"The Big Orange Box" | |
 | |
 BMO Center in March 2024 | |
  BMO Harris Bank Center Location within Illinois  BMO Harris Bank Center Location within the United States | |
| Former names | Rockford MetroCentre (1981–2011) BMO Harris Bank Center (2011–2022) |
|---|---|
| Address | 300 Elm Street |
| Location | Rockford, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 42°16′12.95″N 89°5′45.9″W / 42.2702639°N 89.096083°W |
| Public transit |  RMTD |
| Owner | Rockford Area Venues & Entertainment Authority[1] |
| Operator | ASM Global[2] |
| Capacity | 6,200 [3] |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | February 7, 1979[4] |
| Opened | January 31, 1981[6] |
| Construction cost | $15.7 million ($65.9 million in 2023 dollars[5]) |
| Architect | Larson & Darby |
| Tenants | |
| Rockford Lightning (CBA) (1986–2006) Illinois Thunder (NPSL) (1990–1992) Rockford IceHogs (UHL) (1999–2007) Rockford Thunder/Rampage (AISL/MISL) (2005–2007, 2008–2010) Rock River Raptors (UIF/CIFL) (2006–2009) Rockford IceHogs (AHL) (2007–present) Chicago Blitz (X League) (2022–present) | |
The BMO Center (formerly known as BMO Harris Bank Center and Rockford MetroCentre) is a multi-purpose arena located in downtown Rockford, Illinois, United States. It is currently home to the AHL's Rockford IceHogs hockey team. The arena formerly served as the home of several defunct minor league sports teams, including the Rockford Lightning basketball team, the Rock River Raptors indoor football team, the Rockford Rampage indoor soccer team and the Chicago Rush arena football team.
Due to its outdoor appearance, it is often referred to as the "Big Orange Box."[7]
- ^ Kolkey, Jeff (August 10, 2011). "RAVE Authority to Sell Naming Rights to MetroCentre". Rockford Register Star. GateHouse Media. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
- ^ "Contract to Manage the Rockford, IL BMO Center, Davis Park, Coronado Performing Arts Center and the AHL's Rockford IceHogs" (Press release). Rockford Area Venues and Entertainment Authority. ASM Global. August 24, 2010.
- ^ Wehausen, Sam (September 10, 2013). "Renovation Update". Rockford IceHogs. Infinity Sports & Entertainment. Archived from the original on March 22, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
- ^ "Ground-Breaking Protest". The Ledger. Vol. 72, no. 112. Lakeland Ledger Publishing Corporation. February 8, 1979. p. 2A. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ Kolkey, Jeff (July 27, 2010). "Minorities Rarely Take the Stage in Downtown Rockford". Rockford Register Star. GateHouse Media. Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
- ^ Love, JB (2021-05-20). "Rockford's Big Orange Box To Get Major Glow-Up Like Never Before". Q985. Retrieved 2023-12-04.