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Metropark staff report strong event revenues, concessions upgrades and POS transition
Summary
Metropark staff briefed the county commission on recent events and food-and-beverage operations, reporting strong merchandise and concession receipts, opening a new west concession stand, and planning a transition to Shift4/Yellow Dog inventory systems ahead of 2025.
Metropark event and concessions staff updated the Board of County Commissioners on recent programming and operations, saying several high-profile events and facility improvements helped lift revenues and broaden vendor relationships.
Stoney, a Metropark representative, and Tim, the events operations lead, told commissioners the venue hosted a mix of concerts and rodeo events this season, including a Cody Johnson show and a Judas Priest concert. Tim said the Cody Johnson performance drew a large crowd and that event setup and promoter demands were “well worth it based on the profit that we’re gonna make off of the show.” He noted construction near west entrances had complicated parking and access but that contractors had been cooperative with event scheduling.
Mike, representing Food & Beverage at Petra, described catering and concessions results and upcoming bookings. He said a Game Plan for Life breakfast served about 1,100 people and that Metropark is bidding for 2025 banquets such as the Flat Coated Retriever Society of America and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. On concessions, Petra opened a West Concession Stand (formerly the Fuddruckers location) and completed BEC serving-station construction meant to reduce lines and the need for portable setups.
On revenue, Mike reported total food-and-beverage gross for the Cody Johnson show at about $167,005.93, with roughly $137,006.81 from alcohol and about $29,009.12 from food; he also highlighted strong merchandise sales at recent shows. He told commissioners the venue set a new gross-revenue record at Montana Fair and that staff will analyze how to grow that performance in 2025.
Mike outlined an upcoming point-of-sale and inventory transition. The venue moved to SpotOn last July; SpotOn was acquired by Shift4 in October, and staff plan a software transition to Shift4’s platform in late November–early December using existing hardware. Petra also plans to adopt a third-party inventory system called Yellow Dog to improve stock tracking.
Commissioners asked operational questions—including whether team roping events generate meaningful concession revenue and whether contractors would restore gravel at the Fourth Avenue entrance. Tim said team roping is primarily participant-focused and not a significant revenue driver, and that Knife River (the contractor) has been responsive and is expected to improve access in time for upcoming events.
The presentation closed with acknowledgments of catering and operations staff, including Amanda Stewart, Samantha Johnson and Clint Young.
The commission did not take formal action on the Metropark briefing; staff said they will continue to report back as transitions and construction proceed.
