Local Brewery Joins MAC to Serve Fans at Ice Lobo Games

Brew Lab 101 Beer and Cider Co. began serving drinks at Ice Lobo games at the McDermott Athletic Center in Rio Rancho, marking a new collaboration between a local brewer and the University of New Mexico club hockey program. The pop up concession stood at games during the Lobos series split with Metro State on December 6 and 7, and the brewery is scheduled to return for the team s home weekend against Wyoming on January 30 and 31.

The short term presence is aimed squarely at providing adult beverages to fans who requested them. Brew Lab owner Scott Salvas described the initial run as successful. "We had some folks who were coming to some of these hockey games who really wanted to have a beer or beverage," Salvas said. "We just did the last round of games, and that went great. A lot of people were very excited about that. We're also going to be out there again for the next set of games."

For local residents the partnership delivers immediate benefits. Concession options at sporting venues often increase per attendee spending and enhance game day experience, which can help attract larger crowds and extend time spent on campus and in nearby neighborhoods. For small businesses like Brew Lab the arrangement provides direct access to a steady stream of potential customers through the university season, while the athletic center can diversify non ticket revenue and support programming for adult leagues and community events.

Salvas and MAC officials are discussing a more permanent step, with plans under consideration to open a Brew Lab tap room at the MAC around April or May 2026. That development would create a permanent gathering space linked to youth and adult sports activity and neighborhood use. It will require continued coordination between the brewery, the athletic center and university stakeholders to align operations with facility use and community expectations.

The collaboration fits a broader local trend of partnerships between community oriented breweries and public venues, where shared use of space can support recreational programs, neighborhood gathering places and modest economic boosts for surrounding businesses. Residents should watch for further announcements as the Mac and Brew Lab refine plans for a tap room and expanded concessions through the rest of the 2025 to 26 season.