Ralph Engelstad Arena
| "The Ralph" | |
 
|
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| Location | One Ralph Engelstad Arena Dr Grand Forks, ND 58203 |
|---|---|
| Owner | Engelstad Family Foundation |
| Operator | Arena Network |
| Capacity | Hockey: 11,643 Basketball: 12,119 Concert: 13,154 |
| Surface | 200' x 85' (hockey) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | October 5, 2001 |
| Construction cost |
$104 million ($141 million in 2017 dollars) |
| Tenants | |
| North Dakota Fighting Hawks hockey (NCAA) (Men's & Women's) |
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Ralph Engelstad Arena (The Ralph or REA) is an indoor arena located on the campus of the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks, North Dakota and serves as the home of UND men's and women's ice hockey. The arena was built by controversial UND alumnus Ralph Engelstad. The North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's and women's hockey teams are tenants.
Ralph Engelstad Arena, which seats 11,643, opened on October 5, 2001 and is located on the UND campus. The REA is home to the UND men's and women's ice hockey teams, and hosts select games for UND men's and women's basketball. The arena also hosts many non-athletic events including concerts and a yearly circus. Called the "Taj Mahal of hockey," the $104 million arena was built with materials that would not usually be found in such a facility. For instance, the concourses of the REA are covered in granite flooring, each spectator seat is made of Cherry wood and leather upholstery, escalators bring spectators between levels, and full-color LCD displays dot the arena. The REA has been called one of the finest facilities of its kind in the world. Former NHL hockey player Wayne Gretzky has called the structure "one of the most beautiful buildings we have in North America."
The REA complex has evolved to include more than just the main arena. A second Olympic-sized sheet of ice sits adjacent to the main arena. An addition to the main arena, The Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (or simply The Betty) was completed in 2004 and is now the home of UND's basketball and volleyball teams.
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