Lids and Adidas, UMD inked and announced a five-year deal with the Baltimore-based company in August. The agreement gives Under Armour the right to supply uniforms to UMD’s 16 official programs, also stipulating that the company provide discounts, rebates and additional benefits to the Recreational Sports Outdoor Program and the university’s 25 club sports.
UMD is just the second school in NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey to do business with the company, joining Boston College, which signed on with Under Armour in 2009. The 14 remaining UMD teams will be incorporated into the deal in 2015-16, after their current uniform arrangements have expired.
Malosky Stadium video screen Malosky Stadium, the home of UMD football, soccer and track and field, received a distinct facelift this summer with the installation of a new 12-by-22-foot LED video screen on the field’s scoreboard.
The $250,000 endeavor will, among other things, allow spectators to view instant replays and participate in in-game promotions. Made possible by a significant contribution from an anonymous donor, the addition will debut at Thursday’s soccer match and Saturday’s football home opener. The screen occupies the section of the scoreboard that used to display the football team’s national championship years, which will now be exhibited beneath the press box.
Game-day experience Fans at Malosky Stadium this fall will have the opportunity to tailgate prior to kickoff on Saturdays.
Gold Lot C (in front of Malosky Stadium) has been designated as the official tailgating lot for UMD home football games and will be available to the public at $10 for a single-space vehicle and $40 for an RV. Season tickets can be purchased during the select pre-sale at $40 for a single-space vehicle and $100 for an RV. The lot will open three hours before each game’s scheduled start time. Alcohol is permitted.
Also new to Malosky this fall is a Hospitality Zone just north of the field and a luxury seating area on the stadium’s third floor. Fans can see a game from the third-story suite for $40, or UMD’s complete home schedule for $200.
BY KYLE FARRIS farri060@d.umn.edu