SPORTS SPIRIT

 WASHINGTON-GRIZZLY STADIUM.

TAYLAR ROBBINS

You can hear the roar of the crowd all over town. It’s the sound of thousands of fans in the Washington-Grizzly Stadium cheering on their Montana Grizzlies. Decked out in maroon and silver, Griz fans are some of the loudest and most loyal college fans you’ll meet. Everyone is a Griz fan in Missoula.

And when they’re not screaming themselves hoarse for the Griz, they cheer for the Missoula PaddleHeads baseball team. The PaddleHead’s home base is at Ogren Park at Allegiance Field on the Clark Fork River, and nothing feels more like summer than sitting in this beautiful setting while listening to the smash of a bat making contact with a ball.

For those who like a little something different in their sports, you can cheer on the Missoula Curling Club, the Hellgate Roller Derby— the local roller derby team—or the Griz Hockey Team.

 FORT MISSOULA REGIONAL PARK. MISSOULA PARKS AND RECREATION

FORT MISSOULA REGIONAL PARK

In a place where the outfield is endless, it’s no surprise Missoula is a draw for regional sports tournaments. The city’s state-of-the-art Fort Missoula Regional Park boasts seven softball diamonds, 11 multipurpose fields, a dog park, and 156 acres of recreation space. The landscape and architecture offer a nod to the area’s past, complete with interpretive trails that tell its story, an all-inclusive playground, sports fields and courts—all modern and top-of-the-line.

The facilities are perfect for tournament play, but also offer space for lawn games like croquet and bocce ball. The entire park is accessible by bike via the South Reserve Street pedestrian bridge, which connects with the community’s other pathways. So even if you are headed to the park to spectate, there’s no excuse to not get in a workout—or at least get really good at bocce ball.

FORT MISSOULA REGIONAL PARK 156

ACRES

10

MULTI-SPORT GRASS FIELDS

1

SYNTHETIC TURF SPORTS FIELD

1

RUGBY PITCH

7

SOFTBALL DIAMONDS

8

TENNIS COURTS

22

PICKLEBALL COURTS

PLAY MISSOULA

There’s a recreation hotspot where play is revered. Where teams come together for the love of sport. The offerings are many and diverse, and the hospitality and amenities are top notch. Missoula is the perfect place to host a sports tournament. Here, we play long after the game is over.

Visit DESTINATIONMISSOULA.ORG/ SPORTSfor more information on how to bring your sports event to Missoula.

Missoula’s Art and Culture Agency

WWW.ARTSMISSOULA.ORG

Swim, Play, Stay All Day!

3001 BANCROFT IN PLAYFAIR PARK

600 CREGG IN MCCORMICK PARK

Missoula Parks and Recreation • 406-721-PARK • www.missoulaparks.org

HOME TEAMS

GRIZZLY ATHLETICS The University of Montana offers 15 intercollegiate athletic programs for student-athletes. You can find the Grizzlies in action in a variety of sports from August through mid-May. There are also a variety of club teams to watch. Locations vary; visit www.gogriz.com for sports schedules. 406.243.4051 or 888.MONTANA www.umt.edu/griztix

HELLGATE ROLLER DERBY Roller derby fever hit Missoula in 2009 and has been rolling strong ever since. The Hellgate Roller Derby battle it out in league bouts from February to November. 1919 North Ave. W., www.hellgaterollerderby.org

MISSOULA PADDLEHEADS The Missoula PaddleHeads are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League. They play home games and host additional fun events at Ogren Park at Allegiance Field. Ogren Park at Allegiance Field, 700 Cregg Ln. 406.543.3300, www.gopaddleheads.com

SUCCESS ON AND OFF THE FIELD

Missoula Strikers and Bitterroot Strikers are non-profits, community-based soccer organizations committed to helping each player learn, grow, and celebrate their love of the game. We continue a tradition of fun and excellence in developing players and coaches.