Santa Ana Star Center is an 8,000-seat multipurpose arena in Rio Rancho, New Mexico , a suburb of Albuquerque . It is home to the New Mexico Scorpions of the Central Hockey League and a possible expansion team in af2, a division of the Arena Football League. The af2 franchise will be owned, in part, by Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher.
The Santa Ana Star Center was completed at a cost of $47 million USD and opened on October 21, 2006. The Scorpions played their first home game there on October 27, falling to the Arizona Sundogs 3-1 in front of a sellout crowd. Santa Ana Star Center tickets are always quick to sell out, so do your best to reserve your seats early.
Santa Ana Star Casino purchased the naming rights to the arena in a five-year, $2.5 million deal signed in July 2006. The arena was previously known as Rio Rancho Events Center . Santa Ana Star Center is part of a larger "City Centre" project which also includes a new City Hall. Be sure to check out a few Santa Ana Star Center events next time you're in the area.