Ralph Engelstad Arena (The Ralph) was a 6,067-seat multi-purpose

arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators ...

located on the

University of North Dakota The University of North Dakota (also known as UND or North Dakota) is a public research university in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It was established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of ...

(UND) campus in

Grand Forks, North Dakota Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the state of North Dakota (after Fargo and Bismarck) and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2020 census, the city's population was 59,166. Grand Forks, along with its twin city o ...

. It was home to the

Fighting Sioux hockey team, and was the host of the 1983

Frozen Four The annual NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament is a college ice hockey tournament held in the United States by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to determine the top men's team in Division I. Like other Division I cham ...

tournament. It was originally named the Winter Sports Center, but was renamed in 1988 to honor alumnus

Ralph Engelstad Ralph Louis Engelstad (January 28, 1930 – November 26, 2002) was an American businessman who owned the Imperial Palace casino-hotels in Las Vegas and in Biloxi, Mississippi. He also owned the Kona Kai motel in Las Vegas, which later became the ...

. The arena closed in 2001 and was replaced with the new $104 million

Ralph Engelstad Arena Ralph Engelstad Arena (REA), commonly called the Ralph, 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 ice hockey. The arena was built by controvers ...

on the north end of campus. University of North Dakota Director of Athletics Brian Faison announced that demolition of the old Ralph Engelstad Arena east of Memorial Stadium has been completed. Construction has begun on Phase I of the UND Athletics High Performance Center, an indoor practice and competition facility for UND Athletics.Work begins on demolition of old Engelstad Arena
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Defunct college ice hockey venues in the United States Defunct indoor arenas in the United States Defunct sports venues in North Dakota North Dakota Fighting Hawks ice hockey venues Buildings and structures in Grand Forks, North Dakota 1972 establishments in North Dakota 2001 disestablishments in North Dakota Sports venues demolished in 2013 Sports venues completed in 1972 Demolished sports venues in the United States Indoor arenas in North Dakota {{NorthDakota-sports-venue-stub