Dear Terp Nation,

Before a single brick is laid, a blueprint exists. It's where vision becomes intention, where something imagined is trusted enough to be built.

That idea has guided how I've approached my first eight months as your Athletic Director. I came to College Park last July with a clear vision: build something great together. That meant first understanding what Maryland Football already means to you, and doing that as a team. We have made it a priority to listen. At games and events, through postgame surveys, on social media, and in direct conversations with season ticket holders, donors, and fans from across our community. That feedback has been candid, thoughtful, and truly invaluable.

What we heard was unmistakable: you love this program, you believe in its potential, and you expect an experience that matches that belief.


  I am proud of the progress our team has made, and the numbers reflect it. This past season, football ticket revenue grew, driven by more than 25,000 additional single-game tickets sold compared to the prior year. We hosted three sellouts and recorded our highest average attendance in nearly a decade. We also launched Terpsville Fan Fest for the first time, welcoming nearly 10,000 fans throughout the season and creating a pregame destination that reflects the energy and pride of this fanbase. Our student section posted its highest attendance rate in four years.

More than the numbers, many of you told us the stadium felt more alive–more Maryland–than it has in years. That kind of feedback matters as much as any metric.


  We also heard what needs to improve. Here is just some of what we are working on for the 2026 season:

• For the first time ever, we are installing nearly 50 concourse televisions, positioned near concession stands, so you can follow every play no matter where you are in the stadium.
• We have commissioned a comprehensive traffic and parking study, and we are committed to improving how you arrive and how you leave SECU Stadium.
• We are making it easier to stay hydrated all game long. For the first time, fans may bring one sealed water bottle into SECU Stadium at every home game. We are also upgrading select water fountains with filtered refill stations, so you can bring an empty plastic or metal bottle and refill throughout the day.
• We are introducing value pricing at select concession stands, with items under $5, along with additional grab-and-go options to reduce wait times and keep you in your seat.
• You will see continued investment in the family experience, including expanded stroller access throughout the stadium for all fans and a new concessions location on the main concourse with kid-friendly items.
• We have engaged outside consultants to assess our athletics facilities, including fan spaces at SECU Stadium that are overdue for modernization.
• Season ticket members in the lower bowl who purchase the season chairback plan will enjoy wider, more comfortable seats. Fans in the upper levels will enjoy refreshed chairback inventory as well.
• We are enhancing Terpsville Fan Fest, including expanded concessions, additional seating areas, and new interactive elements.

These are not promises. There are plans already in motion for this upcoming season and beyond, because you told us what mattered and we heard you. Every dollar generated by Maryland Athletics goes back into this program. Into our student-athletes, our facilities, and the gameday experience you deserve every Saturday. That is not just a financial commitment. It is a promise to this fanbase and this state. And it is a promise backed by a staff that shows up every day committed to making Maryland the standard.

A blueprint is not just a technical drawing. It is a commitment to a vision and to the people who believe in what is being built. You are part of that blueprint. Season ticket holders and new fans alike are not spectators to what Maryland Football becomes. You are co-builders of it. Because you are not just part of Terpsville. You are Terpsville.

This year, we are making sure you feel that. Every season ticket member who renews or purchases by March 31 will receive our new 2026 Season Ticket Member Gift Package, featuring a piece of Maryland gear, Beat Buttons, and a Custom Magnetic Locker Plate to celebrate your commitment to this program. Season tickets are not just seats. They are a statement that you show up, you believe, and you help set the standard.

To those who have already joined us for 2026, thank you. Your commitment means everything. For those still considering, we ask you to invest your time, energy and resources and be part of what comes next.

Together we will continue to position Maryland among the very best. The blueprint is set. Now we build.

Go Terps! Jim Smith
Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics
University of Maryland