Montana Surprises All with New FieldTurf for 2016 Season

The University of Montana planned to squeeze one more year out of the artificial turf surface at Washington-Grizzly Stadium which was in its 8th year. The plan quickly changed when FieldTurf, which installed UM's new softball field in 2015, heard about the Grizzlies’ plans and pitched them a brand-new football field. FieldTurf, who already had crews in Missoula, a local high school, was able to provide a full-field replacement this summer! The plan was simplified by SmartBuy Cooperative Purchasing Program that allowed the project to come together quickly and cost-efficiently.

“We had such a great experience with FieldTurf on our softball field,” says Kent Haslam, Director of Athletics at the University of Montana. “It’s been a hit — no pun intended — and is a great addition to our athletic offerings. When this opportunity happened, it was too good to pass up.”

The University’s Board of Regents approved the football field project on July 19, and the surface’s installation was completed a month later. “This was something that came up very fast,” Haslam says. “We’ve been thrilled with FieldTurf and their response.”

Revolution 360, FieldTurf’s latest monofilament fiber and the industry’s most complete fiber, is quickly becoming the most popular surface in North America. The University of Montana will join an impressive list of current users, of which features CenturyLink Field, the home of the Seahawks & Sounders, Gillette Stadium, home of the Patriots & Revolution, New Mosaic Stadium, Home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Portland Timbers, Princeton University, Toledo University, University of Texas at El Paso and over 125 High School and community fields.

CoolPlay, FieldTurf’s exclusive and innovative infill, delivers elite performance all while keeping the on-field temperatures low.

“We are extremely proud to continue our relationship with the University of Montana,” Said FieldTurf President Eric Daliere. “Montana has a proud history and we, at FieldTurf, are honored to provide the Grizzlies with a high-performing surface that will live up to the institution’s high standards.”

The university’s iconic image of its Grizzly mascot remains in the middle of the field, and Big Sky Conference logos were added on either end of the field between the 20- and 30-yard lines. An easier-to-read, all-uppercase font lends the field classic appeal.

Along with a new field, Washington-Grizzly Stadium will unveil a new scoreboard and videoboard this season, and a $14 million, 46,000-square-foot stadium addition to be dubbed the Champions Center is expected to open in September 2017 and will house new team locker rooms and weight-training facilities for all student-athletes.

In addition to Grizzlies football, which will debut the surface and the other new stadium amenities Sept. 3 in Montana’s home opener against Pennsylvania’s St. Francis University, the new field will be used by local high school football teams and the university’s soccer teams and lacrosse club.

Meanwhile, FieldTurf covers every inch of Grizzly Softball Field, from the infield and outfield to the base paths and warning track. It’s the only field of its kind in the Big Sky Conference and allows the Grizzlies to practice outdoors during Montana’s wet springs. The university added softball as an intercollegiate women’s sport in 2015.