Minnesota Seeks $23.7 Million Bond to Upgrade National Sports Center Cooling Plant

The National Sports Center in Blaine hosts about two million visitors each year and generates nearly $100 million in economic impact. Its Super Rink contains eight ice sheets used by elite teams, youth programs, and recreational skaters. The facility relies on aging compressors and corroded piping, including an R-22 tank that can no longer be legally produced or imported in the United States.

- The Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission has asked legislators for a $23.7 million bond to build a modern central cooling plant that will service all eight sheets. - If the existing cooling system fails, the ice could melt in less than 24 hours, jeopardizing training and competition for elite and youth hockey teams. - The complex draws roughly two million annual visitors and contributes close to $100 million to the state economy each year.

Upgrading the cooling infrastructure would reduce the risk of sudden ice loss during peak summer tournaments and protect a venue that supports both high‑performance athletics and community recreation. Legislators will decide whether to approve the bond in the upcoming session; if denied, the commission may pursue smaller grants or phased repairs while the current system remains vulnerable.