Stadium expansion complete for first kickoff

The seating expansion on the Washington-Grizzly Stadium has been completed just in time for the University of Montana’s approaching football season
“All in all, the project has gone very smoothly,” said Jerry Ballas, UM architect.

The project remained remarkably close to its $5.5 million budget, UM Director of Athletics Jim O’Day said, impressive considering the size of the project.
The basic construction plan for adding 2,000 seats to the east side of the stadium is finished, Ballas said, except for some final touch-ups that were not included in the original plan.
The remaining details include cabinetry work in the club boxes, landscaping, a new sound system and turf upgrade, Ballas said. As of now, landscaping is about 75 percent completed and the turf is about 80 percent done, O’Day estimated.
“The first thing you will notice in addition to the numbers is the sound,” O’Day said.
With more football fans, the athletic department also decided to add a new audio system for better distribution of sound in the stadium. The sound system will probably not be completed until the week of the first home football game, Ballas said.
An entrance at the southeast corner has been added to alleviate crowd issues due to the added seats, Ballas said.
“Anytime you add these numbers and you see 25,000 fans, it’s just remarkable for a school of this size,” O’Day said.
O’Day said that with the added seats, the stadium will be the largest in the Football Championship Subdivision, passing three-time defending national champion Appalachian State. 
“The seating venue adds another level of sophistication that will just improve the atmosphere (UM’s football team) will be playing in,” Ballas said.
There are no future closures expected for Campus Drive, which was blocked off all of spring semester, Ballas said, although there may be some barricades set up to accommodate sign and logo work on the stadium.
The final additions to the stadium will be completed before the first home game on Sept. 13, he said.

stefanie.kilts@umontana.edu