We want to share some updates with our members about our efforts to build a dedicated facility in the Omaha metro area. We’re really excited about this effort because a dedicated curling facility would enable Omaha to have high quality curling ice, new programming and more league times, and a dedicated social space for curlers, our members, and the community.
Last fall, we held a series of member input sessions to learn what Aksarben Curling members want to see in a future facility. We also began working with Leo A Daly, which is providing pro bono design services to translate members’ thoughts into the design of a new 4-sheet facility (designed in a way to be expandable to 6 sheets in the future).
Our plan is to develop a marketing floor plan, renderings, and conceptual estimate of costs this spring to determine our fundraising goal and budget planning. Our objective this year is to ensure that we’re in a good position by the time of the US Olympic Team Curling Trials in November to showcase our long-term vision for a dedicated curling facility and begin raising support to make it happen.
We surveyed members in February to inform some key decisions on the building design (eg, lockers, changing space, bar) and on programming (eg, league and bonspiel participation, price points). We had 125 responses on that survey—thank you!
In the survey we also received a lot of good suggestions, feedback, and questions in the open-ended responses. We thought we would lift up and respond here so folks know what we’re considering at this time: