A record-setting six-week run of sporting events with more than 70,000 people in attendance!
If the last six weeks have taught us anything, it’s that sports are alive and well in Billings.
The end of the final match of this past weekend’s Montana Open wrestling tournament put a cap on a record-setting six-week run for First Interstate Arena at Metrapark, with more than 70,000 people on hand over the last month and a half.
‘The Mighty 6,’ a group of six sporting events over six straight weekends at First Interstate Arena, begins with the MHSA All Class Wrestling Tournament in mid-February and ends with the Montana Open in late March. In between, basketball fans get three straight weeks of tournament action with the Eastern A and Southern B divisional tournaments, as well as an MHSA State basketball event, rotated between the four high school classifications (2026 was State AA). Wrestling returns immediately after basketball with the Montana State AAU Wrestling Tournament, which returned to Billings in 2022 after a long hiatus.
Fan attendance skyrocketed in the fifth year of ‘The Mighty 6.’ In total, 63,273 people came through the doors, marking a 42% jump over 2025 (44,606). MHSA State Wrestling set the tone, with 5,581 more fans this year than last. The Southern B Basketball Divisional saw the highest number of any single event, with 15,609 fans over four days of competition. The MT State AAU Wrestling meet almost doubled its attendance, from 3,360 in 2025 to 6,074 this year. Each of the six events saw at least a 13% increase.
Those 63,273 fans saw more than 8,000 competitors and coaches on the First Interstate Arena floor. Each of the wrestling events continues to see participation climb, largely thanks to a growing girls wrestling population. There were over 1,000 wrestlers competing for MHSA state titles. State AAU sees around 2,000 competitors, while the Montana Open filled all 2,500 slots in just five hours on registration day. Both State AAU and the Montana Open saw more than 6,000 fans each, a 78% combined increase over 2025.
“These six weeks prove every year that Billings is the youth sports capital not just of Montana, but of our entire region,” said Casey Conlon, Sports Tourism Director at Visit Billings. “People know we will put on a first-rate tournament at any scale but especially rely on our expertise at the largest events. We’ve been doing it for years and want to continue making better and better memories for our guests.”
Even if you weren’t one of the 70,000+ in attendance, ‘The Mighty 6’ likely touched every Billings resident. Visit Billings estimates the six-week run injected $7.5 million into the local economy, with a majority of attendees coming from outside the community.
“These six weeks go far beyond what happens on the court or the mat. They represent real impact for our community, full hotels, busy restaurants, and a city that comes alive when visitors are here,” said Aly Eggart, Visit Billings Executive Director. “It’s a testament to the strength of our sports community and the partnerships that make events like this possible, and we’re excited to keep building on that momentum.”
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