The 11-year-old Colorado Eagles hockey team has just announced its intention to build a new home arena that will go up on the west side of Greeley. More specifically, the structure would be built at the intersection of U.S. Route 34 and Colorado State Highway 17.
The team, playing in the pacific division of the American Hockey League, has had its home in the 7,200-seat Blue Arena, located at 5290 Arena Circle in Loveland, which was opened in the fall of 2003.
But now Eagles officials say they want to play in what will be a mixed-use facility with a seating capacity of up to 9,000 for hockey, and some 12,000 seats when used for entertainment events.
As planned, the project would also include a separate space for a recreation rink to be used for youth hockey. Renderings of the planned arena also show a large and spacious lobby area with marble floors and wall murals.
The larger site outside the multi-tiered arena, meanwhile, could see the construction of a water park and several hotels.
Referenced as the “West Side Project,” the overall arena site is being officially described as a “mixed-use, transit-oriented, entertainment district development,” that will also include some mixed-income and affordable housing.
Developer of the project is Martin Lind, chief executive officer of the Water Valley Company.
Launched as an expansion franchise in the Central Hockey League, the Eagles became a part of the American Hockey League in 2018. Playing in the Blue Arena, the team has regularly seen attendance rates of just over 5,000.
Although an exact construction schedule for the project has not yet been announced, a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the development of the arena has been entered into by the Greeley City Council and the Water Valley Company.
By Garry Boulard
