Aaron Jones, Vikings and SCHEELS Team Up to Fund Turf Field in Hastings
Military kids will soon have more room to play in Hastings, thanks to Aaron Jones and a team of supporters.
United Heroes League says the Vikings running back and his family’s A&A All the Way Foundation are helping fund a new turf field. The Minnesota Vikings and SCHEELS are also funding the project.
The turf will go over UHL’s existing rink surface, with use planned from April through October. That means more space for football, soccer and lacrosse camps on the Hastings campus.
For Jones, helping military kids is personal. He grew up as one.
More Sports at the Hastings Campus
UHL says the fully funded project will allow it to greatly expand its camps and clinics for military children.
The group also plans to share the space with Hastings and the southeast metro community. Details about public use, fees and booking haven’t been included in the announcement.
The campus is home to SCHEELS Rink at the Tradition Veterans Complex, at 2800 Ravenna Trail. The outdoor rink has a cooling system, locker rooms and seats for fans.
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You may know the site from Hockey Day Minnesota’s visit to Hastings. Now, the planned turf would give that same rink space another use during warmer months.
The announcement focuses on camps and clinics. It doesn’t list the turf’s size or say whether it will host full-size games.
Why This Matters to Aaron Jones
Jones understands what it’s like to miss a parent who’s serving overseas.
His father, Alvin Jones Sr., served 29 years in the Army. His mother, Vurgess, served 27 years. Both retired as sergeants major, according to the Minnesota Vikings’ account of his family’s service.
At one point, both parents were deployed. Jones and his siblings stayed with relatives in Virginia while their parents were away.
During a recent UHL visit, Jones shared how those deployments affected his own time in sports.
“One year I didn't play football because both of my parents were deployed,” he said in a Vikings report published in September.
That experience helps explain why this project fits so closely with his family’s work.
Jones and his twin brother, Alvin Jr., started the A&A All the Way Foundation in 2020. Its work includes helping children in military families, meeting kids’ basic needs and giving them chances to stay active.
An Existing Connection With UHL
Jones has spent time at the Hastings campus before.
In 2024, he joined fellow Vikings Harrison Phillips and Andre Carter II at UHL’s military obstacle course. They helped support DeLaSalle High School football players during a team-building visit.
His foundation later teamed up with UHL and the Vikings for back-to-school events. UHL hosted the second annual event at SCHEELS Rink in August 2026.
The Vikings reported that the latest shoe donation helped youth from 500 families. Jones’ mother, sister and twin brother also attended.
The turf project would add a lasting place to play to that ongoing relationship.
What Families Should Know
UHL helps military families with sports equipment, camps, sports fees, game tickets and special experiences. You can learn more about that support through its programs page.
The new turf is meant to expand that work right here in Hastings.
A few details still need to be announced. The post doesn’t give an installation date, first opening season or total project cost. It also doesn’t explain how local families and teams will book the space.
April through October is the planned yearly window for turf use. It isn’t a confirmed opening date.
For families across the southeast metro, the next news to watch for is when camps will begin—and how kids can sign up.
Hero photo: Aaron Jones with a military family at UHL’s 2026 back-to-school event in Hastings. Photo: Alli Rusco/Minnesota Vikings, via the Vikings’ event coverage.
