National Sports Center seeks large repairs; governor recommends about $8.6 million for ice‑plant work

Todd Johnson, executive director of the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission, and Neil Ladd, deputy executive director for the National Sports Center, told the Capital Investment Committee on Feb. 18 that the National Sports Center's replacement value is roughly $205,000,000 and that the facility is carrying about $78,000,000 in deferred maintenance.

Johnson said the National Sports Center is a 700‑acre campus with eight sheets of ice and over 60 soccer fields and that the campus produces substantial sports tourism value for the state. "Each year, depending as we climb back from the shutdown during COVID, we project our economic impact to be about $90,000,000 a year through the events that we hold and host up at the National Sports Center," he said. He noted that USA Cup and other large events draw teams and visitors from across states and countries.

Ladd noted that the super rink has an estimated replacement value of about $66,000,000 and that roughly $40,000,000 of that is in the deferred maintenance category. The Sports Commission's original asset preservation request for the center was $23,350,000. Ladd told the committee that the governor's recommendation—about $8,600,000—would go first to address the ice plant and the phase‑out of R‑22 refrigerant by switching to an ammonia system.

Ladd said the facility's current refrigerant (R‑22) is no longer available for purchase for major repairs and that a full changeover to an ammonia system would cost roughly $7,000,000 for the ice plants alone. The commission described the request as essential to keep the facility operating and to preserve the statewide economic benefits from sports tourism.

Legislators asked about financing options, including bonding plus user fees and other dedicated revenue sources, and about whether reducing rink surface area (from Olympic to NHL size) could lower future costs. The commission said it had explored alternatives but that without a stable funding source it could not complete the full set of deferred maintenance projects.

The commission also noted a smaller program in the governor's request—the "Mighty Ducks" funding—at about $900,000 that would help other rinks address R‑22 changeovers statewide. Committee members asked follow‑up questions and the commission said it would accept any funding and prioritize the ice plant replacement if the governor's recommendation is approved.

No formal committee action was taken on the Sports Commission request during the Feb. 18 hearing.