Billings – The Yellowstone Ice Foundation will present a proposal to Yellowstone County commissioners Thursday that could give the former Centennial Ice Arena a new purpose. The nonprofit is asking for a 10‑year lease at a nominal $1 per year, with an option to extend another decade on the same terms.
Private funding, no county cost
Under the plan, the foundation would raise the money needed for renovations through private donations, sponsorships, grants and other non‑county sources. The organization explicitly states it is not seeking any county dollars for the project, only the stability of a long‑term lease to attract private investment.
Expanding ice‑sport opportunities
Reviving Centennial would add a third sheet of ice to Billings, giving hockey, figure skating and curling clubs more ice time and reducing competition for slots at the newer $17.5 million Signal Peak Energy Arena, which opened in July with two sheets.
“Because of its age and trying to keep the ice up, it was hard to curl on that ice because it was not as level as curling ice should be,” said curler Bob Johnson, a longtime user of both facilities. “Ice sports are getting more and more popular, and I think having a third sheet would get a lot of use.”
Community nostalgia and practical concerns
Centennial Ice Arena served Billings for more than four decades before closing when Signal Peak opened. Former volunteers and players remember the rink as a community hub. “First I wondered what we’re going to do with it, but what a waste to abandon that,” said curler Steve Schiff.
Andrew Laszlow, a member of the Billings Curling Club, recalled helping build the original rink in the late 1970s. “We got together and raised money and built the rink at Centennial Arena in about 1979 or 80,” he said. “Built the program up, we had 400 players, and it was one of the only rinks in the country that was owned by the amateur hockey league that didn’t have any city money.”
As the arena aged, equipment failures and deteriorating ice conditions reduced participation. “The rink was 42 years old last year and the equipment was old and it was challenging for everybody,” Laszlow noted. “Numbers that had been as high as 400 were down to about 100‑120 people.”
Renovation plan and timeline
The foundation’s five‑year roadmap calls for fundraising, bidding and securing necessary approvals before any construction begins. The proposed renovation would gut the building, replace the floor and rebuild the interior to match the modern standards of Signal Peak.
“It would cost several million dollars to redo it, so the plan is to build cash, build the demand and then get it going,” Laszlow explained. The foundation expects to complete fundraising and obtain approvals within the next five years, after which renovation work could commence.
Commissioners’ next steps
Yellowstone County commissioners will review the proposal at their Thursday meeting. If approved, the $1‑per‑year lease would give the foundation a stable base to pursue private funding and move forward with the revitalization of Centennial Ice Arena.
The project reflects a broader trend in Billings toward expanding recreational infrastructure while keeping taxpayer dollars focused on essential services. Community members and ice‑sport enthusiasts alike are watching the outcome closely, hopeful that the historic arena will once again become a vibrant gathering place for families and athletes.
Original reporting: KTVQ Q2 Billings (local) — read the source article.
