Record Breaking MN Oval Named One Of Best Ice Rinks In US

Minnesota is home to a unique, one of a kind ice rink that is getting national recognition as one of the best rinks in the United States. Once you learn more about it, the attention makes sense.

Located in Roseville, Minnesota, the Guidant John Rose MN Oval is the world's largest outdoor refrigerated ice rink. It can maintain world-class ice even when temperatures climb into the 50s, which is impressive for an outdoor setup in any climate, let alone the Midwest.

Minnesota’s One of a Kind Ice Rink Earns National Spotlight

The rink boasts 110,000 square feet of refrigerated ice cooled by 84 miles of underground piping and more than 800 tons of refrigeration. The massive layout features a 400-meter speed skating track that surrounds an infield used for hockey or bandy. Bandy is similar to hockey but played with eleven players on a larger sheet of ice, and it uses a ball instead of a puck.

READ MORE: Another Pro Team Joins Minnesota’s Sports Lineup

The Guidant John Rose MN Oval is also one of the few Olympic sized bandy ice sheets in the country. Because of that, the facility hosts high level bandy competitions, including World and National Bandy games and Championships. It is one of the only places in the United States where the sport has a true home.

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Now This Minnesota Rink is Competing for a National Title

The rink is now up for its own title in USA Today’s Best Ice Rink category for the yearly Reader’s Choice Awards. The Minnesota venue has been nominated along with nineteen others that are competing for a spot on the 10BEST list. Voting is open until Monday, December 1, and the top ten list will be revealed on December 13.

Right now, the Guidant John Rose MN Oval is not in the top ten. If you love winter sports, outdoor ice, or anything that feels uniquely Minnesotan, this rink is an easy one to root for.