BMO Center

The  BMO Center (formerly the Rockford MetroCentre and then BMO Harris Bank Center) is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Rockford, Illinois. The arena opened in 1981 with a concert by Dionne Warwick. It was the home of the Rockford Lightning Continental Basketball Association team for many years. It is currently home to the Rockford IceHogs ice hockey team, the Rock River Raptors indoor football team, and the Rockford Rampage indoor soccer team. It also hosted the first Arena Football League test game in 1986 between the Chicago Politicians and the Rockford Metros.
In 2006, The city of Rockford along with Winnebago County announced plans to issue 23 million dollars in bonds to fund a massive renovation of the Arena. The MetroCentre renovation began in the summer of 2007. Projects already completed include a state-of-the-art video scoreboard, Club Boxes, Club Lounge, 200-person Group Terrace additional bathrooms, and new concession stands and food courts. Other amenities completed in 2008 included an exterior façade update, new box office and main entrance, 11 Luxury Corporate Suites, and a retail center. 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 a AHL franchise, and bought the rights to name it the "IceHogs."
==External links==
*Official website
Category:Indoor ice hockey venues in Illinois