[1] Local businessman Robert Ridder co-chaired a task force to build a rink for the women's team, but he died in 2000 before the completion of the project.

[2] Funding for the new arena was approved in 1999, and included contributions from the Minnesota Legislature, university fundraising, and other private donations.

[3] The design of the facility was a collaboration between Rossetti Architects and Ankeny Kell,[1] with construction completed by Shaw Lundquist Associates.

[6][7] The Baseline Tennis Center is attached to Ridder Arena on its west side and is the largest portion of the complex.

[3] It is home to the Minnesota Golden Gophers men's and women's tennis teams, who previously had no dedicated facility of their own.

[13] Ridder Arena has hosted the Western Collegiate Hockey Association conference championships on ten occasions, in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016, and 2017.

[10] It has also hosted the Minnesota Girls State Hockey Tournament, and been used as a practice venue for visiting NHL teams and the IIHF World Women's U18 Championships.