A Community Steps Up
One of the most remarkable parts of the Adam Bronken story is how many businesses agreed to help. Local businesses donated equipment. Contractors contributed labor. Suppliers discounted materials. Friends showed up with tools and machinery. Mountain Supply became a major supporter. Rain Bird helped provide irrigation equipment. Construction companies donated sand, machinery, and expertise. Equipment dealers loaned tractors and tools. Individuals contributed money.

Some of the biggest contributions came in the form of materials and equipment. To create safe, high-quality playing surfaces, Garth Sime Construction donated the sand and partnered with the City of Bozeman to haul in and spread six inches across the entire complex. It was a massive undertaking, requiring countless truckloads (over 8,000 cubic yards!) and hours of work, but it helped turn a former pasture into fields capable of hosting competitive soccer for generations to come.

Once Sime Construction leveled the sand, it had to be tilled into the soil. Churchill Equipment loaned a LARGE roto-tiller and the local Case Tractor dealer loaned the use of a tractor big enough to handle the tiller. Of course this brought up lots of rocks, which had to be removed with a rock rake (loaned by a local farmer) and put into rows where the larger rocks could be picked up with his tractor. The smaller rocks were picked/placed into five gallon buckets by friends and volunteers.

Brian still sounds amazed by the response. “I don’t think I ever asked any business that wasn’t willing to help.” Looking back, he says there was only one company that ever declined. “There was a lot of cooperation between businesses in Bozeman,” he says. “The businesses in Bozeman are terrific.” The project became far bigger than a memorial. It became a community-wide effort, a shared mission, and a chance for Bozeman to build something meaningful in honor of a very special soccer player.

The Building That Almost Wasn’t
As the complex began to take shape, Brian’s vision extended beyond soccer fields. The original plans called for a building with restrooms, changing rooms, and gathering spaces for players and families. But, like every other part of the project, funding remained a challenge. Once the fields were complete with sprinklers and growing grass, management and oversight of the park was turned over to the city. Then tragedy struck the community once again. In December of 2002, Pat Connell, a local businessman, close friend of the Bronken family, and supporter of the project, died unexpectedly in an accident. Brian remembers Pat’s wife, Tempe, made an extraordinary decision. She donated a portion of his life insurance proceeds to help fund construction of the building that still stands at Adam Bronken Soccer Complex today.

“Something good happened from Pat’s death,” Brian says quietly. “That’s why there’s a plaque on the side of the building in honor of Pat.” Like the fields themselves, the building became a symbol of a community determined to create something lasting from loss. What began as a memorial for one young goalkeeper grew through the generosity of another family into a facility that continues to serve thousands of players and families every year.


Years Later
Great things rarely happen quickly. Adam Bronken Fields was no exception. What began as an idea in 1997 became a seven-year community effort involving fundraising, permitting, construction, and thousands of volunteer hours. Piece by piece, the property transformed. What had once been a cow pasture became a sports complex. Grass replaced weeds. Goals replaced cattle. Children replaced construction equipment. Eventually, the vision became reality: a permanent home for soccer, a permanent tribute to Adam Bronken, a permanent gift to the community.

The Legacy Lives On
Today, thousands of players have stepped onto those fields. Most don’t know about the environmental reviews, the fundraising campaigns, the donated equipment, the volunteer labor, or the years of persistence. They simply know they have a place to play, a place to compete, a place to make friends. A place to learn confidence, teamwork, resilience, and character. Perhaps that’s exactly what Adam Bronken Fields was always meant to be. What began as an effort to honor one young goalkeeper became something much larger—a community asset, a gathering place, a home for youth sports—a reminder of what can happen when ordinary people decide to do something extraordinary.

When asked what he feels when he sees children playing there today, Brian’s answer cuts through all the permits, fundraising, and construction. “I’m glad to see kids playing on it,” he says. “I love seeing it. But it’s not me. It’s the kids.” Today, every game played at Adam Bronken Soccer Complex tells part of that story. A story of loss, generosity, and perseverance. And a story which proves that sometimes the most unbelievable things are true. Because thousands of Montana soccer players continue to benefit from one man’s determination, and an entire community’s willingness to help.  

Self Authored by Brian Troth. Brian Troth set out to honor Blitzz FC U14 goalkeeper Adam Bronken in a way that would impact generations of players by creating the Adam Bronken Sports Park.

Acknowledgement From Brian Troth And Family:
I would like to acknowledge a few businesses and individuals that without them, the project would NEVER have been possible.
The Bronken family! 
Garth Sime and Sime Construction
Mountain Supply
Rain Bird Company
Ron Dingman and Tom White of Bozeman Parks and Recreation
My family, Susan, Kiira, and Austin
Friends of the Troth Family
And many more, too many to list, but you know who you are!!