If the figure for a total spend of £5.3million is to be believed then it is completely mind boggling. This is happening at a time when our sport is declining in numbers.

Do we really believe that a museum of curling memorabilia is going to attract the droves of new players our sport drastically needs?

We’re hardly going to attract any television deals or major sponsorhip to pay-off massive loans for the NCA. How long will the ordinary curlers be paying for this? Probably forever and what sort of ice costs to the individual? £15/20 per session……………..you can count me out.

Once again, the ordinary curlers will be subsidising a facility for the elite curlers to use for free. We have been shouting from the rooftops that money needs injected at the bottom end of the game to encourage young and new curlers to the sport. So instead, we build a National Academy for the elite curlers to swan around on…something they’ve been doing quite successfully on existing rinks for years.

On the ‘Kinross Curling Trust’ thread I recently re-read the arguments about which curlers would curl at Kinross, Cupar, Perth, Kirkcaldy etc and what percentages would move from the NCA to Cupar or vice versa, Perth to NCA etc. How many sheets should it be…4, 5 or 6. Which are the the most cost-effective…. Very little or no mention was made in 8 pages of postings of how new younger curlers would be attracted to the sport. The emphasis being on ‘luring’ existing curlers onto different ice rinks.

Let’s be certain here, the number of existing curlers is dwindling at an alarming rate. Demographically, I don’t know the exact stats, but I’m sure the average age of current curlers will be well over 60. The numbers still curling has probably been greatly enhanced by the curling cue which allows many older curlers to keep on going. Unfortunately, this just pushes the average age up.

This will eventually take its toll. In 15/20 years time the numbers could be even more alarming than they are now.

If the costs for an NCA are as absorbitant as suggested, then these costs will have to be passed on to the curlers. Rising costs for ice will drive the curlers away, and not attract new ones as the sport so desperately needs.

The hundreds of thousands of pounds spent on out ‘elite’ curlers every year, the millions potential spend on an NCA could be much better spent on saving our sport from the death knell in the not too distant future. How is an NCA going to develop curling at the very bottom of the triangle throughout the country?

What about free curling for one/two years for all new juniors, subsidised centrally. Now that would increase numbers. What about taking the ‘curling’s cool’ initiative to another level and developing its undoubted potential? (ie converting an interested schoolkid into a club participator) again, with some support funding surely that would be an excellent long term initiative.

Maybe I’m naïve but surely, the SIS must realise what’s going on. Surely they must understand that the ordinary curler funds the existing ice rinks. Surely the SIS must realise that their money could be better spent kick-starting curling at ground level and would pay dividends to them and the sport before long.

If the SIS and the RCCC don’t see this writing on the wall, then please, somebody tell them before its too late.

Maybe we should get a certain independent semi-retired journalist to do some investigative journalism for the public good and get to the bottom of the costings.

 If the £5mil is true - i think the general curling public would be staggered.

The NCA has already caused the Gogar rink to bite the dust. If the Cupar one doesnt get their funding because of all the money wasted on the NCA - that would be 2 grass roots rinks scuppered because of it.

Is that really in the interests of the game that the RCCC are supposed to have guardianship over?

Could siting at kinross  be the worst decision in the history of the game?

Bob, did you read the first paragraph :-)

Grass Roots Rinks....now there's a great expression and sums up a lot of my feelings.

I'm here, I'm here. Yes I'm following the story, and as soon as I decide to remove the 'semi' from 'semi-retired' I'll be giving my take on it all.

Loved Voila's recent post. Five million is an obscene amount. Completely ridiculous.

There is a meeting of representatives from local clubs on August 17 to discuss fundraising. I think I would like to be a fly on the wall there.

And I hear on the grapevine that completion is now not expected until 2011.

Bob

I'll second that. Or, retire in full and speak your mind! We want Bob!

Thanks for the link, FFF. I do smell a rat, though.

Bob's new Blog is very interesting, and I urge everyone to read it. Sandy asks perhaps the most important question: Who needs this facility, the NCA or Kinross. Bob raises another one: Will it (be able to) provide good ice. And the comments on Archial Architects are very apt and accurate -- did these people design Aberdeen?!? From Bob's "take" I gather the tone towards the local clubs has become aggressive, get off your butts or lose this opportunity. With all these in mind, the locals must remember that THEY will pay off the debts of this complex, never mind the first 5% they're supposed to raise, and it is hardly surprising that they appear less than enthusiastic. It is even less surprising that the KCT find themselves on the back foot, as they watch this project slowly grow beyond their control. It reminds me of a very large building slipping slowly into the quagmire of DIY quicksand -- the larger it grows the more it sinks, INTO THE SAND OF THEIR OWN MAKING.

I am having a sad moment here, an I-told-you-so moment. While, like BOB and most others, I wish the NCA well, I do not see anything that inspires me or is likely to inspire the local curlers. I spelled this out to everyone right from the start: no local support, no curling rink -- but of course everyone has a better idea.....

some good points made above about the NCA. Bobs blog makes some very relevent remarks. How can they possibly even consider spending £5mill?
Somebody needs to swallow their pride and stop trying to save face and pull the plug before any more money gets spent.

There was no clamour from kinross curlers for a new rink - they had not reached that stage--it was 5 years down the line, despite what they are trying to scare folk with now. That bridge should have been crossed in the future - i beleive if ratho and cupar had been built it would be a non issue anyway, with both of them and perth & stirling to supply demand should the worst have happened.

For the extra circa £3mill , what will the proposed NCA give that could not be supplied by any other existing or new build normal rink - absolutely nothing !! (except a central place for them to keep their elite training kit)- is that worth £3m?

You have to look at this like any other private business - would a private company consider this ?? no way (would MHG do this themselves?- not a chance) What would a private company do?
It would source bigger rented offices for itself at a convenient location for its staff - they are 10 a penny at present. This would safeguard the reserves of the RCCC and save on the money that will have to be commited to purchase / build offices. The long awaited museum could be included in any number of ice rinks - i am sure a guaranteed let to the museum would be an attractive offering and likely to be of a better offering than the current backroom shoebox that is proposed.
How would a private business spend the £1.5-2mill sportscotland money? They would invest it in something that would generate product, income, business and customers i.e efficient factory, shop, sales opportunities, attractions, --- in other words in the case of curling - new facilities!

put it this way - what would Macdonalds or Tesco do with a couple of £mill - would they build a massive new central office? - not a chance - that would pay for another umpteen takeaway macdonalds or a few more local tesco stores that will generate customers , income and profit

RCCC needing to get real and support what the average curler requires - decent local facilities.