Sponsored rings

Times Reporter   

  

The Strathmore Curling Club is going to have a unique look on the house rings for the upcoming season.

Whether you’re a player or spectator, you will see local sponsorships in the rings with various colours that will really give a new, refreshing look to the ice.

“The idea came from our new ice technicians, Ross Simmonds and Wendy Mitchell, out of Airdrie with Cool Ice,” said Craig Koch, Strathmore Curling Club president. “So they brought it up initially and I thought this sounds like a good idea and obviously being a facility that has to cover all our own expenses it’s a way to raise some money to help with that plus provide some pretty unique exposure for those businesses that wanted to participate.”

The feedback from the board members was that some were all for it, but some of them were looking at how cost effective this new change would be.

“It was pretty unanimous. It costs a lot of money to run the rink every year with staff and the board of directors. Everybody is a volunteer – none of us are paid,” said Koch. “The power alone for that facility alone is upwards of $40,000 annually. We have to cover that and we have to pay our lounge staff and our ice technicians. Being able to generate some more advertising and sponsorship dollars is pretty crucial to the future of the rink.”

Koch believes that if it had not been for sponsorship, the rink would not have been viable to run.

“I think they have 65-70 sponsors, so they pay depending on their level of advertising and they pay different sponsorship amounts. So that certainly makes a big difference when we have to go and start covering our expenses on annual basis,” said Koch.

The cost to have advertising on the rings is expensive for businesses, but it’s only a one-time cost and then the additional fees will be charged to the curling club.

“The cost per business is $395 and it’s for the house, hog line and the two rock markers and those graphics on the screens are good for 7-10 years. That’s a one time cost for the business and then it’s $500 a year to the curling rink for the in-ice advertising,” said Koch.

The curling club is really thrilled about the new feel in the rink, and with sponsors getting on board, it just adds to the excitement for curlers in Strathmore.

“It’s going to give our rink a very unique look,” said Koch.

Koch would like to extend the message to Strathmore to encourage people to come down and try curling and become active in a great sport.