MetraPark | Billings

MetraPark – Overview and Experience

MetraPark stands as the vibrant entertainment and event heart of Billings, Montana. Spanning over 189 acres northeast of downtown, this massive multi-purpose complex serves as the state’s premier venue for concerts, sporting events, rodeos, fairs, trade shows, and community gatherings. More than just an arena, MetraPark is a living symbol of Montana’s mix of western heritage and modern energy-a place where country concerts share the stage with monster truck rallies, craft fairs, and championship rodeos.

History and Development
MetraPark opened in 1975, built to host large-scale events that could unite the Billings community and attract visitors from across the region. Over the decades, it has evolved into the most versatile facility in the state, managed by Yellowstone County. Following significant renovations and expansion, including rebuilding after a tornado struck the area in 2010, MetraPark emerged even stronger, with upgraded arenas, new exhibition spaces, and improved visitor amenities.

Today, it continues to grow and modernize, balancing its Montana roots with top-tier entertainment infrastructure.

Facilities and Layout
The complex consists of several key venues, each catering to different types of events:

First Interstate Arena: The crown jewel of MetraPark, this 12,000-seat indoor arena hosts major concerts, basketball games, rodeos, ice shows, and national touring acts. Its flexible seating and acoustics allow for everything from symphonies to bull riding.

Montana Pavilion: A versatile, climate-controlled space often used for livestock shows, trade fairs, and regional expos. During the MontanaFair, this building becomes a hub for 4-H exhibits, arts displays, and local vendors.

Expo Center: Designed for larger conventions and car shows, this hall accommodates massive exhibits, business expos, and community markets throughout the year.

Centennial Ice Arena: Home to local hockey leagues and open skating sessions, this smaller rink maintains a steady rhythm of family-friendly activity even when other venues quiet down.

Outdoor Grounds: The expansive fairgrounds surrounding the buildings host rodeos, carnivals, and open-air concerts, complete with grandstands and food stalls during major events.

Signature Events
MetraPark is perhaps best known for MontanaFair, held each August. As the state’s largest fair, it draws tens of thousands of visitors over ten days of concerts, rodeo competitions, livestock exhibitions, carnival rides, and fireworks. The air fills with the smell of grilled corn, funnel cakes, and barbecue, while laughter and country music echo across the grounds.

Throughout the year, MetraPark also welcomes:

National music tours featuring top country, rock, and pop artists.

The NILE Stock Show & Rodeo (Northern International Livestock Exposition), celebrating Montana’s agricultural heritage with rodeo events, livestock auctions, and western art.

Home shows, sports tournaments, and comedy tours that bring in diverse audiences.

Every season feels different at MetraPark-summer fairs buzz with energy, winter events fill the arena with light and warmth, and spring brings exhibitions that showcase local craftsmanship and business innovation.

Atmosphere and Visitor Experience
Stepping onto the grounds during a major event feels electric. The sounds of cheering crowds, carnival rides, and live music blend with the smell of food trucks and hay from the livestock barns. The mix of people-families, ranchers, teenagers, and tourists-captures Montana’s community spirit.

Parking is abundant, with clearly marked entrances, and the layout is easy to navigate. The arena’s interior offers comfortable seating, modern lighting, and accessible facilities. Outside event days, the grounds retain a quieter charm, often used by locals for walking or jogging.

Architecture and Setting
MetraPark sits against the backdrop of Billings’ northeastern bluffs, with the Rimrocks visible in the distance. Its low-profile, industrial architecture emphasizes function over form, yet at night, the glow from its arenas and fairgrounds gives it a dynamic presence. The location near Interstate 90 and Highway 87 makes it easily accessible from anywhere in the region.

Closing Impression
MetraPark embodies Billings’ role as Montana’s gathering place-a modern arena complex that never loses sight of its small-town roots. Whether you’re watching a rodeo under bright arena lights, singing along at a sold-out concert, or wandering the fairgrounds with a paper cone of cotton candy, the experience feels distinctly western and unmistakably local. It’s where Montana comes together to celebrate, compete, and connect-one event at a time.