James Metzen Mighty Ducks Ice Arena Grant Program
The James Metzen Mighty Ducks Grant Program has a dual mission: 1) To provide financial assistance to Minnesota communities in eliminating the use of R-22 systems in ice arena refrigeration and 2) Improve indoor air quality in ice arenas.
The production of R-22 was banned by the EPA in 2020. This program is to assist communities in the replacement of ice-making systems in existing public facilities that use R-22 as a refrigerant with systems that use an alternative non-ozone-depleting refrigerant.
Grants for Indoor air quality improvements are intended to renovate or replace heating, ventilating, and/or air conditioning systems in existing indoor ice arenas whose ice resurfacing and ice edging equipment are not powered by electricity in order to reduce concentrations of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide to protect the health of Minnesota youth athletes, patrons, and staff.
Program Information
Eliminating R-22 Refrigerant: Direct Systems
Communities may apply for up to $500,000 per
arena to replace an existing R-22 direct
refrigeration system with a minimum one-to-one dollar match from non-state
sources.
Eliminating R-22 Refrigerant: Indirect Systems
Communities may apply for up to $250,000 per
rink to replace an existing R-22 indirect refrigeration system with a minimum one-to-one
dollar match from non-state sources.
Improving Indoor Air Quality
Communities may apply for up to $25,000 per arena for the replacement, renovation, or addition of automated systems controls for HVAC systems to improve indoor air quality and reduce energy costs.
The Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission (MASC) announced a grant opportunity for the 2025 James Metzen Mighty Ducks Ice Arena Grant Program. The program provides financial assistance to Minnesota communities to improve indoor air quality in ice arenas and to eliminate the use of R-22 systems in ice arena refrigeration. The 2025 grant program was funded by an appropriation of $1 million in the state bonding bill.
This project is financed by state general obligation bonds. The public entity (LGU) that will receive the grant must possess a qualifying ownership interest in the capital project and meet requirements set forth by State of Minnesota Capital Grants Manual. A step-by-step guide that describes what grantees need be eligible to receive state capital grant payments is available in the link below (in green).
A complete application will include:
- Application form
- Resolution of LGU
- Source of Use of Funds Worksheet
- Responses addressing the Tasks outlined in the Required Tasks & Guidelines Document linked below
Links to all four required documents are below in green. For technical assistance, contact MASC at [email protected].
Submission Deadline: Friday, August 29, 2025 no later than 5:00 p.m. CT.
Please submit an electronic copy to [email protected]. Optional: hard copies may be mailed to:
Attn: MASC- Mighty Ducks
1750 105th Ave. NE
Blaine, MN 55449
If mailing a hard copy, please notify MASC when mailed.
Grant History
The Mighty Ducks Ice Arena Grant Program was initiated in response to a shortage of available time on ice arenas in all regions of Minnesota. It was a time of significant growth in all ice sports, but especially girls’ ice hockey. The community was already facing a shortage of ice time even without a growing group of female hockey players, but their arrival on the Minnesota sports landscape made the issue even more pressing. Instead of battling head-to-head against an already entrenched male hockey establishment, the MASC pioneered an innovative solution to resolve the shortage and provide greater access for girls to play hockey: help construct additional ice facilities. Thus, the Mighty Ducks Ice Arena Grant Program was born.
Mighty Ducks Ice Arena Grant Program (1995-2000)
The program provided grants of up to $250,000 to communities seeking to construct new sheets of ice, or $50,000 for renovation projects on existing facilities. These grants were all matched by local private or non-state public funds. The goal was simple: more ice for more players.
James Metzen Mighty Ducks Ice Arena Grant Program (2014-present)
In 2014, the Mighty Ducks Program was revived and renamed the James Metzen Mighty Ducks Ice Arena Grant Program in honor of State Senator James Metzen of South St. Paul. Senator Metzen was one of Minnesota’s most important advocates for amateur sports.
With the revival of the grant program, the mission was adjusted to meet the demands of aging and changing facilities. Phase 2 of the grant program was designed to assist local communities in improving air quality in indoor ice arenas and to provide financial assistance in eliminating the use of R-22 systems in ice arena refrigeration. By keeping existing arenas healthy and operating, the net result was the same as building new facilities- keeping access open and equal for all ice sports players around the state.
View the complete grant award history here.
The grant program is authorized by Minnesota Statute 240A.09.
To view the Minnesota Reference Library report on the Mighty Ducks program – Click Here
Questions? Contact us.