No fans will be allowed inside the Blue Arena for the 2021 DI Men’s Ice Hockey Loveland Regional Tournamament.

 NCAA The Blue Arena at The Ranch in Loveland, CO has been awarded the NCAA DI Men’s Ice Hockey West Regional Tournament for 2020 and 2021 and will be held on March 27 and 28 for both years. This is the first time that the Blue Arena at The Ranch has hosted an NCAA sanctioned tournament and will be the first time that an NCAA tournament has been held in the state of Colorado since the 2008 Men’s Frozen Four at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

“With the support of Denver University, the NCHC and our partnership with the Colorado Eagles of the AHL, the Blue Arena at The Ranch is excited to bring the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Ice Hockey West Regional Tournament to Northern Colorado in both 2020 and 2021,” said Keller Taylor, Spectra district general manager of the Blue Arena at The Ranch. “With our rich hockey history in the Colorado Eagles and the expansive youth hockey community here in Northern Colorado, the Blue Arena makes for an ideal match with this tournament.”

Steve Metcalf, chair of the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Committee and deputy director of athletics at New Hampshire is looking forward to this great mix of regional sites. “We have some venues that have hosted many times, some that haven’t hosted in a while, and one that will be hosting for the first time. All of them are great hockey facilities and will provide our student athletes with a tremendous experience.”

With the support of Denver University and the NCHC, the Blue Arena is set to host a prominent West Regional in Northern Colorado. “We are happy and honored to work with the Spectra Venue Management staff at the Blue Arena to host an NCAA regional in Loveland,” Denver University director of athletics Ron Grahame said. “Everyone looks forward to the opportunity to bring NCAA hockey to the great fans in the Rocky Mountain area. We are thankful for everyone’s hard work to make this bid possible.”

As a partner of the Blue Arena at The Ranch, the Colorado Eagles of the AHL have played a huge role in creating an exciting hockey atmosphere in Colorado. “We are very pleased to have this terrific tournament coming to the Blue Arena,” said Eagles president and general manager Chris Stewart. “Many buildings were considered to play host, but I firmly believe that the proven passion and dedication of our fans helped in locking down this event.”

At the end of the day, none of this could be possible without City of Loveland and Larimer County. “Visit Loveland is beyond thrilled to receive the news that both the 2020 and 2021 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Ice Hockey West Regional Tournament will be held right here in Loveland, Colorado,” said Cindy Mackin, City of Loveland visitor’s service manager. “We are excited to partner with the Blue Arena at The Ranch on bringing this amazing event here to Northern Colorado and look forward to welcoming everyone to Loveland.”

Campus Director at The Ranch Events Complex, Chris Ashby, is excited to host an event of this caliber on the campus. “Bringing an event like this to The Ranch and the Blue Arena reflects all the hard work by members of our staff, the community, our partners and many more. This level of collegiate competition coming to the area will be a benefit to the whole region.”

Hosting the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey West Regional Tournament will put The Ranch Events Complex and Loveland on the map of competitive sports venues.

For more information on the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championships, visit ncaa.com/frozenfour.