Client Testimonials

“The customer service aspect of McNamara is exceptional. They make it easy and straightforward. Everyone in attendance at our event had a good experience. My expectations were exceeded.”

—Laura N.

“The team at the McNamara Alumni Center is spectacular and we’ve had great success in the events that we’ve hosted there over the last few years. The team is attentive and so incredibly service-oriented. I can’t thank them enough!”

—Teresa B.

“Compared to other venues, McNamara excels in that the staff care about your event as much as you do.”

—Amy D.

“Working with the staff at the McNamara Alumni Center was wonderful. They are thorough, knowledgeable, and professional. They followed up the evening of our event to be sure everything was perfect. I truly hope we have the opportunity to return for another event in the future.”

—Carolyn C.

“I was very satisfied with our event at McNamara Alumni Center. The McNamara & D’Amico crews guided me and worked with me through every needed detail and question that popped up. We had great customer service, attendees enjoyed themselves, and our event objectives were met. I’d recommend this venue to others.”

—Branden P.

“We recently hosted our company party at McNamara and it was a great experience! From booking through to the party, we were impressed with the communication and execution from the entire team. Staff did a great job getting everything ready for the day and were so helpful executing on the day of! I definitely recommend hosting an event at McNamara Alumni Center.”

—Kaila W.

“Over the past 18 months, I’ve managed more than 10 events held at the McNamara Alumni Center. Our events vary in format, purpose, number of attendees, AV requirements, etc. Regardless of the specifics, the service at this venue is consistently great, and the spaces are clean and beautiful. I look forward to planning many more events with the team at MAC.”

—Amy P.

“Working with the team at McNamara was wonderful! They hosted our community with kindness and flexibility.”

—Carly D.

“We always look forward to working with the event planning team at the McNamara Alumni Center because they are a very conscientious, sharp, and organized group of event professionals. Instant Request has performed at the Alumni Center for hundreds of events and our staff have always had the very best experience possible. The McNamara team is always so incredibly responsive, friendly, and accommodating.”

—Shawn P.

“I’m back in the office today after our VERY SUCCESSFUL event on Saturday at McNamara.  Boy, I could NOT have done it without all of you.  Your team is rock solid….seriously.  Everyone, in their own way, went way beyond what was expected of them to make things run smoothly.”

—Anita S.

“We hosted our HUP Mixer at the McNamara Alumni Center for around 50 people and used University Hall. The space was scenic, welcoming, and a great fit for our group. We received a lot of positive feedback from our guests about both the venue and the overall experience. The staff was incredibly communicative throughout the planning process, and everyone on hand the day of the event was helpful, professional, and attentive. We would absolutely host an event here again and highly recommend the McNamara Alumni Center.”

—Margaret S.

“Thank you so much! Your entire team did a wonderful job. Since day one, I have told my colleagues how easy you were all making it. The organization and coordination were so nice. I was blown away with how I had my little list of needs and you guys took it away and handled everything.”

—Jamie H.

“This is the 4th time we have held our event at McNamara. Each time the staff and catering have done a tremendous job contributing to the success of our workshop. Each and every staff member was as professional and helpful as they could possibly be.  Our participants come from all over the country, representing 17 different Universities, and they all commented that we definitely want to hold our future event at McNamara.”

—Bob M.

“A huge thanks to your team! Your entire team did a wonderful job. Since day one, I have told my colleagues how easy you all made it for me. The organization and coordination were so nice. I was blown away with how I had my little list of needs and you guys took it and handled everything. I received feedback from many attendees who were pleased with the look and feel of the event and commented on how nice your staff was and how good the food was!”

—Jamie H.

“This was the 4th time we have held our event at McNamara.  Each time the staff and catering have done a tremendous job contributing to the success of our workshop.  Each and every one was as professional and helpful as they could possibly be.  Our participants come from all over the country, representing 17 different universities, and they all commented that we definitely want to hold our future events at McNamara.”

—Bob M.

“We had an excellent experience hosting a large conference in this space. Everyone was incredibly helpful and organized and the technology was impressive. The spaces are easy to maneuver and beautiful. Ideal!”

—Chad T.

“We had an inaugural ‘Electroposium’ event at McNamara.  It was a fantastic experience, expertly and graciously handled – and that’s saying a great deal, because we had over 400 guests, 28 exhibitors (including electric vehicles) and 14 presentations in six different breakout rooms.  There were a lot of moving parts, including complicated AV, and even getting the Governor in for the keynote!  Every crazy idea we brought up was aced by the staff, with no questions asked.”

—Charles L.

“We recently hosted our 400-attendee annual conference at the McNamara Alumni Center and had a phenomenal experience. The venue is beautiful, with several unique rooms and features that really added character to the event, as well as lots of outdoor space and easy access to hotels, restaurants, etc. The venue, AV and catering staff are some of the best I’ve worked with – professional, creative, responsive, and organized. They made it easy and fun! I would definitely go back if we were to host anything in Minneapolis in the future.”

—Jackie

“This was our second time hosting our FHIR DevDays conference at the McNamara Alumni Center, and it certainly won’t be our last! The location is excellent, the facility is beautifully maintained, and Hannah and her team consistently provide exceptional service. They genuinely care about the success of your meeting and go above and beyond to ensure everything runs smoothly. The AV team is outstanding as well. Professional, responsive, and a pleasure to work with. We highly recommend the McNamara Alumni Center for any meeting or event!”

—Mary Ann B.

“My organization hosted Self Direction Center’s national conference at the McNamara Alumni Center and we could not have been more impressed with the entire team and venue. We were treated with such care from the event staff, to AV, and the catering team. Our attendees were deeply impressed as well. Lots of happy comments about the food too! I can’t recommend them highly enough!”

—Molly M.

“I recently hosted a two-day symposium at the McNamara Alumni Center. Everything was perfect. The facilities are beautiful, spacious, and filled with natural light in the main hall. The McNamara Center staff were incredibly helpful at every step, from early planning through day-of implementation. The tech support for our hybrid meeting was also excellent and we heard from our attendees (both in-person and on Zoom) how much they appreciated the seamless tech support. We also received many compliments from in-person attendees about how delicious were the lunches provided by D’Amico Hospitality. If I ever take on such a large event again, the McNamara will be my top choice for an on-campus venue.”

—Kim T.

“Once again, my deepest gratitude to the McNamara team. I am blown away at how hard working, adaptable, and willing your team is to help support our Make Them Shine gala! Pencil us in for next year!”

—Aubrie M.

“Having managed more than 80 major events in the 20 years that I’ve done nonprofit fundraising, McNamara was one of the very BEST venues. The follow-through by staff was exceptional, from beginning to end. The service, the extra amenities available to nonprofits, and the beautiful space all made for a wonderful experience for our Bridge Builder Benefit Dinner guests. I highly recommend McNamara Alumni Center to anyone looking for a luxurious yet affordable venue!”

—Tonia B.

“THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for your support throughout the entirety of my planning for our Helping Paws gala. It was a pleasure working alongside you. Your kindness and always supportive attitude helped me be more confident and successful so I can’t thank you enough for everything you did for us!”

—Luis V.

“The McNamara staff were wonderful to work with–very responsive from start to finish and very accommodating of our needs. The venue is beautiful and worked well for our Parkinson’s group. We also enjoyed the catering and loved the proximity of the Graduate Hotel to McNamara. Our guests had such a wonderful experience, we’re considering coming back here next year. I highly recommend for conferences!”

—Jessica Y.

“Our organization, Camp Kesem, held a fundraiser event at McNamara Alumni Center which turned out beautifully! With help from their staff, the event ran smoothly and seamlessly. We would definitely recommend this venue for other non-profit organizations!!”

—U Minnesota Make the Magic

“A sincere thank you for the incredible support your team provided for our Light the Journey Gala. From helping with last-minute printing to coming in clutch with the table lamps, your partnership truly made a difference for us and our guests. I am incredibly grateful for the care, flexibility, and professionalism your MAC team brought to every moment on Saturday.”

—Lindsay B.

“We’ve had our annual event at four different venues, and McNamara was by far our best experience in terms of staff support and ease of logistics.” 

—Jane A.

“It was so special for my husband and I to celebrate our marriage in the very building where we first met as University students. Everyone was floored with the stunning architecture both inside and out. The service was OUTSTANDING from the very first inquiry to the day of. Hannah really went out of her way to make sure our day went perfectly.”

—Amanda

“We were thrilled to be able to have our wedding reception at McNamara Alumni Center! Not only is it a stunning venue, but the whole McNamara event team was so helpful throughout our planning process. It was also such a value add to have the venue and caterer work so closely together on details. They are truly experts and helped us think through every detail and provided recommendations on what works well and were honest about what doesn’t. Thank you for helping us plan our perfect day!”

—Heather W.

“We had a great experience hosting our wedding ceremony and reception at McNamara. The space is so beautiful that we didn’t need to add much decor to have a spectacular setting. D’Amico Catering works closely with the venue, so catering and set up was seamless. The staff was super knowledgeable and helpful in suggesting layout and flow for the day. Overall it was a beautiful event. A gorgeous setting for an affordable price.”

—Jennifer S.

“Absolutely perfect! The McNamara staff were so easy to work with along the planning journey and on our wedding day. They were so friendly and excited for me and my husband. I had last minute changes and they were so accommodating. At first I was nervous about working with an exclusive caterer, but they were just as amazing as the venue staff.”

—Haili R.

“If you are looking for a spacious wedding venue with beautiful views, professional staff, and an overall amazing experience, McNamara is the right venue. The event coordinators and their detailed planning itineraries really allow you to enjoy your special day without having to worry. They help you organize everything. D’Amico Catering was also amazing! The Graduate Hotel is there for guests from out of town and a parking ramp is attached to the building. You definitely get more than you pay for with this venue!”

—Laura S.

“It’s honestly hard to put into words how perfect our wedding day was. McNamara Alumni Center was an absolutely incredible venue, truly stunning. From the very beginning of the planning process, working with the McNamara team was so easy and low-stress. I appreciated all of the advice, ideas, and guidance on the timeline, setup, and overall flow of our wedding day. Not a single thing went wrong, and there were no unexpected surprises–a testament to how organized and experienced the team is. We were also so touched by the little gestures of hospitality throughout the night which meant so much to us and made us feel incredibly cared for. I truly could go on and on. We are so grateful for everything that made our wedding day so special.”

—Regina K. 

“The team at McNamara is incredibly professional and went out of their way to work with us on our design ideas to really bring the space to life. As a wedding planner, I really value working with professionals that are focused on the couple, and they certainly do just that. Day of, they were very helpful and flexible. It’s a stunning venue and a wonderful experience to work with them. D’Amico’s food is outstanding, so you can’t go wrong! Parking is ample and close and the hotel next door makes things super easy for guests.”

—Rachelle M.

“We toured a whole slew of venues but it was pretty clear from the get-go that McNamara Alumni Center was the perfect fit for what we were looking for including our budget. Every single staff person was SUPER attentive, knowledgeable and helpful. They made it so easy for me to stay on top of everything with reminders and always being responsive to my questions.”

—Danielle W.

“If you want to stand out from other weddings, then McNamara is the place for you! Uniquely beautiful, spacious, gorgeous. A perfect metropolitan location.”

—Michelle H.

“The venue was beautiful and staff was compassionate and so helpful to our family and guests.”

—Diane K.

“Having our sister’s memorial at McNamara Alumni Center was especially meaningful since our family has deep ties to the U of MN including being proud alumni. It was a wonderful event and the venue and catering teams were awesome to work with during this difficult time for our family.”

—Celeste J.

“McNamara’s AV support for streaming live presentation is phenomenal. We asked for a lot of their time and focus, both leading up to our event and the day-of, and we are so pleased with how everything turned out. Online attendees let us know that the online experience felt whole and incorporated which I know is difficult to do in a hybrid environment. One said it may have been one of the best she’s participated in. Thank you personally for being so kind and collaborative. I really enjoyed working with you!” 

—Grace A.

“We’ve been running the SciPy Conference with some variety of recording and streaming for more than 15 years in multiple venues in multiple cities, and we’ve been live-streaming some portion of the conference for the last 6 years.  I don’t think we’ve ever had a more seamless and low-stress AV experience. We had a great conference at the McNamara Alumni Center and all of the staff were a pleasure to interact with, especially the AV team who were exceptional.”  

—Gil F.

“McNamara’s AV tech providing support about the room features and technology was knowledgeable and efficient, ensuring all technical aspects of our event ran seamlessly. The entire staff team’s attention to detail and friendly demeanor created a welcoming atmosphere, making our event a true success. Their willingness to go above and beyond to assist was highly commendable.”

—Lovey P.

“The Minnesota Hospital Association hosted a hybrid event at McNamara recently. We were so impressed by the technical team in particular ensuring a high-quality experience for our virtual attendees. The Johnson Great Room provided a spectacular ambiance for our in-person attendees.  We are looking forward to hosting our next hybrid event at the McNamara!”

—Heather H.

“I cannot tell you how many compliments I received on the food and service! It was a class-act from beginning until end. I will highly recommend D’Amico to others, and I will keep you on the top of my list for future events.”

—Nicole

“I heard so many wonderful comments about the food. We have people who have been coming to our holiday celebration for 25+ years and they told me that this was the best dinner entrées yet!”

—Anne

“It was such an unexpected value add to have our venue and caterer (D’Amico) work so closely together on details. They are truly experts and helped us think through every detail; providing recommendations on what works well, and were honest about what doesn’t. Our wedding was three months ago, and we are still getting compliments from our guests about how incredible the food was.”

—Heather W.

“D’Amico Catering was phenomenal. We were planning our wedding from California without a wedding planner and they were so supportive and helpful. Not only was the food amazing, but they wonderfully navigated a number of food allergies. Guests wouldn’t stop commenting about how wonderful the food was.”

—Katie N.