Washington–Grizzly Stadium

Washington–Grizzly Stadium
Washington–Grizzly Stadium in 2012
Location Campus Drive
Missoula, Montana, U.S.
Coordinates 46°51′50″N 113°58′52″W / 46.864°N 113.981°W / 46.864; -113.981Coordinates: 46°51′50″N 113°58′52″W / 46.864°N 113.981°W / 46.864; -113.981
Owner University of Montana
Operator University of Montana
Capacity 25,217 (2008–present)
23,183 (2003–2007)
19,005 (2002)
18,845 (1995–2001)
12,500 (1986–1994)
Record attendance 26,472
(August 29, 2015)
Surface FieldTurf – (2016–present)
SprinTurf – (2001–2016)
Natural grass – (1986–2000)
Construction
Broke ground September 1985
Opened October 18, 1986 (1986-10-18)
32 years ago
Construction cost $3.2 million[1]
($7.14 million in 2017[2])
Architect Fox, Ballas & Barrow[1]
Rossman, Schneider & Gadvery[1]
Tenants

Montana Grizzlies – NCAA
(1986–present)

Missoula County Public Schools
Missoula
Location in the United States

Washington–Grizzly Stadium is an outdoor college football stadium in the western United States, located on the campus of the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana. Opened 32 years ago in 1986, it is home to the Montana Grizzlies, a dominant program of the Big Sky Conference and consistently a top team in Division I FCS (formerly Division I-AA).

Its infilled SprinTurf playing field is twenty feet (6 m) below ground level at an elevation of 3,190 feet (970 m) above sea level and runs in the traditional north–south orientation.[3] The press box is above the west sideline and lights were added for the 2012 season.[4] It is the largest all-purpose stadium in the state of Montana.

History

The stadium is named after construction magnate Dennis Washington, a Montanan who donated $1 million to finance the stadium's construction in 1985. The inaugural game came in mid-season in 1986 (October 18), and the Griz have a record of 199–30 (.869) at the venue, through the 2017 season. Montana has gone undefeated at home in eleven of those seasons; the Griz won all ten home games in 2004 and posted a 9–0 mark six times (1994, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2008, 2009).

Capacity and expansions

The current seating capacity is 25,217 and it has been expanded three times, most recently in 2008 with an upper deck expansion of 2,000 seats on the east side.

The original capacity in 1986 was 12,500 permanent seats on the sidelines with open grass seating behind the end zones, an approximate capacity of 15,000, weather-permitting. Permanent seating for the end zones was installed in 1995, which brought the seating to 18,845. Corner seating in the north end zone opened in 2003 and the most recent expansion in 2008 to the east grandstand brought the capacity to 25,217.

A new attendance record was set in 2015 when ESPN and four-time defending national champion North Dakota State opened the FCS season on August 29 and drew 26,472. The previous record was 26,352, set in 2014 against rival Montana State on November 22; both games were Grizzly victories.

Field surface

Infilled SprinTurf was installed in 2001, and replaced in 2008. For its first fifteen seasons, the playing surface was natural grass. With the addition of the artificial turf in 2001, the playing surface was renamed "John Hoyt Field." After 15 seasons of "SprinTurf", The playing surface in WGS was replaced with multi-color "FieldTurf" in the summer of 2016. After Grizzly Field (Softball) installed "FieldTurf" in their new stadium, "FieldTurf" pitched the University with a new football field and within a month, it was approved by the Board of Regents and installed.

GrizVision

The video screen GrizVision, was installed in 2002 in the south end zone; at 26 by 36 feet (8 m × 11 m), it was one of the largest screens in an FCS football stadium and was upgraded in 2016 to a much larger screen: it features HD-quality video and measures 32 by 55 feet (10 m × 17 m), approximately twice the area of the old display.

Previous venues

Before Washington–Grizzly Stadium, the Grizzlies played off-campus at "new" Dornblaser Field from 1968–86. Prior to 1968, Montana played on-campus at "old" Dornblaser Field from 1920–67 (both named for Paul Dornblaser, football captain in 1912, killed in World War I). The old field was at the site of the Mansfield Library. Prior to 1920, Montana played its home games at a field in downtown Missoula, near the former Missoulian newspaper building.

WA-Griz largest crowds

Looking southwest in 2010, against NAU on October 23
Washington–Grizzly stadium attendance records
Official stadium capacity: 25,203
Attendance Result Date
1 26,472 Montana 38, North Dakota State 35 Aug. 29, 2015
2 26,352 Montana 34, Montana State 7 Nov. 22, 2014
3 26,303 Montana 28, South Dakota 20 Sept. 13, 2014
4 26,293 Montana 30, Appalachian State 6 Aug. 31, 2013
5 26,136 Montana 23, Northern Arizona 14 Sept. 26, 2015
6 26,082 Montana 37, Eastern Washington 42 Oct. 26, 2013
7 26,066 Montana 17, Eastern Washington 14 Sept. 17, 2011
8 26,065 Montana 19, Cal Poly 20 Sept. 5, 2015
9 26,019 Montana 16, Montana State 21 Nov. 20, 2010
10 25,965 Montana 28, Sacramento State 25 Sept. 25, 2010

At home win-loss record

The stadium in 2012, after expansion and lights were added
Year Win Loss
YearWL
198621
198732
198860
1989^80
199042
199141
199251
1993^61
1994^90
1995^90
1996^90
199751
199851
1999^52
2000^81
2001^90
2002^71
2003^62
2004^100
2005^52
2006^81
2007^71
2008^90
2009^90
201051
201160
201233
2013^52
2014^70
2015^52
201651
201751
Total 199–30 (.869)
^Includes FCS Playoff Game(s)

Concerts

Date Artist Opening act(s) Tour / Concert name Attendance Revenue Notes
June 20, 1998Pearl JamGoodnessYield Tour——
October 4, 2006The Rolling StonesBlack Rebel Motorcycle ClubA Bigger Bang Tour22,000+—This is the band's first-ever concert in the state of Montana.[5]
August 5, 2014Paul McCartney—Out There25,192 / 25,192$3,775,111
August 13, 2018Pearl Jam—Pearl Jam 2018 Tour——

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "New UM Stadium Project on Schedule". Great Falls Tribune. August 6, 1986. p. 3C.
  2. ↑ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Microsoft Research – Emerging Technology, Computer, and Software Research". Microsoft Research. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  4. ↑ http://www.montanakaimin.com/mobile/sports/lighting-up-washington-grizzly-stadium-1.2690020
  5. ↑ iorr.org/tour05/missoula.htm – Retrieved October 27, 2011
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