Ralph Engelstad Arena — Attraction in Grand Forks

WOW!!!! I have heard for years that this place was the Taj Mahal of hockey. It is the finest arena I have ever been to and I've been to a lot. Finally got to a game October 25, 2024.

The outside of the building with its red brick design is stunning to see. This red brick thing is big in Grand Forks. The eye candy continues once you get inside. Polished granite floors, Fighting Sioux Logo in the floor and all over the place. UND hockey history all over the place. The gift shop is amazing too. No shortage of food and drink stands. Packed house and never a line more than 3 people deep. Prices fall in line with typical sporting venues.

The arena bowl does not have a bad seat to watch from. We were upper deck, row 3 in one of the corners. Great spot to watch a game.

My favorite part was the fan experience. 99% of people are in team colors. The atmosphere in there was just electric. The fans take so much pride in their team, the different chants and traditions, which we took part in. It was so much fun.

I am one of those guys that love to travel around to different stadiums and arena's. Well this one is must see.

10 STARS on this one.

You will not be...

HOLY.....COW. My wife and I are Bronco hockey fans from southern Michigan. We drove to Grand Forks to watch our boys play, but also see the Ralph, made out to me to be the Taj Mahal of hockey, not just college hockey. It didn’t disappoint.

Mr. Engelstad didn’t spare any expenses or any amount of planning. He did well and the atmosphere shows. The culture and excitement when you walk around the building is electric. In Michigan, you’d feel about the same stuff at a Red Wings game. Well, this is the NHL of this area, so it’s got all the glitz and glamor of an NHL game, probably even more. And with more tradition added.

There are counters everywhere for you to set stuff on and collect your family for a minute. There’s more food and drink than you could imagine. The crowd participation puts any other hockey team to shame. The floors are immaculate. Heck, everything is immaculate (there was no point in making that comment just about the floors; it’s literally everything).

We came to visit the best of the best and it did not disappoint. It truly is the best...

This place is not called the Taj Mahal of hockey for no reason. It is beautifully thought out and constructed from the granite floors to the thought put into the bathroom flow. It doesn't have the cold look of cement that other hockey venues have and it also has excellent bathroom flow, which is very important when trying to hit both the bathroom and the beer stand and perhaps a food stand during the period break. It's not just the beast looking hockey rink in college, it's the most well thought out for flow of everything a hockey fan would want to accomplish during a period break. I realize I have mentioned bathroom flow more than once but there is not a single stadium for any sport that I have been in where that was...