BMO Center

{{Short description|Arena in Illinois, United States}}

{{Infobox venue

| name = BMO Center

| nickname = "The Big Orange Box"

| image = BMO Center - Rockford, Illinois - March 2024.jpg

| logo_image = 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)}}
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}} RMTD

| capacity = 6,200 {{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}}

| broke_ground = February 7, 1979{{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}}

| opened = January 31, 1981{{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}}

| owner = Rockford Area Venues & Entertainment Authority{{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}}

| operator = ASM Global{{cite press release|author=|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}}

| construction_cost = $15.7 million
{{small|(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|15700000|1979}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})}}

| architect = Larson & Darby

| tenants = Rockford Lightning {{small|(CBA) (1986–2006)}}
Illinois Thunder {{small|(NPSL) (1990–1992)}}
Rockford IceHogs {{small|(UHL) (1999–2007)}}
Rockford Thunder/Rampage {{small|(AISL/MISL) (2005–2007, 2008–2010)}}
Rock River Raptors {{small|(UIF/CIFL) (2006–2009)}}
Rockford IceHogs {{small|(AHL) (2007–present)}}
Chicago Blitz {{small|(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".{{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}}