- Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark
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Rimrock Auto Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Billings, Montana, USA with capacity for an audience of 12,000 [1]. The arena was completed in 1975 and named the METRA, an acronym that stood for Montana Entertainment Trade and Recreation Arena. Later the entire grounds surrounding the arena was named MetraPark, and the arena became MetraPark Arena. The naming rights were sold to Billings-based Rimrock Auto Group in 2007 and the arena now goes by the name Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark.[2] It is owned by the city of Billings, Montana and Yellowstone County. In 2005, MetraPark Arena marked its 30th anniversary. The arena hosts a variety of local sporting, musical, and other events. It has also hosted professional sporting competitions. On June 20, 2010, a tornado hit the arena, causing major damage[3] with much of the roof being completely torn off. The arena is currently being redesigned and rebuilt. When completed in 2011 it will have many new amenities such as improved acoustics, improved seating, more restrooms and concession areas, and easier access from the parking areas. The new arena will be an energy efficient building with contemporary aesthetics. On April 10, 2011, with the outer arena still under construction, Elton John played the first concert in the new Rimrock Auto Arena since the tornado.[4][5]
MetraPark Arena after the tornado damaged it on June 20, 2010
Aftermath of the arena on June 21, 2010.
2009 United BowlContents
Sports teams
- Billings Outlaws - Defunct Indoor Football League Team 2000-2010
- Billings Bulls - NorPac Ice Hockey Team (home ice from 1993–2006, hosted several home games between 2007–2010).
- Billings Rims - Defunct AAPBL Basketball Team
- Billings Rimrockers - Defunct IBA Basketball Team
- Billings Bighorns - Defunct WHL Ice Hockey Team
- Billings Thunderbolts - Defunct IFL Football Team
- Billings Volcanos - Defunct CBA Basketball Team
Sporting events
Metrapark has hosted pre-season NBA games on a semi-regular basis. The Arena played host to the first ever game for the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder on October 8, 2008 in a pre-season game against the Timberwolves. The Timberwolves prevailed 88-82.[6]
Metrapark is a longtime tour stop for the PBR's Built Ford Tough Series (known as the Bud Light Cup until 2003), which has visited the arena every year since 1996.
In the summer of 2005, Metrapark hosted tryouts for the All-American Professional Basketball League (AAPBL), a new minor basketball league. The tryouts took place from July 11–22, 2005. However, the league folded soon thereafter.
MetraPark has also played host to various WWE, WCW and UWF wrestling events including a live televised WCW Monday Nitro television show on June 19, 2000.
Name change
On February 21, 2007, Rimrock Auto Group announced a 10-year, US $1 million naming rights deal for the arena. Beginning July 1, it became known as the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark.[7]
Annual events
- Montana State High School Wrestling Tournament - FEB
- M.A.T.E (Montana Agri-Trade Expo) - FEB
- Spring Home Improvement Show - MAR
- MontanaFair - AUG
- Fall Home Improvement Show - SEP
- NILE Rodeo - OCT
- Chase Hawks Memorial Rough Stock Rodeo - DEC
- Every other year MetraPark host a Men's college basketball game between Montana State and Wyoming.
U.S. presidential visits
- George W. Bush - 2001 and 2006
- Bill Clinton - 1996
- Ronald Reagan - 1982
- John F. Kennedy - 1963 Kennedy spoke from the Fairgrounds, which is now a part of the Metrapark.
Notes and references
- ^ http://www.metrapark.com/facility/rimrock-auto-arena/
- ^ http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_8e0c7b98-7dc5-5d29-88cb-53b65b3b3625.html
- ^ http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_838bcdd0-7cc2-11df-8fe9-001cc4c03286.html?mode=story
- ^ http://www.ktvq.com/news/tornado-hits-billings/ Tornado Hits Billings - KTVQ
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlGsNN7TPrc&feature=player_embedded Tornado destroys MetraPark (raw video - explicit language)
- ^ Sites, Phil (2008-10-08). "T'Wolves Play Spoiler". Billings Gazette. http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/10/09/sports/local/18-wolves.txt. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
- ^ Howard, Tom (2007-02-21). "County OKs deals for ads, video, arena name". Billings Gazette. http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/02/21/news/local/20-metra_x.txt. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
External links
Coordinates: 45°48′00″N 108°28′38″W / 45.800103°N 108.477201°W
Categories:- Indoor ice hockey venues in the United States
- Sports venues in Montana
- Arena football venues
- Western Hockey League arenas
- Buildings and structures in Billings, Montana
- Visitor attractions in Yellowstone County, Montana
- Convention centers in Montana
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