The Bobcat Nation

I noticed that Montana has four teams in the Pioneer League. Billings, Great Falls, Helena, and Missoula.

So if you're a baseball fan living in Bozeman and want to catch a game, which of those four teams do you follow? I noticed on a map, that Bozeman is roughly half way between Billings and Helena.

If anybody has been to all four stadiums, which stadium do you like best?

What other kinds of organized baseball are there in Montana? Any indy leagues?

Stingrays wrote:I noticed that Montana has four teams in the Pioneer League. Billings, Great Falls, Helena, and Missoula.

So if you're a baseball fan living in Bozeman and want to catch a game, which of those four teams do you follow? I noticed on a map, that Bozeman is roughly half way between Billings and Helena.

If anybody has been to all four stadiums, which stadium do you like best?

What other kinds of organized baseball are there in Montana? Any indy leagues?

Well, I haven't been to all four--I've only been to Helena, Great Falls, and Billings--but I can tell you which is the worst. Legion Field in Great Falls has to be in the worst condition of any field in the game.

Of the remaining three, I would lean toward Billings based on their recent (early 00's) record. Just my thoughts.

'93HonoluluCat wrote:

Stingrays wrote:I noticed that Montana has four teams in the Pioneer League. Billings, Great Falls, Helena, and Missoula.

So if you're a baseball fan living in Bozeman and want to catch a game, which of those four teams do you follow? I noticed on a map, that Bozeman is roughly half way between Billings and Helena.

If anybody has been to all four stadiums, which stadium do you like best?

What other kinds of organized baseball are there in Montana? Any indy leagues?

Well, I haven't been to all four--I've only been to Helena, Great Falls, and Billings--but I can tell you which is the worst. Legion Field in Great Falls has to be in the worst condition of any field in the game.

Of the remaining three, I would lean toward Billings based on their recent (early 00's) record. Just my thoughts.

Actually that used to be the case, but not anymore. We just completed a huge renovation and Legion Field is actually pretty nice now. Still need to update the main bleachers, but there are great new side area beer gardens, BBQ areas, etc.

Helena's was updated a few years ago but it's still not that great. Billings isn't too bad. I would pick the Billings stadium, plus they average around 4000 while Helena is under 1000, so the atmosphere is better was well. However, if a new vote passes in Billings (and I think it will), there will be no contest as to who has the best stadium.

Here is an artist rendition of what it would look like....
http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.ph ... -field.inc

Cat-theotherwhitemeat wrote:Helena's was updated a few years ago but it's still not that great. Billings isn't too bad. I would pick the Billings stadium, plus they average around 4000 while Helena is under 1000, so the atmosphere is better was well. However, if a new vote passes in Billings (and I think it will), there will be no contest as to who has the best stadium.

Here is an artist rendition of what it would look like....
http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.ph ... -field.inc

Wow, had heard they were going to possibly rebuild, but didn't think it would be that nice. Too bad they couldn't come up with some way to make it a combo football/baseball stadium like they were talking in that article. While multi-use stadiums kind of suck for the configuration, Billings desparately needs something other than Daylis for football.

catatac wrote:

'93HonoluluCat wrote:

Stingrays wrote:I noticed that Montana has four teams in the Pioneer League. Billings, Great Falls, Helena, and Missoula.

So if you're a baseball fan living in Bozeman and want to catch a game, which of those four teams do you follow? I noticed on a map, that Bozeman is roughly half way between Billings and Helena.

If anybody has been to all four stadiums, which stadium do you like best?

What other kinds of organized baseball are there in Montana? Any indy leagues?

Well, I haven't been to all four--I've only been to Helena, Great Falls, and Billings--but I can tell you which is the worst. Legion Field in Great Falls has to be in the worst condition of any field in the game.

Of the remaining three, I would lean toward Billings based on their recent (early 00's) record. Just my thoughts.

Actually that used to be the case, but not anymore. We just completed a huge renovation and Legion Field is actually pretty nice now. Still need to update the main bleachers, but there are great new side area beer gardens, BBQ areas, etc.

They were talking about updating it when I was stationed at Malmstrom (98-01) but I hadn't heard any news about remodeling...guess I figured it didn't happen.

Billings!

No question about it.

Good teams every year. Pack stands, beer sold on 3rd base side. Looks of pretty gals. What more do you want.

Billings is probably the best, but Helena is a lot of fun too. Especially on Thursday's, Thirsty Thursday's to be exact. Since Helena has gotten there team back they've been 1 or 2 each year. Good atmosphere but a little lacking in fan support.

Missoula's new stadium opened up last year. It still needs to be finished with permanent restrooms, concessions, and clubhouse, and finish the seating, but for what is there it is pretty nice.

Right by the Clark Fork, just a few rows up to the beer stands or have them delivered to your seats if you sit in the first couple of rows (no beer garden, drink your beer right in your seat), a nice picnic/BBQ area for groups, nice video scoreboard. It's a nice stadium just has an unfinished look and feel to it, but when done should be one of the nicer minor league parks in the NW.