Curling rocks. © Can Stock Photo Inc. / gornostajCurling rocks. © Can Stock Photo Inc. / gornostaj
Chatham

Chatham To Host Next Year's Grand Slam Of Curling

Chatham will play host to the world's top curling teams and Olympic champions during a 2018 Pinty's Elite 10-Grand Slam of Curling Event next year.

At Monday night's council meeting, councillors voted 16-1 to approve the hosting requirements of the event, which were included in a report by administration:

  • The hosting fee of $160,000 payable from the net proceeds of the Pinty’s Elite 10 – Grand Slam of Curling event, payable to Rogers Media Inc., be guaranteed by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
  • $10,000 be provided as the hosting requirement for marketing expenses to promote the event within the community, funded by the Strategic Development Fund.
  • $40,000 be provided towards the event to assist the Chatham-Kent Elite 10 organizing committee in achieving a successful event and ensuring Chatham-Kent receives the benefits of a national and local marketing campaign that includes: commercial spots, in-ice logos, and rink board advertising. Funding allocations be provided from: $5,000 from the Community Partnership Fund – Festivals and Events component, $5,000 from the Tourism Reserve, and $30,000 from the Public Health Unit Reserve Chatham-Kent Operations.
The tentative dates for the event are from September 25-30, 2018, which falls one week after the 2018 International Plowing Match and Rural Expo.

Councillor Bob Myers was particularly enthusiastic about the event coming to Chatham.

"This type of advertising does nothing but promote Chatham-Kent in a very positive way. It's going to help us down the road for tourism and putting a spotlight on the community and what Chatham-Kent is all about," says Myers.

It is mentioned in the report that the municipality would “benefit significantly” during the 20-hour event, which will be broadcast on Sportsnet and various other advertisements for the event.

Mayor Randy Hope is also convinced the event will help promote the sport of curling among youth within the municipality, and help grow the Chatham Granite Curling Club's membership.

Councillor Steve Pinsonneault, on the other hand, wasn't so thrilled about the idea. He was the only councillor that voted against the motion.

"I have a philosophical issue with sponsoring a sports event. I think if we're going to start doing that, we need to do it with all the events. It's not even the amount of money, I just don't think we should be taking the public purse and subsidizing sports events," explains Pinsonneault.

He adds that he's also worried the event won't have a great return of investment for the municipality.

"I believe we're a little bit of a smaller venue, I think, than what they're used to. I do wish them well... but the business side of me says, and I really hope I'm wrong, I don't see that they are going to get their money back," he says.

Administration's report says “the conservative expectation is the event would have a marginal surplus, including the hosting fee payable to Rogers Media Inc.” If the event falls into a deficit, the municipality would be forced to foot the $160,000 hosting fee.

The Chatham-Kent Elite 10 organizing committee will be comprised of members and administration of the Chatham Granite Curling Club, who will take care of many of the planning duties for the event. The report also states that Sportsnet has approved the Thames Campus Arena as an acceptable venue.

Municipal administration has held numerous meetings with the Chatham-Kent Elite 10 organizing committee, Sportsnet staff, and the John D. Bradley Convention Centre staff to determine financial expectations for the event. Staff has also had discussions with two recent host committees of Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling events, which both had surpluses.

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