Grizzly Athletics names Montana Knife Company an official partner of Griz Football and on-field logo sponsor at Washington-Grizzly Stadium
5/15/2026 10:37:00 AM | Football, General
MISSOULA - The playing surface at Washington-Grizzly Stadium will receive a replacement and upgrade this summer that will see Missoula's own Montana Knife Company (MKC) become a permanent on-field logo sponsor.
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The University of Montana Athletic Department and Learfield's Grizzly Sports Properties announced a new partnership with MKC on Friday that will make the locally owned and globally recognized manufacturer an official partner of Grizzly football.
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"We are proud and grateful to begin this partnership with Montana Knife Company. Their story is a true Montana success story, built through hard work, grit, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Those same values define Grizzly football and the kind of program we work to build every day," said Director of Athletics Kent Haslam.
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As part of an eight-year commitment, MKC will have its branding added to the field design, providing premium visibility to the roughly 27,000 fans in attendance at each game, and the hundreds of thousands more watching local and national broadcasts.
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"Montana has always been home for us, so partnering with the University of Montana in a bigger way felt like a natural fit. Grizzly Athletics brings people together across the state, and we're honored to support that tradition through this eight-year commitment. We're excited to see the MKC brand on the field and even more excited to invest in the future of Montana athletics," said Josh Smith, founder of Montana Knife Company.
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The addition of the MKC logo is part of an upgraded FieldTurf Vertex CORE playing surface that includes new design features while at the same time reducing waste and reusing subsurface elements to make the field more environmentally friendly.
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The new design will keep much of the same imagery and features fans have come to know and love, with updates including the MKC logo on the north and south 25-yard lines, opposite the Big Sky Conference logos. Other new features include an expanded maroon field around the end zone with "Up with Montana" and "Down with the Foe" printed within the sideline border, a nod to the program's celebrated fight song.
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The iconic prowling Griz logo will once again stand sentinel over the facility at midfield, along with the subtle 37 yard line badges that honor Montana's historic legacy jersey number. Two-tone green will once again stripe the field and "MONTANA" and "GRIZZLIES" will remain printed across the endzones.
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The FieldTurf Vertex CORE surface is an industry leading artificial field product that delivers a combination of performance, agility, durability, and aesthetics to the stadium floor that will allow Montana student-athletes to perform at their best.
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Montana will take advantage of FieldTurf's "Sustain the Game" sustainability program that reuses existing infill materials during construction. The reused infill is tested and proven to equal new infill in quality and durability, significantly reducing the project's cost and carbon footprint. All components in systems manufactured by FieldTurf are also 100 percent recyclable.
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The field replacement project officially began on Monday, May 11, with construction scheduled to be completed by mid-June.
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Montana opens the 2026 football season at home on August 29 with a Big Sky Conference matchup against Southern Utah on the new playing surface at Washington-Grizzly Stadium under first year head coach Bobby Kennedy. New season ticket packages for the seven-game home slate are available now at GrizTix.com.
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Grizzly Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield – the media and technology company powering college sports – is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Montana Athletics and oversees all sponsorships, in-venue signage, and advertising on behalf of the Grizzlies.
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About Grizzly Athletics
Grizzly Athletics sponsors 15 Division I intercollegiate varsity sports that are nationally competitive and exemplify Montana values of toughness, integrity, and excellence, both on the field and in the classroom. Grizzly student-athletes bring pride to the University of Montana campus community, the city of Missoula, and the state of Montana by demonstrating leadership, respect, and fair play.
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Montana has won two NCAA national championships in football, and, as a founding member of the Big Sky Conference, has won numerous championships across all sports. Hundreds of Grizzly student-athletes have gone on to play professionally, with thousands more reaching success in their chosen profession, fueled by the values gained at Montana.Â
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About Montana Knife Company
Montana Knife Company is a premium American knife manufacturer headquartered in Missoula, Montana. Founded by Master Bladesmith Josh Smith, the company designs and builds high-performance knives for hunters, outdoorsmen, ranchers, and everyday carry users. Known for its precision craftsmanship, durable materials, and Montana-made quality, Montana Knife Company has quickly grown into one of the leading knife brands in the outdoor industry while remaining committed to American manufacturing, conservation, and the values of the Western lifestyle.
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About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield's presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors' Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
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The University of Montana Athletic Department and Learfield's Grizzly Sports Properties announced a new partnership with MKC on Friday that will make the locally owned and globally recognized manufacturer an official partner of Grizzly football.
Â
"We are proud and grateful to begin this partnership with Montana Knife Company. Their story is a true Montana success story, built through hard work, grit, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Those same values define Grizzly football and the kind of program we work to build every day," said Director of Athletics Kent Haslam.
Â
As part of an eight-year commitment, MKC will have its branding added to the field design, providing premium visibility to the roughly 27,000 fans in attendance at each game, and the hundreds of thousands more watching local and national broadcasts.
Â
"Montana has always been home for us, so partnering with the University of Montana in a bigger way felt like a natural fit. Grizzly Athletics brings people together across the state, and we're honored to support that tradition through this eight-year commitment. We're excited to see the MKC brand on the field and even more excited to invest in the future of Montana athletics," said Josh Smith, founder of Montana Knife Company.
Â
The addition of the MKC logo is part of an upgraded FieldTurf Vertex CORE playing surface that includes new design features while at the same time reducing waste and reusing subsurface elements to make the field more environmentally friendly.
Â
The new design will keep much of the same imagery and features fans have come to know and love, with updates including the MKC logo on the north and south 25-yard lines, opposite the Big Sky Conference logos. Other new features include an expanded maroon field around the end zone with "Up with Montana" and "Down with the Foe" printed within the sideline border, a nod to the program's celebrated fight song.
Â
The iconic prowling Griz logo will once again stand sentinel over the facility at midfield, along with the subtle 37 yard line badges that honor Montana's historic legacy jersey number. Two-tone green will once again stripe the field and "MONTANA" and "GRIZZLIES" will remain printed across the endzones.
Â
The FieldTurf Vertex CORE surface is an industry leading artificial field product that delivers a combination of performance, agility, durability, and aesthetics to the stadium floor that will allow Montana student-athletes to perform at their best.
Â
Montana will take advantage of FieldTurf's "Sustain the Game" sustainability program that reuses existing infill materials during construction. The reused infill is tested and proven to equal new infill in quality and durability, significantly reducing the project's cost and carbon footprint. All components in systems manufactured by FieldTurf are also 100 percent recyclable.
Â
The field replacement project officially began on Monday, May 11, with construction scheduled to be completed by mid-June.
Â
Montana opens the 2026 football season at home on August 29 with a Big Sky Conference matchup against Southern Utah on the new playing surface at Washington-Grizzly Stadium under first year head coach Bobby Kennedy. New season ticket packages for the seven-game home slate are available now at GrizTix.com.
Â
Grizzly Sports Properties, the locally based team of Learfield – the media and technology company powering college sports – is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Montana Athletics and oversees all sponsorships, in-venue signage, and advertising on behalf of the Grizzlies.
Â
About Grizzly Athletics
Grizzly Athletics sponsors 15 Division I intercollegiate varsity sports that are nationally competitive and exemplify Montana values of toughness, integrity, and excellence, both on the field and in the classroom. Grizzly student-athletes bring pride to the University of Montana campus community, the city of Missoula, and the state of Montana by demonstrating leadership, respect, and fair play.
Â
Montana has won two NCAA national championships in football, and, as a founding member of the Big Sky Conference, has won numerous championships across all sports. Hundreds of Grizzly student-athletes have gone on to play professionally, with thousands more reaching success in their chosen profession, fueled by the values gained at Montana.Â
Â
About Montana Knife Company
Montana Knife Company is a premium American knife manufacturer headquartered in Missoula, Montana. Founded by Master Bladesmith Josh Smith, the company designs and builds high-performance knives for hunters, outdoorsmen, ranchers, and everyday carry users. Known for its precision craftsmanship, durable materials, and Montana-made quality, Montana Knife Company has quickly grown into one of the leading knife brands in the outdoor industry while remaining committed to American manufacturing, conservation, and the values of the Western lifestyle.
Â
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield's presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors' Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
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