CCC History

Bismarck, ND Reveals Story Of How New Club Was Built

 Jon Mielke, President, Bismarck Curling Club

Four years ago curling was something that a handful of Bismarck residents had done when they were growing up in northern North Dakota communities.  Curling had never been introduced to the southwestern portion of the state.  Today Bismarck’s Capital Curling Club is a part of a privately financed, publicly owned and operated $1.3 million All Seasons Arena.  Curling still isn’t a household word in Bismarck but hopefully that day is coming.

Curling was born in Bismarck in late 1982 when a small group of homesick curlers held a series of organizational meetings.  Seemingly acting on sentiment rather than common sense the group pooled its resources, rented and renovated an old warehouse, borrowed some rocks, and set out to bring curling to Bismarck.

The Capital Curling Club’s first season probably explained why curling hadn’t come to Bismarck sooner.  The widely varying temperatures of southwestern North Dakota produced a three-week season for the two sheet natural ice club.  The floor of the old warehouse was so uneven that the ice was seven inches thick at the end of each sheet and less than half an inch in the middle.  The building had no water supply.  “Running water” meant either hooking up the trailer to go get another tankful for flooding or that the temperature had gone up again and the “ice” was running out the door.  Despite its shortness, the season was considered a success – over eighty people were exposed to curling.

Having organized, the Club set out to make contact with potential coinhabitants of a more suitable facility.  Prime contacts included local hockey boosters, the fairboard, and the Park Board.  It took over a year but local ice enthusiasts eventually organized and began brainstorming about how to build a new artificial ice facility that would satisfy all their needs.  In the meantime the Curling Club, Hockey Boosters, and Park Board jointly funded an architectural study to determine the feasibility of fitting an all seasons arena into the master plan for a piece of Park Board property.  The findings were positive and the Park Board gave its blessings to the concept.

Having passed this hurdle the group began working to expand its base of support and to develop a funding mechanism.  Endorsements were obtained from the Chamber of Commerce and other local sports organizations.  Community leaders agreed to serve on the fundraising committee.  The organization incorporated into the Bismarck Recreational Council and obtained tax deductible status from the Internal Revenue Service.

Even the casual observer can spot the problem with natural ice.  The Club was frequently at the mercy of mother nature in the old warehouse.

Further architectural work resulted in a final building design and a Phase I cost projection of $1.2 million.  The fully finished building was expected to cost approximately $2.8 million.  A professional fundraising company was hired and the drive was on.

The fundraising effort began in earnest in August of 1984.  The state’s depressed energy and agricultural economies resulted in a less than easy fundraiser.  By year’s end about $800,000 in tax deductible five year pledges had been raised.  The project was considered eligible for tax-exempt municipal industrial development bonds and nine percent funding was obtained.

Construction bids were opened just as the Capital Curling Club concluded its 1983-84 season.  The crude conditions had resulted in a stable level of membership.  The new facility was coming on line just in time.  The Club had, however, succeeded in establishing itself.  It purchased four sheets of rocks from a defunct club in Minnesota.  It managed to get curling introduced into the school system’s physical educational program.  Its men’s playdown entrant brought home state consolation honors.

Construction bids came in higher than anticipated.  Alternates were deleted and base bids were awarded.  Without additional pledges the building would have unfinished clubrooms and locker rooms, dirt floors, and no artificial ice.  Ground breaking ceremonies were held in late May of 1985.

The fund drive geared up again, this time without the help of a professional fundraiser.  The next nine months brought in another $500,000 in pledges and labor and material donations from the National Guard, contractors, and user groups.  Construction delays and the condemnation of the old curling building left the Curling Club with nowhere to make the ice when winter came in November.

The new facility was finally available for making ice in mid-January.  Unfortunately the weather had turned mild and it was impossible to start flooding.  Nonetheless, the Curling Club had more than it had ever hoped for three years earlier.  It still didn’t have artificial ice but it was part of a $1.3 million insulated facility with a level concrete floor (complete with cooling pipes installed by Club members), running water, washrooms and a paved parking lot.

For now the Capital Curling Club is content to squeeze what it can out of the natural ice that it has made for what is left of the 1985-86 curling season.  The upcoming off season will hopefully bring in new pledges to permit the purchase of a refrigeration compressor.  All of the facility’s users are confident that a fully finished facility, including an adjacent 18 hole golf course, are not far off.

It’s only a matter of time before the sport of curling will be “sweeping” Bismarck.  The Capital Curling Club is anxious for the day it can host bonspiels and share its accomplishments with the rest of the curling world.