MetraPark Arena
Encyclopedia
Rimrock Auto Arena is a multi-purpose arena
in Billings, Montana
, USA
with capacity for an audience of 12,000 . 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. 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 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.
on October 8, 2008 in a pre-season game against the Timberwolves. The Timberwolves prevailed 88-82.
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.
1 million naming rights deal for the arena. Beginning July 1, it became known as the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark.
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
in Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with capacity for an audience of 12,000 . 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. It is owned by the city of Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
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
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
hit the arena, causing major damage 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
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
played the first concert in the new Rimrock Auto Arena since the tornado.
Sports teams
- Billings OutlawsBillings OutlawsThe Billings Outlaws were a professional league indoor football team. They were a member of the Indoor Football League, of which they are the current champions. They played their home games at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark...
- Defunct Indoor Football LeagueIndoor Football LeagueThe Indoor Football League began in 1999 as an offshoot of the troubled Professional Indoor Football League. Keary Ecklund, the owner of the Green Bay Bombers and Madison Mad Dogs, left the PIFL after its first, financially-troubled, season to start his own league. Unlike the PIFL, the IFL was an...
Team 2000-2010 - Billings BullsBillings BullsThe Billings Bulls are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team currently playing in the American West Hockey League. The Bulls are based in Billings, Montana and play home games at the 550-seat Centennial Ice Arena, due to the size, the Bulls frequently sell out games and broadcast their games on...
- NorPacNORPACNORPAC is a bipartisan, multi-candidate political action committee working to strengthen the United States-Israel relationship. Its activities include fundraising for Senators and Members of the United States Congress who support this relationship, regular emails regarding the situation in the...
Ice Hockey Team (home ice from 1993–2006, hosted several home games between 2007–2010). - Billings Rims - Defunct AAPBL Basketball Team
- Billings RimrockersBillings RimRockersThe Billings RimRockers was a professional basketball club based in Billings, Montana that competed in the International Basketball Association beginning in the 1998-1999 season. The team folded along with the IBA after the 2000-2001 season...
- Defunct IBA Basketball Team - Billings BighornsBillings BighornsThe Billings Bighorns were a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League who played from 1977 to 1982. The team was originally the Calgary Centennials. They played at the MetraPark Arena in Billings, Montana. The team wore uniforms based upon those then used by the Washington Capitals...
- Defunct WHLWestern Hockey LeagueThe Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
Ice Hockey Team - Billings Thunderbolts - Defunct IFLIndoor Football LeagueThe Indoor Football League began in 1999 as an offshoot of the troubled Professional Indoor Football League. Keary Ecklund, the owner of the Green Bay Bombers and Madison Mad Dogs, left the PIFL after its first, financially-troubled, season to start his own league. Unlike the PIFL, the IFL was an...
Football Team - Billings Volcanos - Defunct CBAContinental Basketball AssociationThe Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
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 ThunderOklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
on October 8, 2008 in a pre-season game against the Timberwolves. The Timberwolves prevailed 88-82.
Metrapark is a longtime tour stop for the PBR's Built Ford Tough Series
Built Ford Tough Series
The Built Ford Tough Series is the "major league" tour of the PBR competitions. It is a 30-city event series culminating in the PBR World Finals every year in Las Vegas, Nevada. The top 45 riders of the PBR compete in the BFTS with the rankings determined by points and money won...
(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
All-American Professional Basketball League
The All-American Professional Basketball League was a minor basketball league formed in 2005 by Worth Christie. Announced on January 23, 2005 the league viewed itself as a direct minor league outlet for the National Basketball Association . The best players were to be promised salaries of up to...
(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
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, WCW
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
and UWF wrestling events including a live televised WCW Monday Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro was a weekly professional wrestling telecast produced by World Championship Wrestling, created by Ted Turner and Eric Bischoff. The show aired Monday nights on TNT, going head-to-head with the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw from September 4, 1995 to March 26, 2001...
television show on June 19, 2000.
Name change
On February 21, 2007, Rimrock Auto Group announced a 10-year, US $United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1 million naming rights deal for the arena. Beginning July 1, it became known as the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark.
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. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
- 2001 and 2006 - Bill ClintonBill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
- 1996 - Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
- 1982 - John F. KennedyJohn F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
- 1963 Kennedy spoke from the Fairgrounds, which is now a part of the Metrapark.