Larimer to delay youth hockey expansion at Ranch

LOVELAND  — Larimer County has embarked on the second phase of the redevelopment of the Ranch Events Complex, but youth hockey and sports teams will have to wait a bit longer for expansion of sports programming at the complex.

The Larimer County Board of County Commissioners approved changes to the master plan on Oct. 5. The changes keep the redevelopment of the site moving but change the order for how the Ranch is redeveloped.

Instead of converting the Pedersen Toyota Center into an expanded youth hockey and sports facility, the Toyota Center will instead be expanded into an exposition center. Previously, a new, stand-alone exposition center had been planned. The youth hockey and sports facility moves from Phase II to Phase III.

“Project evaluation found that renovating and expanding the existing center will provide flexible event space and amenities at a lower cost than building a new stand-alone facility, while addressing needed facility improvements through the same investment,” the Ranch said in a press statement.

“The project will increase sellable expo space from approximately 38,000 to 90,000 square feet, with the expanded building totaling approximately 117,000 square feet. The additional space will allow The Ranch to accommodate larger conventions, trade shows, expos, flat-floor sports and other indoor events it cannot host today,” the statement said. 

The county will consider youth hockey facilities as part of the later phase, during which planners will consider whether to use 72 acres of county land north of the Ranch to build a broader youth sports complex, the press statement said.

Phase III remains in the concept stage, has not been approved by the county commissioners, and has not been funded.

“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.

A representative of Northern Colorado Youth Hockey did not respond to a request for comment on the change in the master plan.

Phase II includes: 

• 21-acre Event Lawn. 
• Exposition Center. 
• Event Plaza.
• Outdoor Amphitheater.
• Blue Arena improvements.
• Campus infrastructure and signage.

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