Metropark reports busy events season, says outdoor arena paid from park CIP, not general fund

Yellowstone County Metropark staff told the Board of County Commissioners on March 11 that a busy events season and plans for an outdoor arena are moving forward and that the arena’s costs will come from Metropark capital-improvement funds rather than the county general fund.

Metropark representatives said February’s calendar included the state wrestling tournament, a large “monster truck” production and other shows that brought high attendance and hotel stays to the county. “If you could get on grounds, you'd have a tough time finding a parking spot,” said a Metropark representative during the update.

The update introduced Kate Hogan as Metropark’s new events manager. Hogan thanked crews and contractors who handled quick turnovers between events, including moving dirt after the monster truck show. “I just wanted to take a time to add on to that and thank our crews,” Hogan said. She described coordination with a third-party contractor that removes arena dirt and with safety and logistics staff preparing for upcoming shows.

Metropark staff and leadership also discussed the outdoor arena project timeline and funding. A Metropark speaker said the project is being financed from “Metroparks CIP” and that “there was no general fund monies that came to it.” The speaker added those CIP dollars come from Metropark rentals and ticket sales, not from outside taxpayers.

Staff listed upcoming events that will use the facility or drive demand, including youth and adult tournaments and a Hot Wheels event scheduled for June. Metropark staff also said they expect construction work on the outdoor arena to begin soon once contractors mobilize; a staff member said a project Zoom meeting on Thursday would update timing.

The presentation also described how Metropark’s events generate broader local spending. One Metropark speaker reported a historical ratio, saying that for every dollar in taxes that goes to Metropark, about $45 in direct economic impact returns to the community through hotel stays, restaurants and related spending.

The commissioners took no formal action on Metropark items during the update.