The Ranch looking to expand
Complex seeking development partner for new event arena and youth sports training center
Larimer County and the Ranch Events Complex will soon be searching for partners to help in the development of a new event arena, youth sports training center and possible repurposing of current complex structures — a project officials anticipate will cost around $300 million and take several years to complete.
The complex, owned by the county, will issue a request for proposal next week seeking partners for the project, according to a recent release. Development teams will be invited to submit proposals for the development opportunity, the operator opportunity, or both, with the release adding the proposal will be “an open, competitive procurement through Larimer County, and all qualified respondents are encouraged to participate.”
The proposed facilities have been deemed as a product of the community-driven master plan for the site, with an expanded arena and additional ice sheets for youth hockey activities identified as key facilities needed “to support the growing Larimer County community and stay competitive in the northern Colorado events market,” the release said.
The new facility would offer increased seating capacity for ice hockey games, concerts and “other dynamic entertainment opportunities,” encompassing approximately 250,000 square feet with an additional 150,000 square feet for the attached Youth Sports Training Center that will include three sheets of ice designed for youth sports, the release said.
The new facility would also include pro team facilities, a kitchen, bunker clubs, a multipurpose room, youth lockers and additional team spaces.
Mark Tinklenberg, senior
operations manager at The Ranch, said the project would cost around $300 million dollars and would be anticipated to be completed by 2027. The release added that Larimer County intends to support funding for the project with proceeds from the .15% sales tax allocated to improvements at the complex, which voters approved for a 20-year extension during the 2017 election; that is in addition to what a private partner would bring to the table.
Both the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League and the Northern Colorado Youth Hockey League have committed to calling the new arena and training center home through a signed letter of intent, the release said, describing the two groups as “anchoring tenants” that will bring together “the spirit of competitive ice hockey in Northern Colorado and embody The Ranch’s vision to unite world-class entertainment with accessible community services.”
“This state-of-the-art facility will open the door for increased events and activities right here in Larimer County,” Ranch Director Conor Mcgrath, said in the release. “The goal is to give our community a place to access world-class sports and entertainment alongside youth activities and programs in our own backyard.”
He later added in a phone call, “We’re excited. It’s going to be revolutionary for the county, especially having that youth component. We’re excited about that.”
In addition to the new facility, the RFP will offer developers optional development rights on 15 additional acres at The Ranch complex and the opportunity to repurpose the existing Budweiser Events Center, soon to become Blue Arena. Tinklenberg said that while what will happen to the existing event center is yet to be determined, he does not anticipate it will be torn down. “There is a lot of different ideas that are going into what that could be,” Tinklenberg said.
The release reported that Larimer County is open to development proposals on different mixed-uses for the added acreage and the Budweiser Events Center, “including retail, restaurant, hotel and other sports/entertainment purposes that will bring year-round activation and excitement to The Ranch.”
The selection process for the project’s developer will include two separate evaluations — one for the developer of the listed venues and one for the operator of the venues. Interviews for interested developers are anticipated to be held in December with one chosen in early 2024, while interviews for prospective operators are anticipated to be held in January 2024 with one chosen in February.
Additional details and requirements will be included in the RFP which will be issued officially next week on Bidnet, a government bidding service. More information on current events and construction can be found at treventscomplex.com.