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 Exterior of venue (c.2008) | |
  Blue ArenaLocation within ColoradoShow map of Colorado Blue ArenaLocation within the United StatesShow map of the United States | |
| Former names | Budweiser Events Center (2003–2023) |
|---|---|
| Address | 5290 Arena Circle |
| Location | Loveland, Colorado, U.S. |
| Owner | Larimer County |
| Operator | OVG360 |
| Capacity | 7,500 Sports capacity
|
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | August 26, 2002 (2002-08-26) |
| Opened | September 20, 2003 (2003-09-20) |
| Construction cost | $28 million ($47.4 million in 2023 dollars) |
| Architect |
|
| Structural engineer | KL&A, Inc. |
| Services engineer |
|
| General contractor | Neenan Construction |
| Main contractors | Delta Construction |
| Tenants | |
| Colorado Eagles (CHL/ECHL/AHL) (2003–present) Colorado Chill (NWBL) (2004–2006) Colorado Lightning (PASL) (2008–2009) Colorado Ice/Crush (IFL) (2009–2017) Denver Dream/Denver Rush (LFL/X League) (2017–2019, 2022–present) Colorado Spartans (NAL) (2024–present) | |
| Website | |
| Venue Website | |
The Blue Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Loveland, Colorado, 55 mi (89 km) northeast of Denver. It has 24 luxury suites, 777 club seats and 6,800 general admission seats. The arena is located on The Ranch Events Complex (formerly the Larimer County Fairgrounds and Events Complex) and is owned by Larimer County, Colorado. The facility and ticket sales are managed by OVG360 (a division of Oak View Group). It is home to the AHL Colorado Eagles ice hockey team and is the former home of the Colorado Lightning indoor soccer team, the Colorado Chill women's basketball team, and the Denver Dream women's football team. It was also home to the Colorado Ice/Crush indoor football team from 2007 until 2017 and will serve as home of the Colorado Spartans starting in 2024.
History
Construction was completed and doors opened for the first event on September 20, 2003, with a sold-out exhibition hockey game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Florida Panthers.
The Colorado Eagles established a new record for minor league professional hockey with their 145th consecutive regular-season sellout, set on January 12, 2008, in a victory vs. rival Rocky Mountain Rage. Including playoff games, the Eagles had sold out 181 consecutive games total – every single game during their first 4½ years of operation.
Blue Arena was previously named the Budweiser Events Center, but changed after Budweiser's contract expired in October, 2023 after which Blue Federal Credit Union was awarded the contract.
Notable events
 | This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
The Colorado Eagles hosted the 2009 Central Hockey League All-Star Game and the 2013 ECHL All-Star Game at the Blue Arena.
The Events Center has played host to: musicians Widespread Panic, David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Yes, and ZZ Top; comedians Bill Cosby, Ron White, Carlos Mencia, Gabriel Iglesias & Larry the Cable Guy; as well as Cirque Du Soleil, Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus, Disney on Ice, The Wiggles, Sesame Street Live, and The Harlem Globetrotters.
The Events Center will serve as a host for the 2026 NCAA Hockey Frozen Four Regional round and previously hosted the 2022 Frozen Four Regional.
References
- ^ Puckett, Alisha (November 24, 2003). "Loveland, Colo., gets arena that it 'has been dying for'". Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal. American City Business Journals. Archived from the original on March 23, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
- Rebchook, John (August 27, 2002). "Work begins on Larimer fairgrounds, events complex". Rocky Mountain News. E. W. Scripps Company. Archived from the original on August 29, 2002. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
- 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Public, Government and Institutional Buildings". KL&A, Inc. January 7, 2009. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
- ^ "Budweiser Events Center". The Ranch Complex. The Ranch, Larimer County Fairgrounds and Events Complex. Retrieved 2023-04-18.
- "Budweiser Events Center to Change its name". The Ranch Complex. The Ranch, Larimer County Fairgrounds and Events Complex. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
- "Frozen Four: Future dates and sites". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved Aug 20, 2024.
External links
- Budweiser Events Center Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine
- Loveland Chamber of Commerce
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40°26′38″N 104°59′22″W / 40.44389°N 104.98944°W / 40.44389; -104.98944
Categories:- Ice hockey venues in the United States
- Sports venues in Colorado
- Music venues in Colorado
- Loveland, Colorado
- Indoor soccer venues in the United States
- Colorado Crush (IFL)
- Buildings and structures in Larimer County, Colorado
- Tourist attractions in Larimer County, Colorado
- Culture of Fort Collins, Colorado
- 2003 establishments in Colorado
- Sports venues completed in 2003
- Basketball venues in Colorado
- Indoor arenas in Colorado
- Colorado Eagles