Nobody’s curling, but clubs still have bills to pay

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/12/2020 (2094 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dozens of sheets of ice in Winnipeg could surely use a fresh layer of pebble but are otherwise ready for the return of thousands of club curlers champing at the bit to resume their seasons.

When that happens is anyone’s guess.

Across the city, 12 curling clubs still have their plants running, despite shutting their doors Nov. 12 when the province moved to code red status in its COVID-19 pandemic response. Restrictions have been extended through the holiday season and into the new year, meaning leagues won’t resume play until mid to late January at the earliest.

But facilities, empty or not, still have to pay their electric bills and property taxes.

“No one’s making any money right now. It’s a tough situation,” said Jason Shymanski, president of the Winnipeg Curling Clubs Association (WCAA). “Most clubs most have their membership money in from the various leagues, which is keeping people going. Some clubs got some grants and that will tide then over.

“Having said that, people need to realize that a curling club is a private, community endeavour without a lot of sources of revenue. But the money is still going out.”

Some clubs have hydro bills in excess of $4,000 a month, while property taxes run as high as $2,500 a month, he said.

Even with a robust membership, most clubs need to diversify, but the pandemic wiped out those opportunities. Banquets, wedding socials and other hall-rental functions had to be halted as of March when the health crisis first hit.

Clubs reopened in early October with grand hopes of a long season, while adhering to strict return-to-play guidelines. Most only got in a few weeks, racking up heftier cleaning and sanitization costs, while earning less due to restricted bar and restaurants hours — before the doors shut again. 

Another approximately 80 clubs — some just two-sheeters — are also trying to make ends meet in rural Manitoba.

Clubs are now eyeing an end-of-January revival of the 2020-21 season, which would be a blessing for clubs on a number of fronts, said Shymanski.

In a worst-case scenario, the rest of the season is scrapped and curlers request refunds, although the WCCA already has a hat-in-hand contingency plan on the drawing board.

“Some clubs have written letters basically asking their members to please invest in their club, to please, if we can’t operate, to effectively make a donation to keep the doors open,” Shymanski said. “Hopefully, we can all start up. Even though we’ve taken a big hit, realistically if we can go by the end of January we should be OK.

“If clubs have to refund all of their money and can’t operate, there could well be some that close their doors for good. There just isn’t money in the coffers to carry you forward.”

• • •

Curlers won’t play in front of a totally empty house in Calgary later this winter, although the crowd will be more restrained than usual.

During the championship series inside Markin McPhail Arena at Canada Olympic Park, there could be 500 faces looking down at the likes of Gimli’s Kerri Einarson at the Scotties women’s championship and Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., at the Brier men’s championship.

Curling Canada is selling 500 fan cutouts and the deadline to book a cardboard version of either you or that special someone is Dec. 31. As of Friday morning, about 100 had been sold for what this columnist is calling Rockfest ’21 — the Scotties, Brier, national mixed doubles, world men’s and a pair of Grand Slams. 

The cutouts are $165. For an extra $35, it will be shipped back to the buyer. All proceeds go toward youth curling programs across Canada.

Check out www.curling.ca/foundation/curling-canada-fan-cutouts/ to place an order.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell