Community groups give generously for a new OVAL scoreboard
A larger, higher definition scoreboard will be installed this summer
The time has come to replace the scoreboard at the John Rose Minnesota OVAL outdoor skating rink. Installed in 2010, the current scoreboard is beyond its usable life and has pixelated, off-color displays, software that is no longer supported, and replacement parts that can only be purchased second hand.
The scoreboard has multipurpose functionality—serving as scorekeeping during Bandy games, timing during speedskating events, and displaying ads, messages, and rules during public skating. It’s also used for free outdoor movies in the summer.
At the Roseville City Council meeting on March 17, Parks and Recreation Director Matthew Johnson presented for approval two gifts from community organizations to help fund the replacement of the scoreboard.
As Parks and Recreation staff made plans to replace the scoreboard, they met with the different user groups to learn about their needs and what features are important to them in a new scoreboard. Over the course of those conversations, two community organizations reached out with generous donations to enable the city to purchase a bigger, higher definition scoreboard than originally planned.
The Friends of the OVAL Foundation (FOF) is donating $40,000—$25k directly to the city for paying the scoreboard vendor and $15k in-kind. According to the request for council action (RCA), FOF will directly pay various vendors for technical equipment that is needed to operate the scoreboard.
The Midway Speedskating Club—one of the core users of the OVAL—is contributing $56,000. The larger board will significantly benefit their daily operations and larger, regional events. Their donation will be used to pay the scoreboard vendor.
According to the RCA, “no conditions or promises of future favorable city action on their behalf may be attached to the gift,” but as a way of recognizing the generous contributions, the staff intend to display a small sign at the base of the scoreboard recognizing both groups.
The remaining cost will be allocated from the city’s Capital Improvement Program budget. The scoreboard will be 11 ft by 39 ft in size and will cost no more than $304,500, including installation and training.
“Our entire OVAL community will benefit from these projects,” Johnson said at the meeting. “If you’re there for a summer movie, it will be such a better experience because of this.”
The Friends of the OVAL Foundation is a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to promoting, maintaining, and improving the John Rose Minnesota OVAL and the Roseville Skating Center. The Foundation supports and encourages the use of the OVAL for recreational and competitive use for activities such as hockey, figure skating, speedskating, bandy, in-line skating, and public recreational skating.
In addition to regularly contributing to capital projects, the Foundation also contributes to the OVAL’s operating budget, Johnson said.
The Midway Speedskating Club is a nonprofit, parent-run organization, founded in 1946, committed to developing young speedskaters. It’s one of the largest clubs in the country and has trained national champions, Junior and Senior World Team Members, and twenty Olympians.
“A lot of their members are Roseville residents,” Johnson said at the meeting.
The new scoreboard will be installed this summer.
“We’re very fortunate in Roseville to have these active groups that support us . . . that make it possible for us to do more in the city than we could on our general budget,” Councilmember Wayne Groff said at the meeting.
The city council voted to approve two separate resolutions regarding the scoreboard—the first to enter into an agreement with Think Digital LLC for purchase, installation, and training on a new scoreboard, the second to accept the two donations from the Friends of the OVAL Foundation and Midway Speedskating Club.
“How wonderful it is to have the city work with residents like this to come to a common solution that does benefit everyone,” Councilmember Matt Bauer said at the meeting.
The three councilmembers present at the meeting—Robin Schroeder, Matt Bauer, and acting Mayor (for purposes of the meeting) Wayne Groff—approved the resolutions unanimously. Mayor Dan Roe and Councilmember Julie Strahan were absent.
The OVAL was renovated in 2022 to update and repair components that were reaching the end of their lifespan, including reconstructing the perimeter track, replacing items in the refrigeration system, new speedskating padding, and a heated access ramp to connect the lobby to the ice rink. Watch this video to learn more about that renovation: