Our vision: To offer exceptional curling and social opportunities in a high-quality facility.
Our goal: To raise $1 million to fund capital improvements and a capital reserve for the next generation of curlers.
Second City Curling is a 501(c)3 nonprofit established in 2015 to grow the sport of curling, primarily through youth engagement. Located in Northbrook, Illinois, it is home to one of the finest curling facilities of its size, with four sheets, locker rooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a dining area, and a large social area. Second City Curling’s focus is to attract more people to curling through its juniors program while incorporating Learn2Curl and corporate team building programs. Our facility hosts the American Curling History Museum. We are poised to continue growing the curling community — but our facility is aging and in need of significant upgrades.
History
Curling at our Northbrook facility was initiated by the Chicago Curling Club founded in 1948. Its first president was Hughston McBain, Chairman of Marshall Field & Co.
Second City Curling provides the facility for Chicago Curling Club’s 300+ members. For six months of the year, multiple leagues and bonspiels are run. In 2010, our facility hosted the United States Curling Association Mixed Nationals and, in 2019, hosted the United States Women’s Curling Association National Bonspiel.
Current Programs
Juniors: Supporting the growth in youth curling, Second City Curling partners with schools, park districts, and other youth-oriented groups to teach the sport of curling. It also runs the Chicago Junior Curling League.
Learn2Curls: Learn2Curl clinics are offered on a regular basis throughout the year. These two-hour on-ice clinics introduce participants to the basics of the game along with playing a mini-game. Through Learn2Curls, Second City Curling can reach thousands of Chicago area residents with an introduction to curling. In 2017-2018 alone, 438 people were introduced to curling.
Corporate Events: Similar to Learn2Curls, Second City Curling offers two-hour sessions to corporations and private parties to experience curling. The goal is to annually conduct 30 corporate events for companies throughout the Chicago area providing excellent team building opportunities.
Hosting Recreational Leagues & Bonspiels: Providing an outstanding facility for recreational leagues and bonspiels is central to our efforts. Chicago Curling Club utilizes our facility for league play; multiple entities use our facility to host bonspiels through the year, including teams from across the U.S. and Canada.
Growth of Curling
When curling became an official Olympic sport in 1998, a new generation of Americans discovered curling. It is becoming the most watched winter Olympic sport and each Olympic year brings a significant influx of new people to the sport.
In 2018, the U.S. Men’s Olympic Curling Team won the Gold medal bringing more attention to the sport and growing local interest.
Investing in our Facility
In the past 20 years, $727,000 was spent in capital improvements. $321,000 of this spend occurred in the past 3 years (44% of the total). Improvements include:
- Ice floor mats ($105,000)
- Club house roof ($98,000)
- Ice house roof ($118,000)
This investment accelerated expenditures and depleted capital reserves.
The Challenge: We Need Ice
What: A new ice cooling system, refurbish the compressor room, and install an additional dehumidification system.
Why:
- Current system was installed in 1968; reached end of useful life
- Freon is being phased out and will no longer be available in two years
- Need 60-80 ton unit; currently have 40 ton unit
- Energy efficient system to reduce utility costs
Cost: $450,000
Now’s the time
Chicago are curlers love our facility.
Bonspiel-ers love our facility.
The next generation deserves a quality curling facility.
It is time to invest in facility improvements for a strong future.
The Solution
Raise $1,000,000 to fund capital improvements and a capital reserve for the next generation of curlers.
Capital Budget
The capital budget required to keep our facility functioning well and in good condition is presented below. This budget is derived from estimates received from vendors and individuals familiar with construction.
| Capital Item | Cost |
| Ice Cooling System | $300,000 |
| Refurbish Compressor Room | $75,000 |
| Dehumidification System | $75,000 |
| Parking Lot | $150,000 |
| Warm Room Air Conditioning | $50,000 |
| Subtotal Capital | $650,000 |
| Furniture & Fixtures; Updated Warm Room | $168,000 |
| Total Capital | $818,000 |
| Capital Fund for Future Replacements | $250,000 |
| Total To Raise | $1,068,000 |
Funding
The funding goals are intended to raise $1,000,000 in order minimize the use of interest-bearing debt.
| Chicago curling community | $450,000 |
| Larger curling community, general public, and grants | $350,000 |
| Corporate support | $100,000 |
| World Curling Federation Loan (0% interest; 10-year loan) | $100,000 |
| Total | $1,000,000 |
Individual donations
All donors will be recognized and will have the option of selecting a benefit from a lower level than the dollar amount they agreed to donate.
| Level & Benefit | Donation Amount |
| You’re keen! Named on our individual donor page on campaign website |
$100 |
| Good Curling Donor pin & named on our individual donor page on campaign website |
$250 |
| Cheers Name inscribed on bar front |
$500 |
| Ice, Ice, Baby Name inscribed in the ice (for two years) |
$1,000 |
| You Rock Name inscribed on curling stone |
$3,000 |
| Hogged it! Hog line sponsorship (for two years) |
$5,000 |
| Bonspiel’d Full team entry into Windy City Bonspiel plus recognition in all bonspiel programs (for two years) |
$10,000 |
| Score! Scoreboard sponsorship (for two years) |
$12,500 |
| Top Chef Kitchen or dining room sponsorship (for ten years) |
$25,000 |
| On the rocks! Name the bar (for ten years) |
$50,000 |
| Ice house Name the ice house (for ten years) |
$100,000 |
| Broomstacked! Name the warm room (for ten years) |
$100,000 |
| Parking lot Reserved parking space (for ten years) |
$100,000 |
| Name the Club Customized recognition package developed with donor |
$1,000,000 |
Join us
Every curler’s help is needed.
Every Chicago curler has a role to play.
Thank you.