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Cranbrook in running for Grand Slam of Curling
By Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
If everything works out, Cranbrook will play host to a new nationally-televised curling event in January 2017 – the Grand Slam of Curling.
City of Cranbrook council May 25 received a report from the city’s Leisure Services department outlining a joint bid for the Rogers Sportsnet event, with the Cranbrook Curling Club. A potential cash loss was also pointed out.
The hosting fee requirement is capped at $150,000. The city would accept $60,000 of this liability and the curling club would accept the remaining $90,000 as per the club’s correspondence to council (received April 8), explained Leisure Services Director Chris New.
“As the first $100,000 in ticket sales comes directly back to the city/club, a large portion of this liability should be covered but an overall loss may be expected,” he cautioned. “There are unknowns but we are getting there.”
The event would feature top international teams, utilizing Western Financial Place as the venue, similar to what was done with the 2011 Canada Cup of Curling (pictured above), New told council.
“If staff are confident with the agreement with the cub, and with ongoing discussions with Sportsnet, then staff will move forward with the formal bid.
For its part, Rogers Sportsnet will present 18 hours of on-air coverage from Cranbrook of a top ranked international men’s and women’s curling tournament, with a professional TV production team, Ice technicians, officials, and marketing staff to manage all event logistics and operations,” outlined Leisure Services’ report to council.
Before unanimously agreeing to have the city to support the joint bid in-principle, council members expressed support for the event.
“I like this application,” said Coun. Tom Shypitka, council’s resident curling expert.
“I like where we are headed,” Coun. Wesly Graham added.
“Tourism in January is very exciting,” said Coun. Ron Popoff, who also asked about what kind of volunteer force would be required.
“Basically, we would rely on the curling club,” New said, adding there would be a call out for “a lot of volunteers, for sure.”
Part of the Canada Cup team, Shypitka said he believes the curling club and city will pull off another excellent show.
“The curling club put up an amazing group of volunteers,” he said.
Coun. Danielle Cardozo asked if city taxpayers would be on the hook if necessary revenue is not raised during the proposed event.
“There is a chance we might lose a little money,” New admitted, noting that is a risk the city takes with every event held at Western Financial Place.
Leisure Services Events and Marketing Manager Paul Heywood said Yorkton, Sask. held a similar scale curling event last September and made just $191; a reason for staff noting some money may be lost. He also pointed out that there are a couple of other cities in the running to land the event.
“We’d be very fortunate to get this event,” Heywood said.
Leisure Service’s report stated “staff will continue to work with Sportsnet to gather additional information and to ensure the risk of hosting this event does not exceed what has been presented in this report. If during this ongoing process new information comes available that raises concerns by staff, it will be presented to council before the bid is committed to
Council’s agreeing-in-principle to support the bid is subject to:
– The required hosting fee of $150,000 is not payable until after completion of the event.
– The Curling Club will cover 60% ($90,000) of the hosting fee with the city covering the remaining 40% ($60,000).
– Any profits will be split 50/50 between the two parties and any potential losses from hosting of the event will be split 60/40 between the Cranbrook Curling Club and the city.
