On any given weekend in Loveland, thousands of people gather at The Ranch Events Complex for everything from concerts and rodeos to sporting tournaments and major expos. The sprawling campus has become northern Colorado’s most dynamic event destination, drawing visitors from across the region and beyond. We sat down with Portia Cook, Strategic Communications Coordinator for The Ranch Events Complex, to learn more about what makes The Ranch such a unique place to visit and what exciting additions are ahead.
For someone who has never been to The Ranch, how would you describe the experience today? What types of events, shows or competitions might surprise them?
The Ranch is a campus that offers something for everyone. Throughout the year, you might find youth gymnastics competitions, vintage markets, business conferences, equine events and livestock shows happening across the property. We also host large outdoor gatherings like the Goodguys Vintage Car Show and the Overland Expo, which bring outdoor enthusiasts from across the country traveling with fully equipped adventure vehicles.
Blue Arena, the main venue at The Ranch, has hosted some impressive talent over the years. What kinds of artists, performances and major events are coming through right now, and what makes the arena such a strong regional draw?
Blue Arena brings a wide range of entertainment to northern Colorado, from major concerts and family shows to sporting events, rodeos and touring productions. The venue’s versatility allows it to transform for each event, attracting visitors from across Colorado, Wyoming and neighboring states.
How will upgrades to Blue Arena enhance the fan experience for future concerts and major events?
Our planned upgrades focus on improving the overall guest experience while modernizing key areas of the facility, including guest amenities, premium seating options and operational infrastructure that supports concerts, touring productions and sporting events.
The Ranch Master Plan is underway. What construction or upgrades have begun, and how will visitors start to see those changes take shape over the next year or two?
Phase II of The Ranch Master Plan is focused on expanding the campus and introducing new visitor experiences, with visible progress already underway.
Construction has begun on the new 21-acre, approximately 915,000-square-foot Event Lawn, designed to host festivals, concerts, the Larimer County Fair, and other large community events. The Event Lawn is expected to welcome its first major events in summer 2026 and will continue to evolve as planning advances for the future outdoor amphitheater that will be located there.
Construction on an interim Event Plaza is also scheduled to begin this month. This space will help connect venues across the campus and provide flexible room for vendors, performances and community programming, with the interim plaza expected to be ready in time for the county fair. Over the next couple of years, the plaza will continue to take shape through its final buildout, including features like a community stage, plug-and-play infrastructure and shaded pavilions.
The new Event Plaza and Event Lawn are exciting additions. How will these outdoor spaces change the types of gatherings and experiences attendees can expect in Loveland?
The Event Lawn will provide a large, flexible outdoor venue capable of hosting everything from major concerts and festivals to fair programming and community celebrations. It will also be home to the future outdoor amphitheater.
The Event Plaza will serve as a central gathering space that connects multiple venues across the campus. The plaza is intended to be a 130,000-square-foot multi-event outdoor hub and is planned to include a community stage, along with features designed to support vendors, performances and family-friendly activities.
Together, these spaces will support everything from large festivals like the Larimer County Fair to smaller community gatherings and regional events.
How will future additions, such as the new hotel, Expo Center, outdoor amphitheater and youth sports complex transform the visitor experience at The Ranch?
The proposed outdoor amphitheater is one of the most anticipated additions. It’s intended to create a dedicated space for concerts and live performances and work alongside the Event Lawn to support larger outdoor programming. The project is currently in design development, with construction intended to begin later in 2026.
Plans are also underway for a new Exposition Center, envisioned as a facility designed to host conventions, trade shows, expos, banquets, indoor sports and large community events. This type of venue would allow northern Colorado to host events that currently need to be booked in other regions. The new Expo Center will be over 100,000 square feet, providing significantly more space for gatherings of all kinds.
A proposed full-service hotel would provide convenient lodging for event attendees and make it easier to host multi-day conferences, tournaments and festivals on campus.
Additionally, a youth hockey and sports facility is being explored to support youth athletics, training and regional tournaments, while providing new recreational opportunities for the community.
Together, the 21-acre Event Lawn, 130,000-square-foot Event Plaza and 100,000-plus-square-foot Expo Center illustrate the expanding scale of The Ranch, creating a dynamic campus designed to host everything from festivals and community gatherings to large-scale expos and events.
How does The Ranch balance its agricultural roots with large-scale concerts and modern entertainment?
Agriculture remains at the heart of The Ranch. The campus serves as a hub for 4-H programs, dog activities and livestock events. We are proud to host many of these events at no charge as a way of investing back into our community. These programs help young people learn the responsibility of raising animals and gain a deeper understanding of agriculture and the farm-to-table connection.
At the same time, we celebrate and preserve Western culture through a full calendar of equine and rodeo events. Our arenas host everything from reining and roping competitions to the CSU Rodeo and Colorado high school rodeos.
That combination of honoring our agricultural heritage while hosting concerts, expos and large-scale entertainment creates a unique experience that reflects the spirit of northern Colorado. Visitors can come for a traditional fair or livestock event and return for a concert, conference or family show, creating an experience that is distinctly Loveland.
What kinds of visitors are you seeing most right now?
One of the most exciting things about The Ranch is the diversity of visitors we welcome, from families attending youth sports competitions to equestrian participants, concertgoers and trade show attendees.
For those traveling from outside the region for an event at The Ranch, how would you suggest they turn that visit into a full weekend in Loveland?
Visitors should explore our vibrant downtown, enjoy local restaurants and breweries, visit the city’s well-known sculpture parks and art galleries, or take advantage of easy access to the Rocky Mountains for hiking and outdoor recreation.
Many guests come for an event at The Ranch and end up discovering Loveland’s blend of arts, culture and outdoor adventure.
Extend your stay and discover Loveland.
Loveland has a way of bringing people together, whether it’s through art, outdoor adventure or shared experiences like the events hosted at The Ranch. A concert, competition or expo often becomes the starting point for discovering the city itself, from downtown galleries and restaurants to scenic trails and sculpture parks. However you arrive, time spent here offers a glimpse into the creativity, community and spirit that make Loveland such a memorable place to visit.
Visit The Ranch Events Complex to explore upcoming events and start planning your trip.