Melfort is exploring the possibility of hosting the 2020 Saskatchewan Summer Games.
The city was required to send notice to the Saskatchewan Games indicating their interest in hosting the event before June 26. Rick Lang, Melfort’s mayor, said after the June 12 council meeting the city should get a package with more details about applying for a bid after that notice was sent.
The mayor said there were a few aspects of the games that could make or break a bid in council’s mind.
“Cost, because there’s always a cost. There are some grants available but there’s also a cost with it.”
According to the Estevan Mercury, the 2016 Summer Games in Estevan saw a surplus of $133,000, with expenses slightly less than $3.7 million.
There, the local Games committee received a guaranteed cash infusion of slightly more than $1 million from the City of Estevan, the Saskatchewan Games Council and the local school divisions.
Other revenues from those games included $1 million worth of goods and services, $594,000 in cash sponsorships, $338,000 from fundraisers, $307,000 in naming rights sales, $71,800 through grants, $131,000 in ticket sales and nearly $100,000 in merchandise sales.
Facilities will be another factor in the bid. Lang said since the games would be in 2020, there should be additional facilities in Spruce Haven, like two full-sized soccer pitches. That is assuming council chooses to continue with the Spruce Haven recreational development plan.
“It will just be a case of presenting everything that we have and the games committee will compare our bid to the other communities that are interested,” Lang said.
The last Summer Games hosted by Melfort was in 1988. Melfort hosted the Winter Games in 2006.
Written with files from David Willberg.
