The University of North Dakota (UND) hockey team begins its season against Manitoba on Saturday, October 4 at 6:07 p.m. inside Ralph Engelstad Arena (REA). Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com and the UND/REA ticket office.

 

During the offseason, North Dakota Athletics and Ralph Engelstad Arena conducted fan experience surveys to gather input and opportunities for improvement. “We are constantly looking for opportunities to provide our student-athletes and fans a high-quality and exciting hockey experience,” said REA General Manager Jody Hodgson. “We hold input from our fans, coaches, and student-athletes in high regard, and we work with our teammates from UND Athletics to ensure they are implemented as effectively as possible.”

 

New fan experiences and “Know Before You Go” information for the upcoming season include:

 

Party On the Plaza – Celebrate the start of the 2025-26 season on the REA Plaza, Saturday, October 4 from 3-5 p.m. before the home opener. Enjoy live music from 32 Below featuring a blend of country and rock favorites. Draft beer and seltzers will be available for purchase outside on the Plaza. Event is rain or shine and all ages are welcome.

 

New 50/50 Promotional Nights - From $20,000 minimum pot guarantees, to $10,000 Sweeten the Pot nights, and 60/40 nights, the variety of 50/50 raffles doesn’t stop this season. Be sure to check the 50/50 raffle nighty for the promotion in play.  

 

There will be two nights with $50,000 guaranteed minimum jackpots! The first $50,000 minimum jackpot night is on Saturday, October 18 when Minnesota comes to town to face the Hawks.

 

Plus, there are also two nights this season where the 50/50 raffle proceeds will directly benefit North Dakota Hockey’s NIL (name, image, and likeness) program. The first such night is Saturday, October 18, along with the first $50,000 guaranteed minimum jackpot.

 

Concessions News –

• No Price Increases - The Ralph is proud to announce that there are no price increases on concessions products this season, including our beer prices. We are very aware of the total cost of attendance and are committed to holding the line on concessions prices.  
• All Forms of Payment Now Accepted at All Concessions Locations – Debit and credit, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, along with cash, are now accepted at all concession stands - including beer portables and permanent beer stands. All payment options available at all points of sale, including cash.
• Bernie’s Concession Kiosk – Molly Yeh brings locally sourced, hand-chopped, and homemade favorites to The Ralph this season, including Chicken Knoephola Soup with Sourdough Bread, Tater Tot Hotdish, Chili with Cornbread and cookies.
• Legends Lounge – Enjoy your favorite hockey-themed cocktails in this updated lounge located between the Northwest and Northeast entrances on the Main Concourse.
• Signature Cocktail - The Ralph is proud to introduce our new signature cocktail, the Palace Tea, available at all bar locations where cocktails are served. The Palace Tea is similar to a whiskey or vodka sour and is served with boba pearls in a clear 16-ounce Palace Tea branded cup.

Promotional Schedule – The season starts off with the Home Opener and Party on the Plaza this Saturday, October 4 and continues with special nights throughout the season. Some highlights include: Rivalry Weekend/October 17-18, Grand Forks Police & Fire Night/November 14, Star Wars Night/January 3 and One More Shift with Zach Parise/February 14.

 

The full promotional schedule can be found at fightinghawks.com.

 

New NCHC Playoff Structure – Beginning this season, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) will be moving its playoffs entirely to campus sites. The biggest change sees the semifinals move to a single elimination game at two campus sites on the Saturday after the quarterfinals, with the championship game also a single elimination game at the home of the highest remaining seed a week after the semifinals. The top 8 teams in the regular season will advance to the 2026 NCHC playoffs.

 

New Merchandise Offerings from The Sioux Shop – The new CCM authentic and CCM replica UND hockey jerseys are here and ready for the season. As always, fans will be able to customize the new CCM jerseys with their favorite names and numbers. New brands and new lines of merchandise are available from Hockeyak (adult athletic wear & headwear), Disney and Pixar co-branded items (Monsters Inc, Mickey Mouse, Lighting McQueen, Homer Simpson), and Jack and Sage (adult flannel and camp shirts).

 

Sioux Shop Authentics continues to be home for officially licensed UND NIL (name, image, and likeness) merchandise including player graphic tees and select player pennants, pucks and magnets. Visit the Sioux Shop in the lobby, Sioux Shop Up Top (Section 316) or siouxshop.com/authentics to learn more and purchase merchandise today.

 

Photo Booth – Bring four friends and step inside the new photo booth located on the South end of the Main Concourse near the SW Student Entrance.

 

Parking Update – Parking lots located behind Northside Café and near the medical school accept cash or you can text 25023 to pay by phone. The lots located Board Room (formerly Archives Coffee Shop) and west of Casey’s are text to pay. UND does not use the Passport app for hockey. The lot east of the Wellness Center remains cash only.

 

Mobile Ticketing – Now is the time to log into your My North Dakota Account to view your tickets and then add them to your Apple Wallet or Google Pay (if available to you) for easy entry. Familiarize yourself with a practice run before Saturday’s game. If you have issues, it is always a great idea to “Logout” and then “Log In” again as a troubleshooting exercise.  

 

UND Gameday App - Download the app to play a variety of interactive games featuring fantastic prizes, including Check in to Win, Guess the Goal Scorer, Trivia Challenge and Player of the Game. The app also includes line charts, scores, schedule, game notes and special offers. Download it at the Google Play and Apple App stores.

 

For more information on Ralph Engelstad Arena services, policies, and promotions, visit theralph.com/guest-services.