Will This New Addition Bring More Massive Concerts To Montana?

Montana is home to a number of excellent concert venues, but when it comes to hosting huge concerts with massive mainstream artists, options are somewhat limited. There aren't any professional sports teams in Montana, so there aren't any huge stadiums like Mile High in Denver or Lumen Field in Seattle.

The largest venue in the state is Washington-Grizzly Stadium in Missoula with a capacity of slightly over 25,000. Tyler Childers is scheduled to play there in 2024, and rumors have been circulating that a few other major shows will be announced for next year. The fact is, concerts bring a lot of money into Montana and help to boost the state's economy. If you're wondering why there aren't as many concerts at Bobcat Stadium in Bozeman, here's the main reason.

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Why is Bobcat Stadium Used More Often to Host Concerts?

In case you didn't know, college football is extremely popular in Montana. The rivalry between the Bobcats and the Grizzlies is one of the oldest in the country. We spoke to a representative at Montana State University and asked why Bobcat Stadium isn't used to host major concerts, and the answer was simple. The Bobcat football team uses the stadium for practice due to the lack of an indoor practice facility. In the past five years, only two concerts have been held inside Bobcat Stadium.

Earlier this year, the University of Montana announced plans to build an indoor practice facility, and now, Montana State University has announced plans to do the same. According to a press release, the Montana Board of Regents voted unanimously to approve the project. While that may come as great news, there's still a lot of work to do. The project is $3 million away from its $25 million fundraising goal and will be funded entirely with private dollars.

We need everyone in Bobcat nation who is interested in contributing to this impactful project to help us get there. The new, 120,000-square-foot facility would be a dramatic improvement for Bobcat student-athletes, in both the quality of their training and their safety.

said Leon Costello, MSU Director of Athletics.

How Will a Practice Facility Bring More Concerts to Bozeman?

A new practice facility will create a place for players to practice, and be an alternative to Bobcat Stadium. Since players won't need to use the stadium to practice, it will be available for concerts.

The proposed site for the new facility is south of Bobcat Stadium and west of the Bobcat track and field complex along South 11th Avenue. The planned design is a steel-framed building that will be fully insulated, climate-controlled, and energy-efficient. Pending material availability, construction is expected to be complete toward the end of 2024.

If you're interested in making a gift to support the Bobcat Indoor Practice Facility can contact Karen Cantrell, associate athletic director for development, at karen.cantrell1@msubobcats.com.