Guidant John Rose Minnesota Oval
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The Guidant John Rose Minnesota Oval is an outdoor ice rink in Roseville, Minnesota, United States. Consisting of a 110,000 square foot (10,200 m²) concrete surface (a 400-meter track surrounding an infield ice arena) with 84 miles (135 km) of embedded cooling tubes and an 800 ton refrigeration system, it is the largest artificial outdoor skating surface in the world. When the temperature is above 50 °F (10 °C)—the highest temperature at which an icy surface can be maintained—the concrete surface can be used for inline skating. The facility was constructed from June to December 1993. The earlier name was John Rose Minnesota Oval.
The Oval had its beginnings in 1983, when then governor Rudy Perpich dreamed of hosting the Olympics. As part of the bid preparation, a task force was formed to determine locations of new facilities. After years of local efforts, Roseville, Minnesota was selected. The city was awarded state bonding money for the design and construction of a multi-purpose outdoor skating facility, which opened in December of 1993. The facility was named after John Rose, Roseville teacher and member of the state House of Representatives [1].
The Guidant John Rose Minnesota Oval hosted the Bandy World Championships for men in 1995 and for women in 2006. It has also hosted US Speedskating Championships, US Junior Speedskating Championships, American Cup Speedskating, World Cup Speedskating, National Bandy Championships, and Aggressive Skating Association competitions. The Minnesota Wild held their hockey jersey unveiling at the Oval, and notable visitors have included Dan Jansen, Bonnie Blair, Paul Wylie, and Neal Broten. The facility is the main training site for the United States national bandy team and local hockey and speedskating clubs.
Leaks in the cooling system were discovered in 2004, making the season's service uncertain. In June 2005, the Guidant Foundation contributed $500,000 to allow for needed repairs to the facility's refrigeration system. The Oval's official name was changed in recognition of the Foundation's gift and continuing support.
There are many events and sports held at the Oval, which hosts over 100,000 guests each year. The sports include bandy, ice hockey, speed skating, and recreational ice skating. In the summer months the Oval becomes the largest skating park in the Midwest as ramps are put up for BMX biking, roller hockey, and aggressive skating and the track is used for inline skating.
[edit] External links
- ^ Skate the Oval. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.
