The Championship Bid Committee of the Coaldale Granite Club made its pitch to town council last week seeking support for its potential bid to host the Canadian Master Curling Championship.
In his presentation to town council on Jan. 23, Roger Hohm said the Granite Club is in talks to possibly host the 2014 championship at the local curling club.
“The majority of players coming to this event have been to a Brier or Scotties tournament.”
Players in the Masters are age 60 plus and have been involved in the sport for many years.
“Every province and territory is involved.”
Hohm said if every one of them sends a men’s and ladies’ team there could be 28 teams taking part in the championship although the last few years there have been 24 teams. If that number holds steady the local club could be hosting 96 players for the championship.
He told council the Granite Club has not yet accepted the invitation to host the event in Coaldale.
“We wanted to get all of our ducks in a row.”
The championship is a week-long event and one of the first challenges for the host club to tackle is providing transportation to and from the players’ hotels. In the past the host committee has provided this service and it would have to continue in Coaldale given the fact players will have to stay in Lethbridge and travel back and forth to their games.
“All day long they are going to be going back and forth.”
Hohm said the cost of providing this transportation has been estimated at $10,000 to $12,000.
While the Masters is not currently a sanctioned Canadian Curling Association event, which means no funding is provided by the association, Hohm said this does open the door for local sponsorship of the event.
Another challenge in hosting the event will be putting on the opening banquet for 200 to 250 people.
“Where in Coaldale do we hold such an event?”
Hohm said if the Granite Club moves ahead with the event it wants to be able to hold everything associated with the championship in Coaldale with the exception of accommodations.
“If we’re going to do this we want to keep it in Coaldale.”
He said the committee wants to involve the community, particularly with providing meals for a cost right at the venue to players, spouses and volunteers.
He suggested different community organizations, church groups and service clubs would be invited throughout the week to take one day each and set up for meals in the community centre.
He suggested a 100 plus volunteers will also be required to host the event.
“Is this something town council wants us to chase?,” asked Hohm.
He added the committee will be looking to the town for support for the event including use of the community centre and help with the transportation costs.
“The economic spin-off for the town would be great,” suggested Town Councillor Anja Langstraat.
Hohm said the committee has until the end of February to make a decision on hosting the championship. The committee plans to sit down with the Granite Club board of directors to formally talk about taking on the Masters.
“If we don’t have the community centre we can’t go.”
He said the initial estimated price tag for hosting the event is $35,000 to $40,000.
“That’s kind of our best guess.”
Hohm said the Coaldale Granite Club has hosted two major championship events in recent history and both were successful. He has every confidence the community could host the Masters.
Town council agreed in principle to support the club in its efforts to host the event and directed administration to work out the details with the club for use of the community centre.
The request for financial assistance with the transportation costs was referred to the town’s budget discussions.