Venue: Ralph Engelstad Arena
Town: Grand Forks, US
Capacity: 11,643

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 controversial UND alumnus Ralph Engelstad. The North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's hockey team is the tenant. The arena formerly hosted the defunct North Dakota women's hockey team. Ralph Engelstad Arena (REA), which seats 11,643, opened on October 5, 2001, and is located on the University of North Dakota (UND) campus. The REA is home to the UND men's ice hockey team (UND women's ice hockey team discontinued after 2016-17 season), and hosts select games for UND men's and women's basketball. The arena also hosts many non-athletic events including concerts and a yearly circus. Called the "Taj Mahal of hockey," the $104 million arena was built with materials that would not usually be found in such a facility. For instance, the concourses of the REA are covered in granite flooring, each spectator seat is made of Cherry wood and leather upholstery, escalators bring spectators between levels, and full-color LCD displays dot the arena. The REA has been called one of the finest facilities of its kind in the world. Former NHL hockey player Wayne Gretzky has called the structure "one of the most beautiful buildings we have in North America." The REA complex has evolved to include more than just the main arena. A second Olympic-sized sheet of ice sits adjacent to the main arena. An addition to the main arena, The Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (or simply The Betty) was completed in 2004 and is now the home of UND's basketball and volleyball teams. In 2015 the REA received a certificate of excellence from Trip Advisor for being one of the top-rated destinations in America. In 2019 the REA announced they would install a new $6 million scoreboard. It was unveiled June 26, 2019, and is considered one of the best scoreboards in the country. Numerous ot