Photo by Samantha Davis Fairbanks Ice Dogs hockey player Emmet McClaine (left) from Pennsylvania signs an autograph on the back of a jersey for a local fan. 

MARSHALL — The Red Baron Arena and Expo hosted a growing number of events over the past year, staff said this week.

In a presentation to the Marshall City Council on Tuesday, senior sales manager Adri DeBoer said the facility received more than $150,000 in revenue.

Plus, she said, “We have seen an increase in expo floor rentals in 2025. We had five new expo floor rentals from last year, and an increase in club room rentals.”

In 2025, the main expo floor was rented out for a total of 17 events, in addition to three events by the city of Marshall or Visit Marshall, DeBoer said. The facility’s lower conference room and Bluepeak Club Room each had more than 30 paid rentals in 2025.

Some of the events at the Arena and Expo in the past year included a send-off for deploying National Guard troops, serving as the start and finish line for this year’s Bike MS Minnesota event, the Southwest Challenge volleyball tournament, and area Hmong New Year celebrations.

“We started an annual business booking with Runnings. This brings in employees and vendors from across the states, staying overnight in Marshall,” DeBoer said.

After that first event, a total of three new training events were booked for 2026.

“They utilize the Expo floor, video board and club room,” she said.

DeBoer said so far, 12 different expo floor events are already booked for 2026.

Different events used the facility’s ice year round in 2025. From January through April, the Red Baron Arena hosted events including Marshall Area Hockey Association games and tournaments, Rural Edge skating clinics, the District 4 Bantam B hockey tournament, and the Bantam A state hockey tournament. Over the summer, FCA Hockey Camp used the ice as well.

From September through December, the arena hosted two MAHA tournaments and 28 MAHA hockey games, Fairbanks Ice Dogs games, and 11 private ice rentals.

A total of 27 skating parties were held at the arena in 2025.

Based on reports from the Arena’s new scheduling system, “We are looking at a revenue of $154,000,” DeBoer said.

That amount represented more than 4,900 hours of facilities utilization, she said.

“That is an increase over 2024, but with being in two different scheduling systems in 2024, next year it will be much easier to compare those,” she said.

DeBoer also gave council members a breakdown of advertising and sponsorships at the Arena and Expo. The Arena and Expo had $43,500 in advertising sales on the dasher boards at the arena for 2025-26, representing 25 businesses. Advertising signs in the arena and amateur sports complex brought in $14,175 annually. The Arena and Expo also had $61,600 in sponsorships annually. This year there were four renewals, from Old National Bank, Southwest Minnesota State University, Bluepeak and Lockwood Motors.

DeBoer said there were also two new package sponsorships, from Smile Designers and the Minnesota Air National Guard.

DeBoer went over some of the Arena and Expo’s goals for the years ahead. New goals include gaining three more new sponsors, retaining a new annual event or regular meeting group.

“In 2026, we look to add two new paid expo floor events,” DeBoer said.

They also hope to create an automated email booking process, streamline sponsorships and marketing opportunities, and host a new family-friendly event.