With Montana picked to win the Big Sky Conference title and receiving a top-two preseason national ranking, excitement for Griz football is high in Missoula.
So high, in fact, Montana has already sold 18,000-plus season tickets and is approaching an all-time season ticket record with over a week until the home opener on Sept. 3.
As of Wednesday morning, Grizzly Athletics has sold and distributed 18,029 season tickets, not including University of Montana students. It marks the highest total in a decade, having not passed 18k since 2012.
Montana is now on pace to beat its second-highest season ticket total of 18,155 set in 2011 and could break the all-time record of 18,662 set in 2009.
“The season ticket holders are truly the foundation of our football program, and we appreciate every single one of them. Many travel great distances, coming from all over the state and region. Their willingness to support our student-athletes and this university is truly motivating,” said director of athletics Kent Haslam.
“We cannot say thank you enough for investing in the success of this athletic department.”
For context, Boise State announced it had sold 17,548 season tickets in the 2021 season, an increase of nearly 1,000 from the 2019 total of 16,580, according to the Idaho Press-Tribune.
Elsewhere around the west, San Diego State reported 12,500 season tickets sold this year ahead of its first season in a new stadium, while Nevada has reported 4,000 sold this season. Appalachian State, a former FCS program now competing in the Sun Belt, reported a season ticket sellout this year at 11,000 sold. This, according to a Sports Business Journal report from July 26.
With single-game ticket sales initiatives at Montana like a new partnership with wholesale retailer Costco, three-game ticket mini pack options, and the popular “Roaming Griz” package, access to Griz football tickets is at an all-time high.
Demand for Griz football is also at a fever pitch, and for good reason. Both the Big Sky coaches and media picked UM to win the conference championship, and FCS coaches around the country slotted the Griz at No. 2 in the AFCA preseason poll.
Montana returns an elite defense with three players named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List. Linebacker Patrick O’Connell and cornerback Justin Ford – who finished third and fourth, respectively, in the voting for the 2021 award – return, along with Robby Hauck, who is on target to shatter UM’s career tackle record.
They anchor a defense that led the league and was third in the nation against the rush last year, allowing opponents to average just 82 yards per game on the ground. With the help of Ford’s NCAA-best nine interceptions, the Griz were No. 2 in the nation in takeaways as well, with a total of 30.
The Griz also return plenty of firepower on offense, with record-breaking running back Marcus Knight returning to the fold after scoring a school record 25 touchdowns as a sophomore.
Paced by seniors Malik Flowers (himself a record-holder on special teams) and Mitch Roberts, Montana’s wide receivers possess plenty of firepower, with sophomores Junior Bergen Aaron Fontes and Keelan White ready to break out as stars at the position.
Add in a senior QB with big-game experience in Lucas Johnson and added heft on the offensive line in Chris Walker, and Montana looks to have all the tools to light up the scoreboard.
Washington-Grizzly Stadium’s listed capacity is 25,217, but Montana broke an attendance record last season against Montana State when 26,856 fans packed in to see the Grizzlies beat the Bobcats.
Montana enjoys one of the best home field advantages in college football, holding a 215-34 record inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium since it opened in 1986 – an 86.3 win percentage.
Increased season tickets, better single-game ticket options, and championship potential on the field could lead to more record attendance. There is still time for fans to make sure they don’t miss out on the highly-anticipated upcoming season.
“We still have season tickets available. If you are thinking about making that purchase, I say please just do it and help us hit a new all-time high. We want Washington-Grizzly Stadium packed every Saturday for Grizzly football,” Haslam added.
Season tickets, single game tickets, three-game mini-packs, and “Roaming Griz” packages are all on sale now at GrizTix.com.