Washington–Grizzly Stadium

The concrete stands curve around the pitch, and behind them the hills rise dry and golden. A white dome sits next door, but the stadium claims the skyline for itself. The name on the scoreboard is redundant; Montana runs across the turf in white letters.

It is the only place in Missoula where sports matter. The University of Montana Grizzlies have played here since the roof was put on in 1986. The crowd swells past the official capacity when the visitors from across the state arrive. The record attendance of 27,340 arrived for that match in November.

The surface is artificial turf, replaced in 2016. It is uniform and green, unlike the dirt patches that used to form. The east side of the stadium holds the skyboxes, added during an expansion that brought the total capacity to 25,217. The concrete is grey and never repainted, but the red steelwork around the scoreboards is bright.

It is not just a football ground. The third image shows the stage set up for the Summer Carnival. The lights cut through the dark sky in beams of purple and orange. The stands fill with people who are not there for a kickoff. The Brawl of the Wild is a different kind of day, but the concerts fill the gaps between seasons. The relationship between the university and the town is built on this shared space.