Centennial Ice Arena is a 550-seat

ice arena An ice rink (or ice skating rink) is a frozen body of water and/or an artificial sheet of ice created using hardened chemicals where people can ice skate or play winter sports. Ice rinks are also used for exhibitions, contests and ice shows. The ...

Billings, Montana Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, with a population of 117,116 as of the 2020 census. Located in the south-central portion of the state, it is the seat of Yellowstone County and the principal city of the Billings Metr ...

USA The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territor ...

. From 2006 to 2017, the arena played host to the city's only junior league hockey club, the

Billings Bulls The Billings Bulls were a junior ice hockey organization based in Billings, Montana. They most recently played home games at the 550-seat Centennial Ice Arena and due to the arena's small size, the Bulls frequently sold out games. They previousl ...

. It also hosts youth hockey and has been the home ice for the Montana Thunderblades, a

USA Hockey USA Hockey is the national ice hockey organization in the United States. It is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee as the governing body for organized ice hockey in the United ...

Select youth team that won the 14U Tier II National Championship in 2014. Public demand for a year-round facility to host youth and junior hockey in Billings prompted the arena's construction. Opened in 1981, Centennial Ice Arena replaced the outdoor King Avenue Ice Rink - the city's only fully maintained ice rink at the time. There are plans to abandon the arena in the near future, as it has a recent history of serious maintenance issues as well as an aging refrigeration system. The Billings Bulls ownership had been pursuing the possibility of two new rinks being built in Centennial Park (an unrelated public park in the city) as cost of repairs for the facility would be in excess of $750,000.

References

{{coord, 45.806560, -108.465153, format=dms, type:landmark, display=title Indoor ice hockey venues in Montana Sports venues in Billings, Montana 1981 establishments in Montana Sports venues completed in 1981