Skate Promoter Raise Money for Minnesota Oval

Industry news

Minnesota Skate Oval Needs Donors

Staff report

Minnesota skate promoter Mike Cofrin describes the John Rose Oval as the "point where inline and ice converge."

In the summer, the 400-meter cement oval outside Minneapolis plays host to all manner of inline skaters, including speed skaters who compete in the weekly Str8 Sk8 series.

In the winter, the oval becomes the world's largest sheet of refrigerated ice and is taken over by ice skaters.

But the oval has proved a costly luxury for its owner, the city of Roseville.

And that's where Cofrin comes in. He's part of a local effort, spearheaded by the Friends of the Oval Foundation, to raise money for the oval.

Specifically, the group hopes to raise $500,000 to meet a challenge grant offered by the medical equipment maker Guidant.

Every dollar raised by the foundation will be matched by Guidant, which has already provided $500,000 to repair equipment.

Cofrin is raising money on behalf of the St. Paul Inline Marathon. Cofrin is co-owner (with Marilyn Franzen) of 26point2, the company that produces the marathon.

(Go to fund raising web site.)

(Posted on Feb. 10, 2006)