An aerial view of Guidant John Rose MN OVAL. Courtesy of Roseville Parks & Rec
The largest sheet of artificial ice in North America and best ice rink in the country is right here in Roseville
Harriet Alexander Nature Center, Minnesota’s largest Butternut tree, Central Park, Roselawn Cemetery— we have so many unique attractions in Roseville. Still, one of our local marvels easily rises to the top of the list: The John Rose MN OVAL.
Let’s take a look at our renowned skating destination’s history.
Olympic origins
The concept of the OVAL began in 1983, when then-Governor Rudy Perpich envisioned bringing the Olympic Games to Minnesota. Perpich encouraged lawmakers to underwrite a series of Olympic-class sports facilities, including those for speed skating and bandy. Roseville’s leaders responded enthusiastically to the governor’s idea and submitted an inch-thick speedskating oval proposal to Minnesota state officials in 1987.
Perpich’s dreams were dashed the next year when Atlanta was chosen as the Olympic host. Even so, the momentum to build a world class ice rink in Roseville continued to build. In 1992, Governor Arne Carlson awarded state funding for the Roseville OVAL and construction soon began.
The OVAL was designed as a multi-purpose outdoor skating facility, featuring:
- A 110,000 square foot refrigerated concrete slab
- An Olympic-sized infield for hockey and bandy
- A 400 meter speedskating track
- Year-round recreational use
The building of the OVAL took place in four main stages.
Breaking ground on the ice
First, the ground was excavated, then prepared with a layer of crushed gravel and sand. This provided proper drainage and minimized moisture accumulation. Layers of rigid foam insulation followed to prevent freezing and cracking.
Next came the refrigeration grid and concrete slab. Eighty-four miles of specialized cooling tubes were laid out across the track’s footprint, then embedded within a highly durable concrete slab. Very cold coolant was then pumped through the pipes to chill the concrete.
Ice was then micro-layered onto the chilled concrete. This ensured proper ice density and air bubble prevention. Once a clear, thin ice base formed, a layer of white paint was applied to brighten the track. Next, skating lanes and track markers were painted on, followed by a light water misting to act as a sealant.
Finally, subsequent layers of water were sprayed on until the ice reached a standard speedskating thickness of 2.5 centimeters (about 1 inch).
The OVAL’s massive concrete surface consists of the 400 meter speedskating track surrounded by an infield ice area. Over 800 tons (the weight of 500 average-sized cars) of refrigeration cool the rink and enough underground piping to stretch from Como Park to Eau Claire, Wisc.! This system helps maintain world class ice, even when the outside air temperature hits 50 degrees.
Construction of the OVAL proceeded in an amazingly rapid seven months. Its opened to the public in December 1993, named in honor of Roseville physical education teacher John Rose.
The Friends of the OVAL Foundation formed in 1993 to ensure continued support and improvements to the OVAL. This volunteer nonprofit organization supports recreational and competitive use of the OVAL and works closely with Roseville Parks and Recreation to best utilize Foundation resources. The Friends of the OVAL appreciates new volunteers as well as (tax deductible) donations of any amount.
A world-renowned local landmark
The OVAL got a great deal of use over the years, causing wear and tear. In 2004, leaks were discovered in the underground cooling system, raising major concerns. Fortunately, the Guidant Foundation stepped up and donated $500,000 to repair the refrigeration network. In honor of this gift, the OVAL’s name was changed to the Guidant John Rose MN OVAL.
The OVAL received further major renovations ahead of the 2022 season. Roseville received $3.9 million from the State of Minnesota to improve drainage, increase accessibility, replace outdated refrigeration components and install custom-engineered speedskating padding. These updates ensure the OVAL remains a competitive national and international venue for many years to come.
From November through March, the OVAL hosts speedskating, ice hockey and bandy events, along with recreational skating.
If you’ve never heard of bandy, you’re not alone! Often described as “field hockey on skates”, bandy is played on a soccer field-sized area, uses a small ball instead of a puck and has a team of eleven players. Most popular in Russia, Sweden and Finland, bandy is still considered a niche winter sport in the United States. The OVAL is the only regulation size outdoor bandy facility in the whole country, and hosts bandy from November through March. It’s also the headquarters of The American Bandy Association, the USA Men’s and Women’s Bandy teams and an Adult Recreation Bandy League.
The Greater Minnesota Speedskating Association and the Midway Speedskating Club, both headquartered at the OVAL, serve as primary training grounds for many junior national athletes in that sport.
The OVAL has hosted many competitions over the years, including U.S. Junior Speedskating Championships, World Cup Speedskating, National Bandy Championships, North American Long Track Speedskating Championships and Aggressive Skating Association competitions.
The next championships the OVAL will host will be the prestigious 2028 Junior World Championships for Speedskating. This international competition was last held in Roseville in 2013.
The Minnesota Wild even held their jersey unveiling at the OVAL in 1999.
Roseville beats Rockefeller
From May through September, the giant ice sheet is used for inline skating, a skate park and even as a site for outdoor community movie evenings!
In 2023, the John Rose OVAL won first place in a USA Today contest for the ice rink that delivered a “superior ice skating experience.” The OVAL aced out nineteen other contenders, including New York City’s Rockefeller Center Rink and Curry Village Ice Rink at Yosemite National Park. What a way to say “Happy 30th Birthday” to our OVAL!
Going from an ‘80s Olympic dream to hosting world-class ice sport events for over three decades is quite a remarkable legacy for our very unique ice facility.
HAPPY 33RD YEAR, JOHN ROSE MINNESOTA OVAL!
