RSF Receives Grant from Rochester Business

The Rochester Sports Foundation (RSF) continues to gain support from Rochester businesses with their work to assist in improving sports and recreation facilities for the Rochester area. Mayo Clinic has recently approved a grant application which will assist the Sports Foundation with furthering the efforts to improve all facility options in step with the City of Rochester as well as attracting potential private investors.

Carole Shulman, Board Vice President, understands the importance of this support to RSF; “The mission of the Rochester Sports Foundation is to address the current and future needs for sports and recreation facilities in the Rochester, MN, area. The recent grant, and much appreciated support, from the Mayo Clinic contributes toward making these projects solid and sustainable.”

RSF has been involved with the development of the soon to be Rochester Sports and Recreation Complex since the beginning. Currently we are assisting the City in the process of site selection and securing an operational partner. The future for Rochester is exciting.

RSF was created in 2019 by leadership from Rochester Sports to address the issue of future sports facility development. Former Director of Rochester Sports, Ed Hruska, was asked to take on the task of forming this sport facility focused group. “It was clear to all members of the board and staff in 2018 that Rochester was falling behind in the area of quality sports venues to attract and host regional, state and national tournaments. With $25M in direct economic spending annually coming to town, it was critical we work to add quality options.” Hruska added.

Rochester Sports is funded from the City’s lodging task to attract sports tourism dollars – which is a very robust sector of travel today generating an annual economic impact of $609 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach a value of around $2.5 trillion by 2032. RSF does not receive any government funding so grants such as this are critical.

Chris Terry, President of RSF weighed in on the Mayo grant; “The support of Mayo Clinic is instrumental in allowing the Rochester Sports Foundation the ability to continue our mission of creating awareness and advocacy for sports facility growth in our community.”