A Look at What’s Next for The Ranch Master Plan
If you’ve visited The Ranch lately, you’ve likely seen the Master Plan at work, most recently with the opening of the new 21-acre Event Lawn.
On Oct. 5, 2026, the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners provided direction on expanding the Pedersen Toyota Center into an Exposition Center and confirmed support for transitioning the Youth Hockey & Sports Facility from Phase II to Phase III, bringing The Ranch another step closer to new opportunities for events, entertainment, recreation, and community experiences across Northern Colorado.
The Ranch Master Plan
A look at some of the new spaces and features throughout the 21-acre Event Lawn at The Ranch Events Complex, 2026.
The Master Plan consists of a series of projects that will be phased over several years. Together, they are intended to improve the guest experience, support larger and more diverse events, expand recreational opportunities, strengthen tourism, and support The Ranch's long-term sustainability.
Phase I, completed between 2019 and 2024, brought the first series of Master Plan improvements to the campus. Today, The Ranch is in Phase II, with the 21-acre Event Lawn complete and other projects moving through planning and design.
Phase II of The Ranch Master Plan includes:
Phase II of The Ranch Master Plan includes:
- 21-acre Event Lawn: A flexible outdoor event space designed to support festivals, community gatherings, and a variety of outdoor programming.
- Outdoor Amphitheater: A dedicated outdoor venue designed for concerts, performances, and other live programming.
- Exposition Center expansion: A versatile, multi-use event space for expos, trade shows, conferences, meetings, and other events.
- Event Plaza: A central outdoor gathering space designed to support events, pre-event activities, food trucks, outdoor music, and other community programming.
- Blue Arena improvements: Facility, technology, and infrastructure improvements designed to enhance the experience for guests, events, and partners.
- Campus Infrastructure, Wayfinding, and Sign Enhancements: Campus-wide improvements designed to support infrastructure needs, improve navigation, and create a more connected experience across The Ranch.
The Event Lawn is the first completed Phase II project, opening on July 31, 2026. Since then, the new space has welcomed some of The Ranch’s largest recurring outdoor events, including the Larimer County Fair, Overland Expo Mountain West, and Goodguys Griot’s Garage Colorado Nationals.
“Seeing how events and guests are using the Event Lawn gives us valuable insight as we move into the next projects,” said Linsey Chalfant, Ranch Project Manager.
“We’re learning from what works, listening to the people who use these spaces, and carrying that into the work ahead.”
Project Updates: Exposition Center and Youth Hockey
Project team walkthrough of the Pedersen Toyota Center, 2026.
Exposition Center: The existing Pedersen Toyota Center will be renovated and expanded into the Exposition Center, providing more space and amenities for event organizers and guests.
Youth Hockey: The Youth Hockey & Sports Facility will transition from Phase II to Phase III, creating an opportunity to consider hockey as part of a future youth sports complex alongside other potential sports and recreation uses on the county-owned 72 acres just north of The Ranch.
Phase III is still in the concept stage, has not yet been approved by the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners, and does not yet have an established timeline.
Investing Responsibly For the Future
Earlier Phase II planning considered converting the Pedersen Toyota Center into a Youth Hockey & Sports Facility and building a new stand-alone Exposition Center.
Project evaluation found that renovating and expanding the existing Pedersen Toyota Center will create a larger, more flexible facility with more space and amenities for event organizers and guests.
The expansion will give existing events more room to grow while creating opportunities for larger conventions, trade shows, expos, flat floor sports, and other indoor events The Ranch cannot accommodate today. The project will increase sellable Expo space from approximately 38,000 to 90,000 square feet, with the overall building totaling approximately 117,000 square feet, positioning The Ranch to offer the largest Expo space in Northern Colorado. Some project details may change as planning and design continue.
The evaluation also considered the experience of youth hockey players and families. Locating youth hockey away from major event areas could separate regular practices and games from the crowds, traffic, and activity associated with major events on The Ranch campus, creating a more dedicated environment for athletes and families.
“Being responsible with public dollars means understanding what we’re investing in, what our facilities need, what our community needs, and how these projects work together,” said Conor McGrath, managing director of The Ranch Events Complex. “There’s a lot to be excited about, and we’re ready to get to work.”
Ongoing project evaluation helps The Ranch make informed decisions about public funding, community needs, and how each investment supports the long-term goal of becoming financially self-sustaining when the dedicated sales and use tax ends in 2039. That work will continue as Master Plan projects move through planning and design.
What’s next for the Ranch Master Plan
The next stage of Phase II will focus on advancing projects through planning and design, refining project details, and developing construction schedules. We’ll keep our community, event organizers, and partners updated as planning progresses and timelines are confirmed.
Stay Informed
Want to learn more about The Ranch Master Plan? Visit the Master Plan webpage. For answers to common questions about current Phase II projects, visit the Master Plan FAQs.
You can also sign up for the monthly Master Plan newsletter for project updates and follow The Ranch on social media for the latest news from across the campus.