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New Facility - Background Information

The Ozaukee County Fair is one of the few free-admission fairs in the nation.  The fair is administered by the county government along with the Agricultural Society and the County 4-H.  The County is proposing to build a new multi-use building in partnership with the Milwaukee Curling Association (MCA).  The building will be leased to MCA for six months (October through March) and will be available for the 4-H, Ag. Society or other community groups during the other six months.

Currently there are no other buildings in Ozaukee County that can provide a large meeting space for wedding receptions, corporate events, exhibits and trade shows.  During the run of the fair, 4-H club members will sell concessions from the kitchen space and the public will have access to the restrooms.  In addition to the large ice shed, a spacious meeting room will be available for use by service clubs and local organizations.

MCA intends to sublease the building during the curling season to the Milwaukee Curling Club (MCC).  Kahler Slater Architects has designed a five-sheet curling shed with a spacious viewing area and lounge.  The design includes men’s and women’s locker rooms, a bar and kitchen area, and space for the Roth Curling Museum, honoring the first President of USWCA.  The meeting room will accommodate bonspiel meal functions.

At this time the terms of the lease have not been negotiated but both MCA and the County favor a long-term lease.  Initial lease payments will be used to pay down the debt incurred from construction and when the debt is eliminated, future lease payments will be used in part for facility maintenance and repair.

The building and curling ice will be wheelchair accessible to accommodate wheelchair curlers.  Wheelchair curling is an increasingly popular sport and a full range of accommodations will provide access for the curlers. 

Currently MCA and MCC accommodate curlers ranging in age from 7 to 90.  With the new family-friendly venue of the public fair grounds, we anticipate an expanded interest in the sport of curling.

Ozaukee County will pay site work and total construction costs for the facility which will include approximately 120 parking spaces adjacent to the building.  MCA will pay for curling specific costs such as overhead cameras, TV monitors, museum displays, curling storage racks, stones, scoreboards, ice making and maintenance equipment.  Total costs are expected to be in the $4 million range for a 26,000 square-foot facility.  The County will contribute approximately half the balance and the remaining balance will be paid by MCA in the form of an “up front” payment and an annual lease payment financed over ten years.