Brian Silber, director of parks and recreation, told the Virginia City Council during the Oct. 14 public forum that the Iron Trail Motors Event Center will host the Pan Continental Curling Championships beginning Sunday and that early estimates project roughly $1,500,000 in direct outside spending in the region during the next 10 days.

Why it matters: Silber said the event will attract participants and visitors from outside the local area, producing hotel, restaurant and ancillary spending that would not occur without the event center and the nearby curling facility in Eveleth.

Silber said tickets will be available through the Iron Trail Motors Event Center website and that session prices range from $5 to $20; he said there will be a Sunday reception and meet-and-greet when representatives from 20 countries will be present. "Conservative estimates are showing ... approximately $1,500,000 of direct spending in our communities in the next 10 days," Silber said.

Public comment contrast: an earlier public speaker had raised concerns about the event center’s operating costs, telling the council that "the operating costs alone by the end of this year will be $8,000,000 to the citizens of Virginia" and projecting higher totals in future years. Silber asked the council and the public to consider the event center’s economic impact compared with the facility it replaced, the Miner's Memorial Building, which Silber said averaged $1.5 million of spending a year but only about $200,000 in revenue in its last decade of operation.

Silber invited the public to the event’s grand opening and reception; he encouraged residents to obtain free tickets and attend sessions to see the international competitors and the community impact.

Ending: the event center’s schedule and ticketing information were made available online; city staff said they will report further on event economic impacts after the championship.