First Interstate Arena
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First Interstate Arena (colloquially known as The Metra) is a multi-purpose
History
The arena was completed in 1975 and named the METRA, an
Name changes
On February 21, 2007, Rimrock Auto Group announced a 10-year, US $1 million naming rights deal for the arena. Beginning July 1, 2007 it became known as the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark.[8] On June 3, 2019, First Interstate Bank announced a 5-year US$875,000 naming rights deal for the arena.[9] The new name of the facility would be First Interstate Arena at MetraPark.
Events
Concerts
The Arena remains the largest indoor concert venue in Montana and hosts an average of 9–12 concerts each year. In 2015,
Other major concert performances at the arena included
Annual
- Montana State High School Wrestling Tournament – February
- M.A.T.E (Montana Agri-Trade Expo) – February
- Spring Home Improvement Show – March
- MontanaFair – August
- Fall Home Improvement Show – September
- NILE (Northern International Livestock Exposition) Stock Show and Rodeo – October
- Chase Hawks Memorial Rough Stock Rodeo – December
- Every other year MetraPark host a Men's college basketball game between Montana State and Wyoming.
Sporting
The Arena has been home to two teams with the Indoor Football League IFL. The Billings Outlaws played in the league from 2000 to 2010 before disbanding following the June 2010 Father's Day tornado. In 2015, the league expanded adding the Billings Wolves but only lasted two seasons before folding as well.
MetraPark has hosted pre-season
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 to 22, 2005. However, the league folded shortly thereafter.
MetraPark has also played host to various
In 2017, First Interstate Arena hosted the NAIA Women's DI Basketball Tournament.
U.S. presidential visits
- Donald Trump – 2018
- George W. Bush – 2001 and 2006
- Bill Clinton – 1996
- George H. W. Bush – 1992
- Ronald Reagan – 1982
- John F. Kennedy – 1963 Kennedy spoke at MetraPark, then known as the Midland Empire Fairgrounds. This occurred prior to the construction of the current arena.
References
- ^ "MetraPark Arena Information | MetraPark". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2011-07-25.
- ^ "10 months later, a new arena ready to shine".
- ^ Cochran, Diane (27 June 2010). "Tornado gives Billings chance to rethink Metra". Independent Record. Lee Enterprises. Archived from the original on 29 December 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
- ^ "MetraPark Arena naming rights sold".
- ^ "Tornado destroys MetraPark arena, Heights stores".
- ^ http://www.ktvq.com/news/tornado-hits-billings/ Archived 2010-06-25 at the Wayback Machine Tornado Hits Billings – KTVQ
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlGsNN7TPrc&feature=player_embedded Tornado destroys MetraPark (raw video – explicit language)
- ^ Howard, Tom (2007-02-21). "County OKs deals for ads, video, arena name". Billings Gazette. Archived from the original on 2016-03-19. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
- ^ "New era at Billings' MetraPark as arena officially changes name". KTVQ. 2019-06-04. Retrieved 2019-08-22.
- ^ "Metra performers attract crowds over decades".
- ^ Sites, Phil (2008-10-08). "T'Wolves Play Spoiler". Billings Gazette. Retrieved 2008-10-09.[permanent dead link]