Rio Rancho Events Center

Rio Rancho Events Center
	Rio Rancho Events Center at night
Former names	Santa Ana Star Center (2006-2020)
Location	3001 Civic Center Drive; Rio Rancho, New Mexico 87144
Coordinates	35°18′37.05″N 106°41′8.98″W / 35.3102917°N 106.6858278°W
Owner	City of Rio Rancho
Operator	Global Spectrum
Capacity	Ice Hockey: 6,000; Rodeos: 6,000; Concerts: 7,500
Construction
Broke ground	June 14, 2005
Opened	October 21, 2006
Construction cost	$47 million USD; ($71 million in 2023 dollars)
Architect	Sink Combs Dethlefs
Project manager	Frew Nations Group
Structural engineer	Martin & Martin
General contractor	Hunt/Bradbury Stamm
Tenants
	New Mexico Scorpions (CHL) (2006–2009); New Mexico Wildcats (AIFA) (2008–2009); New Mexico Mustangs (NAHL) (2010–2012); New Mexico Thunderbirds (NBA D-League) (2010–2011); New Mexico Stars (IFL/LSFL/AIF) (2012–2014, 2016); New Mexico Runners (M2) (2018–present); Duke City Gladiators (IFL) (2021–present)
Website
	www.rioranchoeventscenter.com

Rio Rancho Events Center is an 8,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, a city located near Albuquerque. The arena is located near the intersection of Unser Boulevard and Paseo del Volcan. It is part of a larger "City Center" project, which also includes a new city hall. The multipurpose facility can host concert settings in various capacities, hockey, basketball, indoor football, family shows, rodeos, trade shows and flexible set-ups to accommodate any event.

Santa Ana Star Casino purchased the naming rights to the arena in a five-year, $2.5 million deal signed in July 2006.^[1] The arena was previously known as Santa Ana Star Center. The contract was not renewed in 2020, resulting in the arena changing its name back to Rio Rancho Events Center.

The arena was completed at a cost of $47 million USD and opened on October 21, 2006.^[2] The first sports event in the arena was a hockey game on October 27, 2006, with the New Mexico Scorpions falling to the Arizona Sundogs 3–1 in front of a sellout crowd.^[3]

In April 2009, the city of Rio Rancho awarded Global Spectrum as the management company for the Arena. In 2019, that contract was renewed.

The Events Center is currently home to the New Mexico Runners of the Major Arena Soccer League 2 and the Duke City Gladiators of the Indoor Football League. The center was formerly home to the New Mexico Mustangs of the North American Hockey League, the New Mexico Scorpions of the Central Hockey League, the New Mexico Stars of the Indoor Football League/Lone Star Football League, the New Mexico Wildcats of the American Indoor Football Association, New Mexico Thunderbirds, of the NBA Development League, and a venue for World Wrestling Entertainment. The arena also hosted a campaign rally for President Donald Trump on September 16, 2019.^[5]

References

^ Olson, Sean (October 22, 2006). "A Star Is Born." Albuquerque Journal.
^ Yodice, James (October 28, 2006). "Scorpions Lose to Sundogs at New Home." Albuquerque Journal.
^ Yodice, James (July 14, 2006). "Naming Rights Go For $2.5M." Albuquerque Journal.

^ "Groundbreaking Ceremony Set for June 14". 10 June 2005.
^ 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.
^ ^a ^b ^c Neal Singer (November 1, 2006). "Feature Story - November 2006 Sporting & Events Center". Southwest Construction. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
^ "Santa Ana Star Event Center | Frew Nations Group".
^ "Trump rallies in New Mexico in hopes of turning state red in 2020". CBS News. 17 September 2019.

External links

Rio Rancho Events Center Website

[1] "Groundbreaking Ceremony Set for June 14". 10 June 2005.

[inflation-US-2] 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.

[construction-3] Neal Singer (November 1, 2006). "Feature Story - November 2006 Sporting & Events Center". Southwest Construction. Retrieved November 19, 2011.

[4] "Santa Ana Star Event Center | Frew Nations Group".

[5] "Trump rallies in New Mexico in hopes of turning state red in 2020". CBS News. 17 September 2019.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

v t e Final arenas in American Indoor Football
Northern Division	Dorton Arena (Raleigh, NC) Family Arena (St. Charles, MO) L. C. Walker Arena (Muskegon, MI) Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex (Winston-Salem, NC) Odeum Expo Center (Villa Park, IL) Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center (Harrisburg, PA)
Southern Division	Albany Civic Center (Albany, GA) Germain Arena (Estero, FL) RP Funding Center (Lakeland, FL) Myrtle Beach Convention Center (Myrtle Beach, SC) Santa Ana Star Center (Rio Rancho, NM) Savannah Civic Center (Savannah, GA)
2017 Expansion	George M. Holmes Convocation Center (Boone, NC) Gutterson Fieldhouse (Burlington, VT)