[4] The arena opened in 1953 and is home to the Montana Grizzlies and Lady Griz basketball teams.

Opened in late 1953,[1][3][5] the field house was named for newly retired track coach Harry Adams in June 1966.

[6] In the 1980s, Adams Field House seated over 9,000 and was known as the toughest arena for visiting teams in the Big Sky due to its belligerent crowd and (at one time) tartan flooring,[7][8] and also enjoyed a national reputation.

Alumnus George P. (Jiggs) Dahlberg[11] was head coach of the Grizzlies from 1937 to 1955 and retired as athletic director in 1961.

It has hosted many concerts, including Pearl Jam, Grateful Dead, Gym Class Heroes, Rascal Flatts, and Macklemore.