Key findings
- Hockey and figure skating events at Kent Freeman Arena drew thousands of visits from across Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota to Detroit Lakes.
- During the 2025 – 2026 season, 178 hockey games were played in the arena. As a result, an estimated 16,050 people visited the community.
- The event attendees stayed between one and three days in Detroit Lakes, resulting in 25,700 visits.
- Of the event attendees, nearly three out of every four (71 percent) were from outside of Detroit Lakes.
- Hockey and figure skating event attendees spent nearly $3 million at businesses in the community.
- Hockey and figure skating event attendees stayed at local hotels and dined at local restaurants.
- Mobile analytics data demonstrated that more than one event attendee in four (27 percent) was at a hotel immediately prior to visiting the arena.
- Before attending a game, 21 percent of the event attendees dined out.
- Upon leaving the arena, 32 percent of the event attendees went to a restaurant and 20 percent went to a hotel.
- Hockey and figure skating events, along with the operations of Kent Freeman Arena generated millions in economic activity.
- Hockey and figure skating events, plus operations at the Kent Freeman Arena, generated a total of $4.7 million in economic activity during the 2025 – 2026 season, including an estimated $1.1 million of labor income.
- The events and operations supported 52 jobs in the community.
- The impacts include both direct spending at places visited by event attendees and the ripple effects on other businesses throughout the community.
- The industries that most directly benefited from the hockey and figure skating events included hotels, restaurants, and retail shops.
- Industries that indirectly benefited from the events included real estate, utilities, and construction.
About the report
As part of its mission, the City of Detroit Lakes Parks and Recreation department maintains a portfolio of local parks, trails, and facilities, including the Kent Freeman Arena. Kent Freeman Arena is primarily used for skating-related activities, as the building contains two sheets of ice. The community also uses the arena for other celebrations and community events, such as the Becker County Fair.
For many parks and recreation departments, hosting tournaments and games is a critical source of revenue. Tournaments and games also bring revenue to businesses in the community. Stakeholders in Detroit Lakes were interested in understanding the economic value of the ice arena events and operations. Thus, they asked University of Minnesota Extension to conduct a study measuring the economic contribution of the arena.
Reviewed in 2026