February 26, 2015
Take a Closer Look: Guidant John Rose MN OVAL
Can you name where the largest outdoor refrigerated skating facility in North America is located?
That’s right, it’s located at the Guidant John Rose MN OVAL in Roseville, Minnesota. There’s a lot to learn about this unique venue; let’s get started!
![](https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/compressors-chilling-ice-skate-the-oval.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=f9629a9d4df6d9e291a1e482e377357e 320w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/compressors-chilling-ice-skate-the-oval.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=1e40a47f9103bceb41fa7e2d339c06dd 540w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/compressors-chilling-ice-skate-the-oval.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=318fbc6188e578127790326660a28b36 768w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/compressors-chilling-ice-skate-the-oval.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=70ecf624949b4224394bdffeb58bc8ea 960w)
Techie Facts
The outdoor OVAL ice is 110,000 square feet in size and is maintained by a state of the art cooling system with 800+ tons of refrigeration and 84 miles of underground piping. This means you can enjoy ice skating outdoors even when temperatures hit the 50s in Minnesota.
![](https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/millieecarr.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=49269aa5ad4facb7dd414c1656f68bb8 320w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/millieecarr.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=ee9a94b0c13f3b02331fb75d9e179e73 540w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/millieecarr.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=ce186ae2f2cdae8773528fb29cb4a0d7 640w)
Ice Skating
Of course, the OVAL offers good old fashioned ice skating. Public skating usually starts in November and is open all winter long, ending usually in the beginning of March. It only costs $5.50 to skate and skate rental is available for $4 if you don’t have your own.
![](https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/midway-speed-skating-club.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=b61a0b0fc745c5c6d84b53390558a7ce 320w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/midway-speed-skating-club.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=1099d20549962e30c0cdb0e199246eb5 540w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/midway-speed-skating-club.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=63f3e7c0f5d3732bb48c39cee712c528 768w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/midway-speed-skating-club.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=634d5606eebd137b0a227ea00ee8872f 1024w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/midway-speed-skating-club.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=7a463151388a4a36d6bb1d9c30ad35b4 1200w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/midway-speed-skating-club.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=fc597b58bc2a838d8445747c753e651a 1440w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/midway-speed-skating-club.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=6dded27db83e36a49078a390c8553bfe 1920w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/midway-speed-skating-club.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=ca9d9779293e0475ede69c838fe0df86 2048w)
Speedskating
The OVAL offers a 400 meter speedskating track and has hosted US Speedskating Championships, US Junior Speedskating Championships, American Cup Speedskating, and World Cup Speedskating. Olympians such as Annie Driscoll, Dan Jansen and Bonnie Blair have all used the OVAL for their speedskating training.
![](https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/bevf3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=0d4793d80af9c23530fffb1ad71884ef 320w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/bevf3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=63c507b95fee2d048ecb583b8cbd8248 540w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/bevf3.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=75da4a6b5a3b5191605fd570e7dae51b 640w)
Minnesota Wild
Annually, the Minnesota Wild organize an outdoor practice at the OVAL for the public. This family friendly event is FREE and includes photos with reindeer, a visit from Santa, an appearance by Nordy, and free open skating before the MN Wild take the ice.
![](https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/jbop01.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=0145b98cfc8b00e56882a0a230000ad4 320w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/jbop01.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=654173d1384c25c5332b9a6e722d81a4 540w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/jbop01.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=ecdd63aca61090e191eaba9ff9facb55 640w)
OVALumination
Lightly falling snow and ice skating have become a nostalgic past time for many people in Minnesota. When the winter months arrive, the OVAL transforms into OVALumination; heightening your skating experience with holiday lights draped on surrounding trees, illuminating the OVAL.
![](https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/skate-park-skate-the-oval.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=55e4c1b08ad4fca8426c2c2805d330ca 320w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/skate-park-skate-the-oval.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=2ce2b696d4d8e21b199d7e4d8d5cac04 540w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/skate-park-skate-the-oval.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=1918da3720bd96a86dc15e770e2c4f66 640w)
Skate Park
When the weather changes from cold to warm, the OVAL gets a makeover as well. One of the largest skate parks in the Midwest takes place of the ice during the spring, summer and fall months. It’s used for recreational BMX biking and aggressive skating, but still offers enough room for roller hockey and inline skating on the side.
![](https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/outdoor-movies-skate-the-oval.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=af5aaed1c9bbbcda96b17a44f1825e49 320w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/outdoor-movies-skate-the-oval.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=646933bfc19780209bf6f81748f52231 540w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/outdoor-movies-skate-the-oval.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=5693554abb44fbb490f215bc726d8ca6 768w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/outdoor-movies-skate-the-oval.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=080684a264b9040c0dc4739e898e0a8d 960w)
Outdoor Movies
Gather a group for a night at the movies out on the OVAL. Throughout the summer, the OVAL becomes a great spot to watch a family friendly flick. Bring chairs, blankets and snacks and sit back and enjoy the featured film on the OVAL’s big screen.
![](https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/visitrosevillemn0.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=56465503976cc08caed9c4507bfef9a1 320w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/visitrosevillemn0.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=9116e81978e7d1754a9eb172cc1b4ca1 540w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/visitrosevillemn0.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=2ed32a782967eda96f1bb0faead56a92 640w)
Tapped & Uncorked
2014 marked the inaugural year of the PourFORParks Tapped & Uncorked event at the OVAL. Local craft breweries and wineries pour samples for the crowd, food trucks and local Roseville restaurants serve unique eats and a dance worthy music plays by a live band; what more do you need. Mark your calendar for October 2nd so you don’t miss the 2nd annual Tapped & Uncorked event!
![](https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/modifidebikepolo1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=57b4eaffe45870cadb1fd517c97373e8 320w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/modifidebikepolo1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=c9b186ea4d2db497297c880f9947fd85 540w, https://visit-roseville.imgix.net/images/archive/modifidebikepolo1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=f201436b7e63100a5b16df8ce84c4df1 612w)
Big Events
Hockey and speedskating aren’t the only big events being played at the OVAL. Over the years, the OVAL has hosted some major events such as the North American Hardcourt Bike Polo Championships, Aggressive Skating Association competitions, Red Bull Open Ice: Pond Hockey Finals, and the Bandy World Championship.
We offer coupons for ice skating and facility rentals at the OVAL and skating center. Check them out on our website under attractions.
Related Content:
2661 Civic Center Drive Roseville, Minnesota 55113 (651) 792-7007 Website
John Rose MN OVAL2661 Civic Center Drive
Roseville, Minnesota 55113