HELENA — The reigning Frontier Conference champion’s new field is almost ready for play.
Montana Western, after undergoing months of construction, is in the final stages of completing the synthetic turf playing surface for on-campus Bulldog football games, starting in September.
Michael Brown, Western’s Director of Facility Services, has confirmed that the field, situated on the Bulldogs’ former practice area, will be finished by the end of the week.
Beaverhead Motors’ on-field logo is positioned outside the numbers in each red zone. Brown mentioned that the company has secured a five-year sponsorship for displaying that logo.
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A Daktronics scoreboard, capable of showing video ads and instant replays, is set to be delivered soon, according to Brown, and will be installed on the field’s East end in the upcoming weeks. Stockman Bank branding will feature on the scoreboard, as per Brown’s statement.
The stadium building, designed to accommodate seating for 1,200 spectators, is expected to be finished by late September, Brown confirmed. Berm seating will also be available on the opposite side of the field.
If the complex, which will house concessions, public restrooms, and team changing areas, is not completed by Western’s first home game (Sept. 7 vs. Eastern Oregon), a contingency plan will be put in place for game days, including food vendors and portable restrooms. Teams would utilize locker rooms in Western’s Bulldog Athletic Recreation Center under that plan.
The field is pre-wired for stadium lighting, but will not be illuminated until the necessary funds (estimated at $300,000) are raised, Brown explained.
Three hundred fifty parking spots are required for the stadium’s seating capacity.
An ADA-compliant asphalt lot (north side) and two gravel lots (west and south sides) will provide those spots, according to Brown.
The naming rights for the project have yet to be secured, and the stadium is set to be named “Bulldog Stadium,” as informed by Brown.
Five home games are scheduled for Western on its new field in 2024.
Sept. 7 – Eastern Oregon (non-conference)
Sept. 14 – College of Idaho
Oct. 26 – Arizona Christian
Nov. 9 – Carroll College
Email Daniel Shepard at daniel.shepard@406mtsports.com and find him on Twitter/X @IR_DanielS.
