The concept of a speedskating track in the Twin Cities metro area dates back to 1983. Governor Rudy Perpich had a dream of the Twin Cities hosting the Olympics. As part of the on-going preparation for an Olympic bid, Governor Perpich formed a task force to determine which facilities should be built and where they should be located. In 1992, Roseville was selected as the site of the new speedskating track after many years of persistent local efforts. Minnesota Legislature awarded the City of Roseville a bonding money to design and construct an outdoor multi-purpose skating and recreational facility. The John Rose MN OVAL officially opened in December of 1993. The OVAL is the largest refrigerated outdoor skating surface in North America with 110,000 square feet of ice. It contains 84 miles of refrigeration piping beneath the concrete surface to maintain ice when neighborhood outdoor rinks are not able to have ice.

The facility was named the John Rose MN OVAL after the late John Rose, a Roseville teacher and a member of the State House of Representatives who served the citizens of the Roseville area for many years. Mr. Rose, a lifelong advocate of sports, recreation and physical fitness, was the guiding force in the legislature in realizing the dream of the OVAL. In 2005, Guidant was added to the official name after a substantial contribution from the Guidant Foundation to assist with mechanical repairs and provide future financial assistance.

The Guidant John Rose MN Oval has hosted national and international speed skating championships, national and world bandy championships, and aggressive skating and biking competitions. These special events, combined with the regular use of thousands of people make the OVAL the "Ultimate Outdoor Skating Experience".