Rio Rancho Events Center

{{Short description|Arena in New Mexico, United States}}

{{Infobox venue

| stadium_name = Rio Rancho Events Center

| nickname =

| image = RREC 3.jpg

| caption = Rio Rancho Events Center at night

| fullname =

| address = 3001 Civic Center Drive

| location = Rio Rancho, New Mexico, U.S.

| coordinates = {{Coord|35|18|37.05|N|106|41|8.98|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| broke_ground = June 14, 2005{{cite web | url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3174930 | title=Groundbreaking Ceremony Set for June 14 | date=10 June 2005 }}

| opened = October 21, 2006

| closed =

| owner = City of Rio Rancho

| operator = Global Spectrum

| construction_cost = $47 million USD
(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|47000000|2006}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})

| architect = Sink Combs Dethlefs{{cite news |title=Feature Story - November 2006 Sporting & Events Center|author=Neal Singer|url=http://southwest.construction.com/features/archive/0611_feature2.asp|newspaper=Southwest Construction|date=November 1, 2006|accessdate=November 19, 2011}}

| structural engineer = Martin & Martin

| project_manager = Frew Nations Group{{cite web | url=http://www.frewnations.com/projects/santa-ana-star-event-center | title=Santa Ana Star Event Center | Frew Nations Group }}

| general_contractor = Hunt/Bradbury Stamm

| former_names = Santa Ana Star Center (2006-2020)

| 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)
New Mexico Pro Hockey Club (ECHL) (Future 2026)

| seating_capacity = Ice Hockey: 6,000
Rodeos: 6,000
Concerts: 7,500

| website = {{URL|rioranchoeventscenter.com}}

}}

Rio Rancho Events Center is an 7,000-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.{{ref|naming}} 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.{{ref|star}} 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.{{ref|scorpions}}

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 [https://www.newmexicorunners.com/ 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.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-rally-rio-rancho-new-mexico-today-2020-campaign-santa-ana-star-center-live-stream-updates-2019-09-16/ | title=Trump rallies in New Mexico in hopes of turning state red in 2020 | website=CBS News | date=17 September 2019 }}