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{{Short description|Arena in Illinois, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = BMO Center
| nickname = ''"The Big Orange Box"''
| image = BMO Center - Rockford, Illinois - March 2024.jpg
| logo_image = [[File:BMO Harris Bank Center.jpg|125px]]
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Illinois##Location within the United States
| pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_label = BMO Harris Bank Center
| mapframe = no
| caption = BMO Center in March 2024
| pushpin_map = Illinois#USA
| former_names = Rockford MetroCentre {{small|(1981–2011)}}<br />BMO Harris Bank Center {{small|(2011–2022)}}
| address = 300 Elm Street
| location = [[Rockford, Illinois]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|42|16|12.95|N|89|5|45.9|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| publictransit = {{Bus icon}} [[Rockford Mass Transit District|RMTD]]
| capacity = 6,200 <ref name="2013reno">{{cite web|title=Renovation Update|first=Sam|last=Wehausen|url=http://www.icehogs.com/news/index.html?article_id=3881|publisher=Infinity Sports & Entertainment|work=Rockford IceHogs|date=September 10, 2013|access-date=October 9, 2013|archive-date=March 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322143552/http://icehogs.com/news/index.html?article_id=3881|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| broke_ground = February 7, 1979<ref>{{cite news |title=Ground-Breaking Protest|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=u21NAAAAIBAJ&pg=5566,2201806&dq=en|newspaper=[[The Ledger]]|publisher=Lakeland Ledger Publishing Corporation|volume=72|issue=112|page=2A|date=February 8, 1979|access-date=September 23, 2011}}</ref>
| opened = January 31, 1981<ref>{{cite web|title=Minorities Rarely Take the Stage in Downtown Rockford|first=Jeff|last=Kolkey|url=http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x1005402518/Minorities-rarely-take-the-stage-in-downtown-Rockford|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912033643/http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x1005402518/Minorities-rarely-take-the-stage-in-downtown-Rockford|archive-date=September 12, 2012|work=[[Rockford Register Star]]|publisher=[[GateHouse Media]]|date=July 27, 2010|access-date=September 23, 2011}}</ref>
| owner = Rockford Area Venues & Entertainment Authority<ref>{{cite news|title=RAVE Authority to Sell Naming Rights to MetroCentre|first=Jeff|last=Kolkey|url=http://blogs.e-rockford.com/jeffkolkey/2011/08/10/rave-authority-to-sell-naming-rights-to-metrocentre/|work=Rockford Register Star|publisher=GateHouse Media|date=August 10, 2011|access-date=September 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328110011/http://blogs.e-rockford.com/jeffkolkey/2011/08/10/rave-authority-to-sell-naming-rights-to-metrocentre/|archive-date=March 28, 2012}}</ref>
| operator = [[Anschutz Entertainment Group|ASM Global]]<ref>{{cite press release|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|url=https://www.aegworldwide.com/press-center/press-releases/aeg-facilities-and-smg-announce-merger |title=Contract to Manage the Rockford, IL BMO Center, Davis Park, Coronado Performing Arts Center and the AHL's Rockford IceHogs|publisher=Rockford Area Venues and Entertainment Authority|agency=ASM Global|date=August 24, 2010}}</ref>
| construction_cost = $15.7 million<br>{{small|(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|15700000|1979}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})}}
| architect = Larson & Darby
| tenants = [[Rockford Lightning]] {{small|([[Continental Basketball Association|CBA]]) (1986–2006)}}<br>[[Illinois Thunder]] {{small|([[National Professional Soccer League (1984&ndash;2001)|NPSL]]) (1990–1992)}}<br>[[Rockford IceHogs (UHL)|Rockford IceHogs]] {{small|([[United Hockey League|UHL]]) (1999–2007)}}<br>[[Rockford Rampage|Rockford Thunder/Rampage]] {{small|([[American Indoor Soccer League|AISL]]/[[Major Indoor Soccer League (2008&ndash;14)|MISL]]) (2005–2007, 2008–2010)}}<br>[[Rock River Raptors]] {{small|([[United Indoor Football|UIF]]/[[Continental Indoor Football League|CIFL]]) (2006–2009)}}<br>[[Rockford IceHogs]] {{small|([[American Hockey League|AHL]]) (2007–present)}}<br>[[Chicago Blitz (X League)|Chicago Blitz]] {{small|([[X League (women's football)|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 [[American Hockey League|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 American football|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".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Love |first=JB|date=2021-05-20 |title=Rockford's Big Orange Box To Get Major Glow-Up Like Never Before |url=https://q985online.com/rockfords-big-orange-box-to-get-major-glow-up-like-never-before/ |access-date=2023-12-04 |website=Q985 |language=en}}</ref>

==History==
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2019}}
{{Missing information|section|arena history from 1986 to present day|date=May 2019|talksection=|section=yes}}
}}
The opening night gala in 1981 was headlined by Bob Hope and Lynda Carter.  [[The Rolling Stones]] made an appearance on their [[The Rolling Stones American Tour 1981|1981 North American Tour]] on October 1, 1981. The concert was added to the tour in response to a radio station petition drive. The actual petitions were cut up and used to hold a lottery for the right to buy tickets. Each person drawn could purchase two of the $15 tickets.

The facility hosted the 1984 and 1986 [[Mid-American Conference]] men's basketball tournaments as well as numerous [[Illinois High School Association|IHSA]] basketball sectional and super-sectional tournaments. In addition to athletic events, it hosts concerts, conventions, and local high school graduations.

Starting in 1999, the venue hosted the Rockford IceHogs, a minor league hockey team. Presently, it also hosts several smaller events, from monster truck rallies, to comedy shows and concerts.

==Arena information==
The BMO Center hosts major concerts, sport events, and other large-scale events. The complex houses press boxes, a lounge, and suites to watch sport events in style, and a multi-purpose arena.

===Naming rights===
On August 11, 2011, it was announced that the Rockford IceHogs had reached a long term agreement with [[BMO Harris Bank]] for the venue's naming rights, effectively rebranding as the BMO Harris Bank Center.<ref>{{cite web|title=BMO Harris Bank teams with IceHogs|url=http://theahl.com/bmo-harris-bank-teams-with-icehogs-p172166|publisher=The AHL|access-date=August 11, 2011|date=August 11, 2011|archive-date=September 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919180506/http://theahl.com/bmo-harris-bank-teams-with-icehogs-p172166|url-status=dead}}</ref> On October 20, 2022, the arena was again rebranded as the BMO Center.<ref>{{cite web |last1=WIFR |title=Rockford arena announces new name, partnership extension with IceHogs |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nhl/rockford-arena-announces-new-name-partnership-extension-with-icehogs/ar-AA13cCEW |website=Rockford WIFR-LD |access-date=20 October 2022}}</ref>

==Renovations==
In 2006, the city of Rockford, along with [[Winnebago County, Illinois|Winnebago County]], announced plans to issue $23 million in bonds to fund a massive renovation of the Arena.<ref name=p>{{cite web|url=http://metrocentre.com/venueinfo/information/|title=BMO Harris Bank Center Venue Information|access-date=November 17, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323191823/http://www.metrocentre.com/venueinfo/information/|archive-date=March 23, 2009}}</ref>  Key to the plan was an agreement with the [[Chicago Blackhawks]] to put an [[American Hockey League]] (AHL) team in Rockford for the next 10 years. This team acts as the Blackhawks' farm team. The MetroCentre authority purchased an AHL franchise, and bought the rights to name it the "IceHogs".<ref name=p/>

During the summer of 2013, the seating structure in the building's lower level was replaced, making way for a new, updated seating system. New seats were added and the [[seating capacity]] for hockey increased to 5,895, up from 5,767. Along with new seats, the visitors' locker room was also expanded. New lights were added and the concourse was renovated. Renovations were completed due to the hard work and effort of Patrick Conery. Before renovations in 2006, the arena's seating capacity was 8,700 for basketball.<ref name="2013reno"/>

In April of 2021, the IceHogs, Blackhawks, the City of Rockford, the Rockford Area Venues and Entertainment Authority (RAVE) and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced a $23 million renovation of the BMO Center, which includes a reimagined Main Entryway and Box Office, remodeled Jack Daniels Bar, and new grab & go store.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://icehogs.com/bmo-harris-bank-center-renovations-building-for-the-future|title=Building for the Future - BMO Center Renovations|website=iceogs.com|publisher= |access-date=15 June 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{portal|Illinois}}
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.thebmoharrisbankcenter.com/ Official website]

{{Rockford, Illinois}}
{{Music venues of Illinois}}
{{AHL Arenas}}
{{Chicago Rush}}
{{Rockford IceHogs}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bank of Montreal]]
[[Category:College basketball venues in Illinois]]
[[Category:Ice hockey venues in Illinois]]
[[Category:Indoor soccer venues in Illinois]]
[[Category:Rockford IceHogs]]
[[Category:Rockford Lightning]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Rockford, Illinois]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1981]]
[[Category:1981 establishments in Illinois]]