Canadian Curling Community Takes Fundraising to Next Level, Invests in Future Curlers

With over $1 million dollars in raffle sales from the 2014-2015 season, all five major Canadian curling events have unanimously picked Pointstreak 5050 as their electronic raffling system heading into 2016. Proof that electronic raffling works for large-scale, week-long events, not just for pro teams.

Toronto, ON – When the last rock was delivered, it was Team Canada (lead by a local Calgary curling club) edging out Northern Ontario at the 2015 Tim Hortons Brier on site at the iconic Scotiabank Saddledome.

For nine days last March, a total of 151,835 fans attended the popular curling event and for the third straight year, they were able to participate in massive 50/50 raffles. Three raffles were held each day and a total of over $600,000 was sold over the nine days. And for the third straight year, electronic raffle vendor Pointstreak 5050 was on site to ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience for event organizers; allowing them to focus on event execution, not raffle operations.

Unlike at pro hockey games, where 50/50 raffles are deeply ingrained into the sub-culture, it took a year or so to take hold at these curling events that last a week or more. However, once it did, people came to see it as part of the experience and excitement that only a live event can offer. And once the raffle went from unexpected to expected, event organizers knew they had secured a predictable - and critical - source of funding.

“Pointstreak 5050’s system allowed us to raise our fundraising project to the next level” said Graham Harris, Hosting Committee Chair of the World Curling Championships, “The whole process from start to finish made our organizers’ efforts extremely efficient and seamless while at the same time very professional”.

When well-executed, drawing the winner of a raffle can become a focal point of an event and sometimes lead to unexpected results. Consider this story from the 2013 Brier in Kamloops as recounted by Pointstreak 5050’s Tim Burley who was on site to support the event:

“The announcer had the entire arena stand on their feet. Before he read the winning ticket number one digit at a time, he asked folks to sit down once their ticket had been eliminated. Excitement began to build as it got down to the final five people still standing. The announcer read the final number and, to everyone’s surprise, all five people sat down. No one in the arena had won the raffle. Then up high in the arena, people start noticing the TSN camera operator who’s jumping up and down with excitement. In his hand was the winning ticket.”

Other large, week-long events in which 50/50 raffles are non-traditional – such as auto racing, rodeos, agricultural or concert festivals - may be interested in the following highlights from the five 2014/2015 major curling events and how it might appeal to their situation:

• At the 2015 Brier in Calgary alone, $600,000 was raised on attendance of 150,000, making for $4 per capita
• Over $1 million in total raffle sales, with half this amount going directly to support youth curling
• Every major Canadian curling event used Pointstreak 5050 in 2014/2015 and all of them have signed up again for 2016

While the impressive numbers and excitement a big raffle brings to an event are key selling points, the ultimate benefit is what the funds raised can do for an organization’s long-term goals.

“The money raised through 50/50 sales allows us to provide invaluable fund to resources for youth curling” adds Graham Harris, “The long term benefits from the money raised through Pointstreak 5050 are amazing.”

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ABOUT POINTSTREAK 5050

Pointstreak 5050, a division of Pointstreak Sports Technologies Inc., is an electronic raffle software system that drives consumer participation in raffle events while providing accountability to the raffle process.  The Pointstreak 5050 system electronically captures every transaction while providing updated real-time raffle information to display devices located throughout the venue. Tickets are sold to fans through fixed touch-screen terminals and mobile devices, creating an effortless data collection system providing faster sales transaction, longer selling periods, accountability and substantial increases in average raffle proceeds. Pointstreak 5050 boasts some of sports' best brands as clients, with partners across the sports landscape including MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA, MLS, NLL & CFL as well as several NASCAR events, PGA tournaments and NCAA institutions. Pointstreak 5050 was the first electronic raffle vendor to achieve certification under the Gaming Laboratories International technical standard GLI -31 Electronic Raffle Systems.

For more information, visit www.pointstreak5050.com.

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