Curling in Prince George is on the verge of being taken out.
And the Prince George Golf and Curling Club is calling on curlers to hurry hard and save what's left of the 2014-15 season.
That's because the club needs to generate $60,000 of revenue in order to cover the cost of having 10 weeks of play on the eight sheets of ice, beginning in January.
There hasn't been any action in the rings since last spring.
When workers tried to fire up the ice plant in September, the chiller broke down and the entire ice plant, with a price tag of $163,000, had to replaced, delaying the start of the season.
That chiller arrived at the club on Nov. 12 and is currently being installed, said PGGCC president Dan Martin on Friday.
"With this lull time we've had a chance to look at how we'll continue with curling," he said. "Now that we don't have the plant running, we're seeing what the actual costs are. And we're seeing the cost to run the facility and the eight sheets of ice is a real eye-opener."
Without curling, Martin said in September alone, the club saved $4,300 and more than $5,000 in each of October and November.
"The cost to run it is between six [thousand] to $8,000 per week with wages, water, and natural gas," said Martin.
"The game plan now is the ice will go in for the 2015 Canada Winter Games in February. On Jan. 5, the season starts for the whole month of January and we'll get the first two weeks of February. The Winter Games are the last two weeks of February and we'll start back up in March."
It costs between $215,000 and $300,000 each year to run the facility.
On Dec. 6-7, and Dec. 13-14, curlers can register their teams at the club and they must also pay their dues at that time.
Martin said about 450 adult curlers must register in order for the club to generate the $60,000 of revenue that's needed.
Based on the numbers who register, the board will then make a decision on Dec. 16 whether the season will go ahead or be cancelled.
Leagues that are available are Monday night men's, Tuesday and Thursday senior mixed, Tuesday ladies, Wednesday doubles, Thursday elite open, Friday night mixed and Sunday open recreational.
More information can be found on the club's website at www.pggolfandcurling.com.
