Article by Stephanie Hobby

Renderings Courtesy of A&E + SMA Design

Photos by Jessica Plance 

For nearly 100 years, Daylis Stadium has stood as the backdrop for countless victories and heartbreaks, where athletes and fans from a bygone era have grown up to witness their own children and grandchildren face off against today's rivals under Friday night lights. Dedicated on November 5, 1929, exactly a week after the stock market's fall plunged the nation into the Great Depression, Daylis served as an athletic hub in the Treasure State through World War II, the Civil Rights Era, the Cold War, and the dawn of the Information Age. But the years took their toll, and by 2024, the crumbling stands were condemned, no longer safe for fans, and it was time to take action. 

In the spring of 2025, Billings School District launched a $15 million campaign to replace the historic stadium, and community support flourished. This was no small feat, given the simultaneous construction of the Amend Recreation Campus, the Amend Park Sport Court Facility, Signal Peak Ice Arena, and MetraPark's Rodeo Arena, each competing for attention and donor dollars. Yet the generosity came anyway. 

Millions of dollars in donations poured in, and the new facility took shape as Sam McDonald Stadium at Daylis, named in honor of a $2 million gift from the McDonald family. A $1 million contribution from Scheels secured naming rights to the track and field facility, while major gifts from Intermountain Health, Montana Peak Performance, and numerous local families helped carry the project forward. In June, Par Montana and KOA each announced $250,000 gifts, claiming naming rights to the new ticket box office and the west entrance, respectively. Donations from local families and businesses continue to build momentum. 

"We hit home run after home run, and now we're hitting singles, five thousand here and ten thousand there. We just need to keep hitting singles until the project is completed," said Mark Sulser, Executive Director of Athletics and Activities for School District 2. 

 By the end of 2025, the old stadium had been leveled, and a new era began to take shape on the grounds east of Billings Senior High School. With broad input from experts and key stakeholders, Sulser is confident the facility will be the best it can be. 

A&E + SMA Design, a Billings-founded firm with offices across Montana, took on the project. For the team assigned to Sam McDonald Stadium at Daylis, it carried a different kind of weight. "Leading the design of this stadium has been an amazing privilege for our firm, as it was never just another project. It was an opportunity to give back to the community," said Chad Schreiner, associate principal at A&E + SMA Design. "We understand what the stadium means to people, and our team approached every decision with that responsibility in mind." 

Schreiner said watching the community respond to the finished facility has been the most meaningful part of the process. "Seeing the community embrace a facility designed to serve generations to come is incredibly rewarding, and we're grateful to have been part of creating something that reflects the pride, spirit, and future of our hometown," he said. 

Athletes will benefit from new locker rooms, expanded from two to four to accommodate each of the three Billings high schools that use the field, as well as visiting teams. Each locker room will be branded for its team and will include offices for coaches and dedicated, secure storage. The visiting team's locker room is strategically positioned adjacent to Grand Avenue for easier access. 

Fans will notice upgrades from the moment they arrive. A breezeway opens into space for concessions, updated and expanded restrooms (the women's room grew from six stalls to 32), two family bathrooms, and straightforward access to seating. Beneath the bleachers, boulders offer casual hangout space alongside additional storage. Booster clubs gain more room, and newly planted trees lend a park-like atmosphere to the surroundings. On game days, ambient lighting will be set to blue for Skyview, orange for Billings Senior, and gold for Billings West. 

Sulser said the focus has been to build a true citywide facility, a model that is common in other parts of the country. "Those that come from out of state in general think we're crazy to have a multi-use facility, but then what you have is three very average facilities that are hard to keep up around town, so this is a way better system in my opinion. We're used to it, we know the drill, and know how it goes," he said. 

The ability to host soccer matches, track meets, and football games will shift Sam McDonald Stadium at Daylis into a year-round facility. With a ten-lane track and dedicated field event space for javelin, discus, and high jump, Sulser expects Billings will regularly host larger competitions, including divisional or state track meets. 

The work has not gone unnoticed by those building it. Roman Domke, superintendent of the project for Dick Anderson Construction, says he loves seeing people come up to the fence to ask questions and share their enthusiasm. "That's been a lot of fun to have that much community appreciation for it," Domke said, noting that many of the subcontractors are personally invested in the outcome. "A lot of them played here and went to school here, so it's a big deal for everybody." 

That sense of personal investment runs throughout the Dick Anderson Construction team. "Many of our project team members have cherished memories at Daylis Stadium. It's an honor to be a part of such a meaningful project, and we are proud to help preserve that legacy for our community and the generations that follow," said AJ Harmon, Project Manager. 

Todd McDonald, Billings Vice President for Dick Anderson Construction, reflected on the scope of what the team has accomplished. "One word sums up this project for me, amazing. The transformation has generated incredible excitement and anticipation throughout Billings, and it will stand as a legacy project for Dick Anderson Construction. We are grateful to Billings Public Schools for entrusting us with this remarkable opportunity and to the entire project team for their dedication. Sam McDonald Stadium at Daylis will proudly serve students, athletes, and the community for generations to come." 

For Sulser, the outpouring of support has been unlike anything the district has experienced. "I don't think there's a word to describe the gratitude that we have. The district was able to provide almost half the project, and private donors coming out of the woodwork for us has been unprecedented," he said. 

The community will get its first look at the finished facility sooner than expected. The first game of the season is set for Thursday, August 27, when the Skyview Falcons football team faces off against the Helena High Bengals at 7 p.m. The grand opening follows on Saturday, August 29, beginning at 9 a.m. with a parade departing from the Senior High parking lot, traveling up Virginia Lane, right on Parkhill Drive, and south on 3rd Street West to the East Gate. Immediately following, the public is invited to attend the official renaming ceremony. Afterward, visitors are welcome to stay and explore everything the new Sam McDonald Stadium at Daylis has to offer. 

Originally printed in the August 2026 issue of Simply Local Magazine

Never miss an issue, check out SLM's digital editions here!  

related articles: