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10) Project Description and Rational This request is for $960,000 in state of Minnesota iunding to design, construct, iuir�i.s�� and equip multiple improvements and enhancements to the Jo�ln Rose Minnesota OVAL located in Roseville, Minnesota. The OVAL was built in 1993 with funds from the State of IvZiz�.ta.esota andthe City of Roseville. This cu��-ent request is the result of u��usually high costs of operation and capital needs for a i�assive facility of this type. The capital needs of the facility are too great for the City of Roseville to fund alone. Due to the �VAL's regional signiiicance, the City of Roseville requests the State of Minnesota assistance in the continued operation of this regional joint project, and state asset, through financial participation in capital projects �ui�ding. — The John Rose Minnesota OVAL was constructed as a partnership between the State of � Minnesota and tlie City of Roseville. This world class facility has established itself as one of Minnesota's most visible venues for regional, national and int�i7iatio��al events. The OVAL is unique and features the world's largest outdoor refrigerated ice sheet, with 81 miles of refrigeration piping and a 110,000 square foot slcating surface. The John Rose Minnesota OVAL offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities including: ice speed skating, in-line hockey and speed skating, bandy, ice hockey, public ice skating, aggressive sports (ii�1i�-�e skating, skateboarding, bikingl blad'zz�gl boarding ramps) and one of the largest family New Year's Eve pai-�y in the Metro area. The facility was built as a regional slcating center and it has proven itself in that category. The .�ol�n Rose Minnesota OVAL l�as been host to many regional, national and international events including multiple World Junior Speed Skating Championships, World Cups in Speedskating and Bandy plus the annual America's Cup, John Rose Cup, Junior National Long Track Speed Skating Championship, St. Paul Winter Carnival Events, etc.. Recreational skating draws more tha�� 10,000 participants per season from the metro area and throughout the State of Minnesota. Tl�e John Rose Minnesota OVAL serves a great number of patrons from outside of the City of Roseville. It is estimated that as many as 60°/o - 70°/o of the regular users of the John Rose Mirinesota OVAL are not Roseville taxpayers and come from the greater Twin Cities metro area, out-state Mir��esota or the greater Midwest. In 2004, the John Rose Minnesota OVAL experienced inajoz- mechanical issues so costly that it preventedthe use of artificial ice. This problem has been temporarily resolved through co��orate philanthropy, but the issue of long te�-� capital funding needs to be resolved. We believe tIiat it is imperative and in the best interests of Mir�ncsota and Roseville residents that the state of Minnesota and the City of Roseville work cooperatively to ensure t� � success of the John Rose Mini7esota OVAL. It is a tremendous facility, extremely well utilized by all of our constituents. It is an asset for the State of Minnesota a��d the facility is recognized nationally and internationally. To ensure the future of this magnificent facility, it is imperative that the State of Miiinesota �artic��a#e in the funding of these capital items. It has become too big of a b�rden for tih � Roseville taxpayers to fund alone. We bclieve L[:�L a continued colla�o�ative participation by the State of Minnesota and the City of Roseville on tlus jointly funded and constructed facility will {'�z��lh�r strengthen our cooperative relatiaz�ships and result iz� better service to our constituei-�ts.