A LONGSTANDING FACILITY For 50 years, the First Interstate Arena at MetraPark has welcomed audiences to an eclectic mix of concerts, sports, and community happenings. With its signature “in the round” configuration, the arena can accommodate up to 10,000 guests, with most headliners drawing about 8,500 attendees. Beyond the arena itself, the property offers two expansive trade‑show halls, one almost 70,000 sq ft and the other just over 30,000 sq ft, and a new outdoor arena is also under construction. MetraPark General Manager, Stoney Field, shares, “There was one in the past, but it had been up for close to 80 years. Now we’re in the process of rebuilding a new outdoor arena, which will seat around 3,200 in the actual bleachers.” The site is also home to several stalling barns, and a large open area for the carnival to set up during the MontanaFair. THE NOSTALGIA OF THE FAIR REINVENTED This August the MontanaFair is proudly celebrating its 110th year, consistently drawing more visitors than any other event in the region. Fair Coordinator Michaela Woempner highlights,“We’ve got a lot of things planned around not only the 110 years, but having a new theme-‘Celebrate’.We are really getting that county fair feel back. We’ve been hearing a lot of feedback from the community, and we are making sure that they’re a part of this fair and that we’re creating an event that brings memories.” Attractions such as the People’s Garden and interactive educational opportunities invite attendees to engage with Montana’s agricultural roots, offering the atmosphere of a genuine state fair experience.“Not only are we showcasing a lot of our great community partners in our programming, but we will also have an audio tour this year,” details Woempner.” She explains that by scanning a QR code archival photos located throughout the facility will be paired with narrated stories, allowing visitors to trace MetraPark’s evolution. “You’ll be able to learn the history of Metra and the buildings that are on the grounds, what the fair used to be,” she describes, “We are happy to be able to share that tradition and that history while also moving forward and sharing about our new, exciting changes.” 3 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 06 METRAPARK MONTANA
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