BMO Center seating gets comfier, adds cupholders ahead of upcoming Rockford IceHogs season

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The BMO Center has overhauled all of its 6,300-plus seats to give fans more comfort and convenience, with plush seat cushions and place to set your drink.

ASM Rockford, which manages the downtown event center, and the Rockford IceHogs unveiled the new seating on Wednesday ahead of the first events of the season in the arena.

Gone are the blue and yellow seats. New black padded seat backs and chairs were installed in the 100-level seating, and the upper bowl had its seating system completely replaced. Cupholders are installed on the backs of the seats.

“Now they are a sleek black color, very neutral and modern looking,” said Gretchen Gilmore, general manager at BMO Center, Coronado Theatre and Davis Park with ASM Global. “The padded seat is much more comfortable, and it will really enhance our guest experience as well.”

The roughly $1 million project was paid for from capital reserve funds the BMO Center stored after the 2021 management renewal agreement with ASM Global, which Gilmore likened to a long-term loan.

The seats were shown off ahead of Friday’s show featuring heavy metal band Judas Priest. The Rockford IceHogs kick off their home opener on Oct. 12, but before that students will fill the arena for a daytime preseason game in one week.

The seats, in conjunction with previous upgrades ranging from a new scoreboard to new entryway, make cheering on the IceHogs a better experience for fans, said Ryan Snider, the IceHogs president of business operations.

“We have a first-class facility now. I have no doubt in my mind that when somebody comes to one of our games we’re able to give them the ultimate experience while they’re here,” Snider said. “It wouldn’t be possible without all of this investment.”

Judas Priest’s performance on Friday is one of several shows the BMO Center highlighted Wednesday as it showed off the new seats. Also on tap later this year is the high-flying action sports show Nitro Circus on Nov. 10 and one of the final tour stops for REO Speedwagon, a nearly 50-year-old rock band that announced it would stop touring at the end of the year. They’re slated to perform at the BMO Center Nov. 22.

“We are extremely fortunate to have a date in November, so you all need to come out and see REO Speedwagon one last time,” said Doug Johnson, assistant general manager for ASM Rockford and ASM Global regional director of booking.

The new seats are among a host of improvements made to the entertainment venue at Elm and Main streets over the past three years.

Last year the entryway and box office was overhauled. The BMO also upgraded its Jack Daniel’s Bar, added a new Grab & Go store, revamped the south end zone upper club.

In 2022, enhancements were made to club boxes and suites, including a 56-seat private Hard Rock Casino suite, along with the addition of a new high-definition video scoreboard, new audio system and LED ribbon boards throughout the arena.

“Everything sensory that you feel and touch in the building in the last three years for the most part has been changed,” Snider said.

In 2021, the first round of renovations included a new concrete floor and ice system along with upgrades to the IceHogs locker room, entertainer green room spaces and a new LED marquee outside the arena.

Next up for the BMO Center is another behind-the-scenes improvement.

Officials plan to replace the existing generator with two new natural gas generators that will ensure operations can continue if power goes out, Gilmore said. The goal is to have that in place by next hockey season.

Old seating

Here’s a reminder of how the seating previously looked.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas