Super Bowl Spotlight Helping Roller Skating Rinks

(KNSI) – When Usher was announced as the Super Bowl halftime act, Skatin’ Place Chief Operating Officer Jeff Jackson expected big things.

He says he anticipated a roller skating portion of the performance. “I was not surprised at all because he has been a big roller skater. I was actually going to be disappointed if I didn’t see it. In his regular shows, he does like a 40-minute set.”

With over 123 million people tuned in, everything from the music to the outfits, and yes, the roller skates on Usher’s feet have a chance to take off in popularity. Jackson says the performance caught the eye of several people in the St. Cloud area.

“We’ve had a handful of people I’ve heard mention it when they come in, and stuff like that. They’re like, “Oh yeah. Oooh, Usher skates? Okay. Oh, we’ve got a roller rink down the road. Let’s go check it out. Let’s go do that again because it’s been a while.”

Riedell Skates in Red Wing created Usher’s custom gear for the halftime concert. The sport has a long history in Minnesota, but roller rinks often compete with ice rinks for customers. Across the state, there are about five locations left. Skatin’ Place is the only one in the St. Cloud area.

Grant Dossetto/KNSI News

It is too soon to know if we are about to usher in a roller skating revival, but Jackson is grateful to the singer for the popularity bump. Skatin’ Place also has laser tag, bounce houses, an arcade, and concessions.

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