Photo by Samantha Davis: Fairbanks Ice Dogs hockey players host an open skate session with local children on Thursday at the Red Baron Arena’s business after hours event. The Ice Dogs had a pair of games at the arena over the weekend.

MARSHALL — The Red Baron Arena is turning 10-years old in the new year, and community clubs and beyond continue to share their appreciation for the multi-use venue. The arena held a business hours event last Thursday, welcoming those of the community in to see what is upcoming.

“We’re really looking ahead to ’26, because it’s our 10-year anniversary. We will have a couple different community events that are different than our regular-scheduled year because of that,” Adri DeBoer, Red Baron Arena senior sales manager, said. “Overall, we’ve increased our rentals [activity] over the past year, and then we’ve increased our expo-floor rentals, which is really great. In 2026, we already have like four larger-scale expo floor events scheduled.”

Most recently, the arena welcomed in hundreds of fans from across the state and community for the annual Fairbanks Ice Dogs hockey games out of the North American Hockey League that took place Friday and Saturday evening. The arena was packed full both nights, from the bleachers to the upper-level watching areas.

Fairbanks has carried on an annual tradition of making a trip to the Red Baron Arena each year, after first coming to Marshall to host their 2020 season due to COVID-19 Pandemic travel restrictions.

“It’s an emotional attachment at a huge level. At the end of the day, this wonderful little community saved our franchise … (We will) Be forever grateful to the community,” Fairbanks Ice Dogs general manager Rob Proffitt said. “For them, like the middle of southwest Minnesota, to have a world class facility like the Red Baron, it’s amazing. I’ve never won a lottery in my life or hit a jackpot, but this is the lottery jackpot in my 29 years I’ve been doing this.”

“It’s one of the coolest things, and it’ll be something to really reflect upon, too, when my journey’s all done — My gratefulness to this community and Cassi Weiss (Visit Marshall director), and she made it happen with the help of Adri, it’s amazing,” Proffitt added.

Looking down onto the rink from the upper level meeting room, the Ice Dogs players welcomed local young skaters and children to skate with them and sign autographs.

“I mean, there’s no Minnesota Wild here in Marshall … This is what these young players got to look up to. But, not just as a hockey player, but they can impact them (in) life. Talk about being a good student, about being a good person, (the) definition of character,” Proffitt said while watching the players skate with children. “They impact a little youngster. I mean, they become role models, and we take that very seriously.”

While the Red Baron Arena was hustling over the weekend, the space continues to be used throughout the year for a variety of events.

“It’s such an asset to the community, just to have a place to gather,” DeBoer said. “To have a space where everything is always like a joyous event, it’s always so fun.”

Along with the floor spaces open to rent and host, the upstairs meeting room is also open for the community to use.

“This room in specific, is really, really great, because it seems large, but it can fit large and small,” DeBoer said. “We’ve had up to 125 people in here before, and so it’s great to just do chair seating, or you could do a banquet, but it’s really great to see our numbers just continue (to rise) year over year.”

The winter season is also off to a busy start for the arena.

“It’s so fun to hear all of the buzz. To be sitting in my office on a Friday and all the kids come in for a tournament and they’re like, ‘Wow how cool?’ … It’s really great to have the energy back, and then having the Ice Dogs here is just a whole other level of excitement,” DeBoer said. “Winter will fly by, and then our spring is like all the expo floor events we’re already planning … So, lots of fun, different events.”

Attending the business after hours were a few local groups that also use the space, with a string of activities coming up at the arena.

Marshall Curling was in attendance and has a Curling 101 session taking place on Jan. 4 from 7 to 9 p.m., and those interested in joining can seek more information on Facebook at the Marshall Curling page.

Rural Edge Power Skating, ran by Emily Goblirsch, also offers skating lessons, seasonal clinics, summer and holiday events and more. The club works on building confidence and development on the ice, and also has some upcoming events like a Christmas Vacation Clinic on Dec. 23 and a Presidents’ Day Skate on Feb. 16. Those interested can find information on social media.

The Southwest Figure Skating Club is returning for its annual exhibition and show at the Red Baron Arena this season, with the exhibition taking place on Jan. 4 at 4 p.m. and the 30th anniversary show on March 14 at 12 p.m. with this year’s theme of “Blades & Beats.”

The arena itself also puts on open hockey and open skating throughout the winter.

“I think it’s fun to see and hear the response of having a multi-purpose station. It’s not a one-size fits only, it’s a one-size fits all,” DeBoer said. “For Marshall to have this is such a blessing. From a concert, to hockey to wrestling, to a birthday party, we have done it all.”

As the Red Baron Arena will celebrate its monumental achievement of being a gathering source of events and entertainment for now a decade, those even beyond Marshall continue to show appreciation to the space and the community that fills it up.

“Marshall is a community. Everybody is so welcoming and warm. It’s just a cool place,” Proffitt said. “Everyone’s got a smile. There’s no frowns … Everyone is just like, ‘What can we do to help?’ Everyone is so dog-gone nice.”