RME Place is set to open at the end of September. Ross Lavigne/CHAT News

By Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat Curling Centre set to reopen at month end with new name

Sep 23, 2024 | 11:22 PM

The Medicine Hat Curling Centre is set to reopen for the first time in two years on the last day of September, and will have a new name.

R-M-E Place, Home of the Medicine Hat Curling Centre, is what the the facility will be known as thanks to a long-term deal signed with Rocky Mountain Equipment for the naming rights to the building.

The company logo is already visible on the exterior and interior of the building.

Bryden Smith, general manger of the Medicine Hat Curling Centre said, financial details won’t be disclosed, but the sponsorship means a lot to get the centre back up and running.

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“Big deal for us having a big-time naming sponsor come in, doing the naming rights to the building, donating financially, as well as helping out with a few projects here and there,” Smith said.

“As well as some of our other sponsors for stepping up financially to help us out.”

Bryden Smith, general manger of Medicine Hat Curling Centre. Ross Lavigne/CHAT News

The new ice plant is running, the new brine lines are starting to cool the water being put down, as curlers in the area await the reopening of their home ice.

Smith says things have been rolling along thanks to a number of volunteers.

“We started sort of just after the long week in September, got the lines down, got them frozen in, then it’s been consistent floods of water trying to get above the lines,” Smith said.

“Hack2Hack Solutions has built rink liners to go, so the houses, the hog lines, all those kinds of things built in,” he added.

“We’re right on schedule for next week for opening for leagues.”

Flooding continues as the ice at the RME Place is being prepared for a ceremonial first stone throw on the new ice. Ross Lavigne/CHAT News

Curling leagues are set to start on September 30th, with the staff working to get the ice ready for a ceremonial stone throw this Thursday where representative from Rocky Mountain Equipment will be onsite.

The curling centre will host the first tournament of the year Oct. 4 and 5 with a swing-and-sweep event.

A partnership with Paradise Valley Golf Course that combines golf and curling.

Smith says they have people coming in to sign up regularly for both league and the tournament.

“Lots of excitement around being back and open, so it’s been a buzz that we’ve missed around here,” Smith said.

“We’re looking forward to getting it back up and running.”