Readers Express Support for thecurler.com's 125th MCA Proposition

After the 122nd MCA Men`s Bonspiel, I wrote an editorial comment challenging CurlManitoba to think big about the 125th bonspiel in three years time.  I said at the time, 1280 teams is possible again. Maybe it is - maybe not. My point wasn`t the size of the bonspiel so much as that fact that planning should begin now to make that bonspiel the very special event that the 125th anniversary of any annually held event deserves to be.

Whether it is 1,280 teams or only 512 teams (or somewhere in between) the 125th annual MCA bonspiel can be a special occasion in Manitoba curling and with three years to build toward it, it can also be a special opportunity to help re-build our sport in this province.

Here`s what some of my readers say:

(Trevor De Ryck- Webmaster, Thistle Curling Club) Kudos to you for thinking big for the 125th MCA bonspiel!  I have to confess to being a bit overwhelmed by the prospect of 1,280 teams, but surely the 'spiel can at least get back to 512 or maybe 1,024.
 
In your article, you mention getting additional sheets of curling ice.  How about the MTS Centre?  That would have 5 sheets.  With there being no curling event at the MTS Centre next year (and maybe the year after that, too), perhaps there would be some pent-up demand for a curling event in 2013, so why not the MCA bonspiel?  The opening ceremonies could be there as well.  
 
As far as this past MCA bonspiel, I look at it as a success, even though my team had a record of 2 wins and 4 losses.  I was part of a 5-man team and none of my other teammates had gone in the big 'spiel before.  Fortunately, they were all very enthusiastic about the prospect of going back in again next year.

(To give Trevor his due - almost two years ago he suggested the MTS Centre idea and even made contact with officials there at that time. To give myself a little credit, I too had thought of the MTS Centre and in my vision of the 125th we would do the following:
a- in tribute to the history of Manitoba curling, we`d use ice there for the entire `spiel and we`d number the sheets with the Strathcona ice #`s.
b- we`d have the opening ceremony and a giant party at the MTS Centre
c- we`d play every final game there and yes I know that means we`d have to schedule finals throughout the final day. That`s just another challenge for the draw-room....rc)

(Tyler Forrest - Lead, Team Gunnlaugson) As usual, great article. With the revenue created by 1280 teams, or how ever many it ends up.  Why not add 5 sheets in the mts centre? or the st james civic centre?  Imagine the thrill a club curler would get drawing sheet C friday night at the mts centre.  If that's not financially possible, having at least the finals in some sort of an arena setting must be.
 
(Daniel Hunt - 122nd `Spiel Participant) i read your article about the 125th MCA bonspiel and it got me thinking. I love the idea of trying to get a huge turnout for it and also trying to get more entries in the coming years. I realize it is a mens bonspiel but i would also like to see them make a small effort towards getting junior teams to enter. I am 20 now and have played in the last 5 MCA's. It is a bonspiel that my team and i look forward to every year, and one we have the most fun at. I would love to see more and more junior teams out each year because of the great experience it offers both as a junior curler and in the many years after. Everyone agrees the juniors are the future and i think it would be a great way to help develop them for the years to come. I would suggest to possibly offer a reduced entry fee to juniors to incline them to play. Also advertise and communicate the fact the juniors are welcome even though they may not be eligible for a spot at the Safeway Championship. Once they play in it one year they will most certainly play again and again as i did and will. Looking forward to the up coming years and especially the 125th, and thanks for all the work you do for curling in manitoba.

(Mel Marsh - MCA Drawmaster) Resby, I was reading your article about the 125th MCA Bonspiel. Anything is possible. It would take from 35 to 40 draws which would be about a week, Thursday to the following Friday....if we were lucky enough to get the suggested 1280 rinks. Ambitious and yes a lot of logistical problems besides the draw. It will take a lot of time to just plan the event. We will have to wait and see what the MCA will want to do.
Good reading though.

When we used outside of the city rinks, we had a fair amount of defaults on the Friday and Saturday night as well near the end of the bonspiel. Something to keep in mind. This year using the clubs in the city, we had only two teams default during the bonspiel and 4 or 5 on their last games.

Thanks again for publishing the draws and results, it was a great help. Greatly improved the flow of information which is always helpful to the curlers and our guys on the phones.

Working on improving the draw for next year, already. Taking some of the suggestions that you haved published or was commented on on your radio show. And using them in making up the new draw.....Mel Marsh