Insurance Settlement OK’d for Montana Arena Rebuild

June 2, 2011

Yellowstone County commissioners have approved the final insurance settlement for the Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark, which was severely damaged by a tornado last summer.

The Billings Gazette reports the commission approved the $28.3 million settlement with insurer Affiliated FM on Tuesday. The insurance company has already paid $21.5 million toward the claim.

A tornado with winds up to 120 mph touched down on top of the arena June 20. It was the first large tornado to hit Billings in more than a half-century, and it tore off the arena’s roof, damaged hundreds of homes and businesses and scattered debris across the city.

In addition to the insurance money, the county is spending about $6.5 million of its own money on improvements for the rebuilt arena, which will hold a grand re-opening June 19.