Curling comes to Frogtown

This winter, the shuttered Biff Adams Ice Arena in Frogtown reopened its doors to welcome a different type of ice sport-curling. Thanks to a partnership between Ramsey County and the Saint Paul Curling Club (SPCC), the Biff Adams Arena, located at 743 N. Western Avenue in St. Paul, is now the new auxiliary site for SPCC.

With more than 1200 members and growing, SPCC is the largest curling club in the nation; however, the Selby Avenue building that has housed the club since 1912 is pushing capacity limits. Leasing the Biff Adams Arena offers more curling opportunities for current club members. It also allows a place to curl for non-club members who have been turned away from SPCC because of space restraints.

Chuck McCann, former assistant ice maker for SPCC, assisted with converting the shuttered hockey arena to meet the regulations required for curling. Now he oversees operations at the Biff Adams Arena, which includes everything from ice maintenance to organizing leagues.

"I do it all here," McCann said.

According to McCann, the Biff Adams Arena began league play earlier this month and already has close to 250 members in a facility designed to accommodate up to 300 curlers. McMann stated many of the curlers are from the Edina curling club that closed.

No prior curling experience is required. The Biff Adams site is ideal for those new to curling. Leagues cost $220.00 for new members and $120.00 for current SPCC members. A prorated fee will be charged for new people interested in joining for the remainder of the season. Openings are still available for the 6 p.m. leagues on Monday through Thursday.

"Individuals can still sign up," McCann said. We'll put you in a league."

As it currently stands, the lease will run through the end of March. McCann hopes the lease will be extended to offer more people a chance to curl. He sees it as a good location for a youth league.

For more information contact the Biff Adams Curling Facility at 651-558-2200.

Coverage of issues and events that affect Central Corridor neighborhoods and communities is funded in part by a grant from Central Corridor Collaborative.