History
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. On June 20, 2010, a tornado dubbed the Fathers Day Tornado hit the arena, causing major damage In 2010-2011 the arena was redesigned and rebuilt. The new Rimrock Auto Arena at Metra Park has many new amenities such as improved acoustics, improved seating, more restrooms and concession areas, and easier access from the parking areas. The new arena is 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.
Read more about this topic: Rimrock Auto Arena At Metra Park
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“A man acquainted with history may, in some respect, be said to have lived from the beginning of the world, and to have been making continual additions to his stock of knowledge in every century.”
—David Hume (1711–1776)
“History is more or less bunk. It’s tradition. We don’t want tradition. We want to live in the present and the only history that is worth a tinker’s damn is the history we make today.”
—Henry Ford (1863–1947)
“Every literary critic believes he will outwit history and have the last word.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)