Rio Rancho sits northwest of Albuquerque in Sandoval County, a high desert city with wide views of the Sandia Mountains to the east. The Rio Rancho Events Center, now known as the Rio Rancho Events Center, hosts concerts, sports, and community gatherings, giving the city a central venue for large occasions. City Center and surrounding districts mix civic buildings, shopping, and restaurants, while newer neighborhoods spread across mesa land with mountain views from many streets.