Utes baseball field getting major donation from Rockies owner

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 Sports) –  The new University of Utah stadium is getting a major donation from alum Charlie Monfort, the owner of the Colorado Rockies for its new $35 million stadium.

In honor of the donation, the playing surface at the new on-campus baseball stadium will be named Charlie Monfort Field.

Construction on Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark began this summer at the site of the Utes’ long-time practice field on Guardsman Way, and the stadium is scheduled to open in time for the 2026 baseball season.

“We are incredibly grateful for the tremendous support of Charlie Monfort to help make possible the construction of an on-campus home for our baseball program,” said Mark Harlan, Director of Athletics. “As a Utah alum, Charlie has taken great pride in making a significant impact to elevate our baseball program, and it is a high priority for our department to provide a home stadium that allows the Utes to compete at the highest level in the Big 12 and nationally. Being able to train and play in a home venue like Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark provides a major boost to our program, and ensures a bright future for Utah Baseball.”

It is unclear where Utah will play the 2025 season, as the plans for its home the past several years, Smith’s Ballpark, are up in the air with the Salt Lake Bees moving to a new stadium in Daybreak.

Monfort is a founder of the Colorado Rockies, and has been one of the Rockies’ managing general partners since 1992. He and his brother, Dick, have made a significant impact with community outreach in Colorado through their family-directed Monfort Family Foundation.

“It’s a true honor for me to be in a position to help the University of Utah put together a world-class baseball stadium for what is fast becoming a top-tier program,” Monfort said. “My experience at the U allowed me to start the Colorado Rockies Baseball Club, so it seemed like a perfect fit to allow our baseball student-athletes the opportunity to play in a stadium we can all be proud of.”

Plans for Charlie Monfort Field at America First Ballpark call for a 1,200-seat venue with fan amenities including concessions, restrooms, ticket office and merchandise sales, as well as facilities for the Utah baseball program, including locker rooms, coaches’ offices, medical space, equipment storage and indoor batting/pitching cages. The total project is expected to cost $35 million, with the majority of the funding privately raised.

Monfort earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing & business management from the University of Utah in 1982, and served as president of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He was named president of Monfort International Sales Corporation in 1988, and helped guide it to become one of the largest beef exporters in the world and the leading exporter of beef products to Asia. In 1990, Monfort became president of ConAgra Refrigerated Foods International, Inc., a position he held until 1997 when he directed his primary focus on his leadership role with the Rockies and multiple charitable and community organizations.

Monfort currently serves as a member of the Advisory Board for the University of Utah, and in Denver on the Special Olympics Board of Directors and as an active supporter of the Denver Dream program.

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