Originally an outdoor equestrian center and riding academy, the building was enclosed and converted into an ice arena which opened in January 1938.

The building served as the first home of the NCAA Hockey Championships, hosting the first ten Final Fours (1948–1957) and once more, in 1969.

With wooden seats, red aisle carpeting, and wildlife paintings on the walls, the arena had an intimate atmosphere that reflected its lakeside, resort hotel setting.

In April 2014, after an agreement with the Anschutz Entertainment Group (owners of The Broadmoor resort), the World Arena in south Colorado Springs was formally renamed the Broadmoor World Arena, in order to take advantage of the name recognition of the original building.

[2] There is a memorial on the grounds of the hotel to the members of the 1961 US Figure Skating team, all of whom perished in the crash of their flight to the 1961 championships near Brussels, Belgium.