BMO Harris Bank Center facts for kids
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"The Big Orange Box"
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Aerial view of venue (c.1990)
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| Former names | Rockford MetroCentre (1981–2011) |
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| Address | 300 Elm St Rockford, IL 61101-1238 |
| Location | Downtown Rockford |
| Owner | Rockford Area Venues & Entertainment Authority |
| Operator | ASM Global |
| Capacity | 6,200 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | February 7, 1979 |
| Opened | January 31, 1981 |
| Construction cost | $15.7 million ($63.3 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Larson & Darby |
| Tenants | |
| Rockford Lightning (CBA) (1986–2006) Illinois Thunder (NPSL) (1990-92) Rockford IceHogs (UHL) (1999–2007) Rockford Thunder/Rampage (AISL/MISL) (2005-07, 2008-10) Rock River Raptors (UIF/CIFL) (2006–09) Rockford IceHogs (AHL) (2007–present) |
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The BMO Harris Bank Center is a large building in downtown Rockford, Illinois. It's a place where many different events happen. Before 2011, it was known as the Rockford MetroCentre.
Today, it's the home ice for the Rockford IceHogs hockey team. They play in the AHL. Over the years, many other sports teams have played here too. These include the Rockford Lightning basketball team and the Rockford Rampage indoor soccer team.
This arena also has a special place in sports history. In 1986, it hosted the very first test game for the Arena Football League. That game was between the Chicago Politicians and the Rockford Metros. Because of its look from the outside, people sometimes call it "the Big Orange Box."
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History of the BMO Harris Bank Center
The BMO Harris Bank Center opened its doors on January 31, 1981. The very first event was a big party with famous entertainers like Bob Hope and Lynda Carter.
One of the most exciting events in the arena's early days happened in 1981. The famous rock band The Rolling Stones played a concert here on October 1, 1981. This concert was added to their tour because local radio listeners asked for it! People had to enter a lottery just to get the chance to buy tickets.
The arena has also hosted many important sports events. It was the site of the Mid-American Conference men's basketball tournaments in 1984 and 1986. It also hosts many high school basketball tournaments for the IHSA. Besides sports, the BMO Harris Bank Center is a popular spot for concerts, big meetings, and high school graduation ceremonies.
Arena Features and Naming
The BMO Harris Bank Center is designed to host all sorts of big events. It has special areas for the press, a comfortable lounge, and private suites. These suites are perfect for watching sports games in style.
New Name for the Arena
For many years, the building was known as the Rockford MetroCentre. But on August 11, 2011, it got a new name. BMO Harris Bank made an agreement with the Rockford IceHogs. Because of this, the arena was officially renamed the BMO Harris Bank Center.
Upgrades and Renovations
Over the years, the BMO Harris Bank Center has received several important updates.
In 2006, the city of Rockford and Winnebago County decided to invest in the arena. They planned to spend $23 million to make big improvements. A key part of this plan was to bring an American Hockey League (AHL) team to Rockford. This team would be connected to the Chicago Blackhawks. The arena's owners bought an AHL team and named them the "IceHogs."
More big changes happened in the summer of 2013. The old seats in the lower part of the building were replaced. New, modern seats were installed. This change also increased the number of seats for hockey games. The capacity went from 5,767 to 5,895 fans. The visitors' locker room was also made bigger. Plus, new lights were added, and the main concourse area was updated.
