   | The London Mindsports Centre isn't just the home of the Young Chelsea Bridge Club, they also host the London Chess League and the game of Go, among other things - possibly a few steps ahead of bridge clubs here in the United States, as the ACBL is beginning to diversify a bit in that direction. But what a fun adventure for these two Minnesota players! We look forward to hearing their tales of the game over scones and tea when they get back. (And if they happen to "spill the tea", so much the better.) |
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   | In just two years, the Gatlinburg TN Regional has seen a drop in table count of -37.1%. That's more tables than most ACBL regionals have in attendance in any given year, including the Minnesota Gopher. The Gatlinburg drop of -12.1% this year compared to 2025 is considerably larger than the average drop in same-location annual regionals, which is currently at -7.0%. In fact, the top three ACBL tournaments from 2025 are all way off on tables this year - Houston TX was down by -26.1%, and Hilton Head Island SC was down by -23.3%. Maybe this is an okay year to have the Gopher off, although we will miss it until 2027. But while some regional table counts are up (and many are down), this shows that even the largest and most popular regionals are not immune to the general downtrend in participation. The third chart to your left shows the share of all ACBL regional tables held by the Top 5 ACBL regionals for each year since 2022. The regionals of Gatlinburg TN, Houston TX, Hilton Head Island SC, Penticton BC, and Rancho Mirage CA were 17.9% of all ACBL regional tables in 2022. Last year, they made up only 14.7% of all ACBL regional tables. There's a definite shift towards smaller regionals out there - but will it continue? |
To your below left is a look at how each unit within the ACBL has fared over the two years that this program has been in effect. More than 90% (90.4%) of the ACBL's units have lost money as a result of the 5-5-5 program, and that includes both of Minnesota's bridge units. Below (right) is a chart that shows how each ACBL District has done (cumulatively) over the two years. This program doesn't really have anything to do with Districts themselves (just the Units within them), but the chart below shows that the red ink is universal across the ACBL. Could the $321,215.39 be better used by the ACBL's local units to promote bridge (and encourage new players)? That's a question for the ACBL brass, but we're not positive someone in a position to do so will be able to ask it. For now, no significant changes to the program are in the works - although we are hoping to get an interview with the ACBL's Executive Director Bronia Jenkins [ACBL Mothership] when she's here in July. This will be one of the topics that comes up. Stay tuned.  
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 | The winner of the chili cookoff will be announced during the bridge game right after round 3, and it sounds like great fun. Bragging rights are on the line! Neither Bobby Flay or Guy Fieri are scheduled to appear, so you know it's going to be good. |
Next up is Unit 103's Award Party, that's coming up Sunday in the same location. (You can still RSVP for the lunch next Sunday at the Bridge Center of St Paul through this Wednesday.) |
   | Normally, during this 11-day period, Unit 178 would hold their Aquatennial tournament. So Edina's games, along with Maple Grove's and the Bridge Center of St Paul's, would be closed for that three-day period anyway. (Spades and Company in Plymouth would also be closed for the Aquatennial, although they have no history during July as a new club within the past six months.) But it is the full week of the NABC (July 13 to 19) that will really cost these clubs. Each club has their own hard costs (rent, for example); we don't have documentation on each club's expenses, so it's not possible to say the full impact on a club's bottom line. But we can estimate what lost income will be as a result of closing during the NABC week in July. When you look at the average number of tables played during the July 13-19 week over the past three years, calculate the table fees that would be incoming - but subtract the director's fee and the ACBL table fees (since these games won't be operating, and thus those won't be paid by the club) - you'll find that the four clubs in question will be out roughly a combined $3,400. The Bridge Center of St Paul (assuming all members playing at $8/head, which is conservative) would be missing $1,438.90; Edina's week would result in $986.98 in missed income; and Maple Grove would be out $574.98. Spades and Company would have another $423.75 unavailable (assuming an estimated 13 tables that week that would not be in play). Again, these are just approximations, and YMMV. But the bottom line is that for these clubs, their bottom line is going to be in the red while the NABC is in town. One thing you can do to help these clubs is support them this summer by playing a LOT. Seriously, play ALL THE TIME. Bridge is fun, there's no question, but you can help ensure you'll continue to have a place to play by mitigating our local club losses while the NABC is in town. |
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Monday evening we see the new club in town, Spades and Co., holding an open session at 6:00. Tuesday it's back at the Bridge Center of St. Paul for a limited game, 0 to 3000 which means many of us. Again[,] best to reserve your spot through their website. Friday nights the Grand Slam Club continues to offer a game at 6:30, either face to face at the Roseville location of the Bridge Center of St. Paul, or if not enough tables vote for that, online on BBO. The Grand Slam Club normally breaks for summer, but will continue to offer this opportunity for evening play until the Summer Nationals in July. Saturday evenings are becoming popular for a meal and a game at the Plymouth location of Spades and Co. Originally held just once a month, this may become a weekly occasion. Check their website for up-to-date information. As is evident, there are now many opportunities for those people who work days, to get out of the house and into a club game. Spread the word. There are night games back in town!" -- Keith |
  | The next meeting for the local NABC committee will also be at the Minneapolis Convention Center (site of the action in July) mid-May. |
You can get lots of extra masterpoints for coming in 1st in the District, so these are always worth supporting at the club level. Check with your local club manager or director to see if they'd sign up for this game (it's not too late, but because it's a charity game for the ACBL the per/table card fee that goes to ACBL HQ is $7.60 each table). |
 | The updated flyer is to your left - and for those in attendance, there won't be any change to the fun to be had. |
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   | For the tournament just concluding in Rochester last weekend, their 145½ tables wasn't just a double-digit increase of +11.1%; their daily table average of 48½ tables puts their attendance on par with every Twin Cities sectional - which shows there's still a good appetite for tournament play statewide. And this year's average table count per session topped their 20-year historical average. Among all of Minnesota's post-COVID sectionals, that's happened only once in the past six years (2024's Granite City Sectional in Sauk Rapids). Next up will be the North Star Sectional at the Bridge Center of St Paul in Roseville - that's taking place over five (5!) days starting May 20th. This tournament has been scheduled in place of the Gopher Regional and is during the third of three big NABC Fundraiser weeks, so playing at the BCSP in May will also be for a great local cause. |
Sectional May 20-24 Roseville  | Sectional June 4 Rochester  | Sectional June 5-6 Plymouth  | Sectional June 12-14 St Cloud  | N A B C July 9-19 Minneapolis  | Sectional August 13 Rochester  |
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Kris: [It felt] nice, but I realize there is still so much to learn. BB: Along the way, you must have had players and coaches that helped you out - is there anyone in particular that you'd like to thank in assisting you get to this point? Kris: I have to thank all the colorful life masters who deigned to play with me and helped me learn so much. Particularly, Joseph Browan who stuck with me when I knew almost nothing, playing with me multiple times a week. Also, thanks to Todd [Flowerday], Bill [Voedisch], Andy [Caranicas], Carol, and Charles [Fortney] for playing and being super gracious when I messed up! BB: Was there anything special that you did to celebrate this achievement? Kris: I immediately left for a planned trip to Morocco, where I enjoyed the country. For a period I was out in the middle of the desert without any internet. BB: That is not a celebration we've heard before! Kris: [Laughs.] BB: Last question for you - we always ask new Life Masters if they have any advice for players who are not yet LMs but are on their way. What would you tell them? Kris: Play as much as you can; be brave; and ask someone better than yourself to play with you. |
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 | The top three masterpoint winners for this tournament were all locals, with Ed Prosser [Rochester] coming away with the silver medal and Robert Roediger [Rochester] taking the bronze. 144 total players earned some silver points this weekend. |
 | Frank Knier [Fargo ND] and Tom Knier [Burnsville] had a first place finish to today's afternoon session with a really nice 68.07% game.  Earlier in the day, Terry Beckman [Brooklyn Park] and David Collins [Fridley] scored a 64.86% game to come in 1st in the Open overall pairs. In the 499er pairs on Saturday, Jan Brosnahan [Winona] and Laura Behling [Winona] came in 1st overall for 2.33 silver points. The afternoon session saw Jan and Laura score an 80.16% game - YOWZA. All of the results from this weekend's big sectional in Rochester can be found by clicking here. |
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    | The morning session was won by Jerry Rosenblad [Stewartville] and Matt Belau [Rochester], who earned 8.71 silver points with their 63.06% game. The morning 499ers group saw a sterling 72.22% game by Roger Andre [Edina] and Susan Williams [Edina]. Then in the afternoon, Jerry and Matt almost pulled the repeat performance with a 62.36% game but that was good for 2nd place as they were bested by David Melin [Onalaska WI] and Maria Roswall [La Crosse WI] scoring 62.78%. The afternoon 499ers session saw John Layde [Eau Claire WI] and Dennis Shea [Eau Claire WI] take 1st place with a 70.83% game - so an all-Wisconsin championship round Friday afternoon. Out of the 138 players that have participated in this tournament so far, 116 of them have earned masterpoints; and Jerry Rosenblad is your top masterpoint winner with one day to go. The "top 40" masterpoint winners for this tournament are listed to your left - and if you check the ACBL website for masterpoint totals, remember that these pair/team games are not recorded properly by the ACBL as they currently combine both awards when you get silver points for pairs and teams. You're only allowed one award in a session, however, whichever is greater between the pairs and teams - so what's to your left is correct. |
| Mary Ulhorn [Little Falls] wasn't available for the photo, but from L to R, here's Laura Vandal [Minneapolis], Tom Balfanz [St Cloud], Evan Truman [Delano], and Sue Jackson [Clear Lake]. Great to see that they were able to participate in the tournament and have some fun. |
   | Ed Prosser [Rochester] and Bob Roediger [Rochester] won both of the pairs events on Thursday, with a 64.72% morning game (just barely edging out Carole Miner [Rochester] and Gary Knippenberg [Golden Valley] with their 63.89% score) - and then in the afternoon session, Ed and Bob again came in 1st with a 60.90% game - once again barely besting another Twin Cities pair of David Collins [Fridley] and Barry Purrington [Eagan], who scored 60.50%. Ed and Bob are your masterpoint leaders after one day with 15.58 silver points to their credit. On the 499er side, first-time partners V Francis Luikart [St Paul] and Bev Northouse [Rochester] also took 1st place in both of their sessions. A sparkling 65.83% game in the morning was followed by a 64.29% afternoon game. Their haul on the day was 2.75 silver points. All of the results for the day can be found by clicking here. And a shout-out to Bonnie Fox [Rochester] who's in charge of the treats - bring on day 2!  |
 | The PR committee met online via Zoom this week; the meeting included PR Chair Warren Nelson [Cloquet], Patti Stuhlman [Minneapolis], Sherry Cyza [Minneapolis], Bob Balderson [Eden Prairie], Matt Belau [Rochester], Keith Thompson [St Paul], and Maureen Collins [Fridley]. This month's meeting included an update from Patti on how everything is going: The ACBL agreed that a video showcasing the playing area and downtown connections was a good idea - and will put it on their website. Patti is working on getting approval for logos for gifts, ordering the gfifts, looking for a charity to provide a donation, and working on setting a date for the volunteer/donor party post-NABC. Next up is a restaurant guide that will be sent to the ACBL, and a push to promote the third and final NABC fundraising week for local clubs. Maureen will focus on community centers that have contract bridge and the players that play there; Sherry is working on the May Pianola blast that will emphasize hotel reservations and volunteering. And Warren's monthly letter will be finalized this week (adding a few items to his list of things for people to experience) and sent out Friday to Club Managers and Ambassadors. The PR Committee will get together two more times before the NABC hits town - they're working hard to make sure your NABC experience is the best possible one you can have. |
 | What is to be done? If there is an answer to fix the ACBL's membership decline overall, it would start by efforting to fix the ACBL's membership decline locally. While bridge clubs that fail in Kentucky or Idaho don't have a terrific impact on Minnesota's bridge community, those that fail in Austin or Elk River do. And no matter where your club plays bridge, people from all over Minnesota will play at that club. Any mentoring, teaching, coaching, any support of advancing players, it all makes a difference. Bringing a friend in to play bridge at the club (or bringing cookies into the club) isn't a bad idea, either, as a welcoming club and party atmosphere makes for a great four hours to escape the outside world (whether it's politics or the weather or anything else). Everything that you do, whether it's volunteer to run a tournament or clean bidding boxes at the club, it all adds up. NOTE that if everyone everywhere made an extra effort to make such a contribution, the ACBL's membership numbers would turn around pretty quickly. Unfortunately, you can't control everyone everywhere. But you can control what you do locally, and that's what will really pay off for Minnesota's bridge crowd, regardless of what the overall ACBL's monthly membership numbers show. |
 | This makes for four open bridge games on the Wednesday morning schedule within the Twin Cities Metro area. Although having a choice of games is always a great option, the timing of these games is such that you can only play in one each Wednesday. With the past 52 weeks having seen 1,098 Wednesday morning tables among the three clubs currently operating them (and an average of 21.1 tables on Wednesday mornings in the Metro area), can the Twin Cities support four games at one time? If so, Wednesday will easily overtake Monday as the biggest day of the week for Minnesota tables. If not, it's possible there will be some "shaking out" of these Wednesday morning games. Stay tuned. |
| It all gets going two weeks on Wednesday April 29th. If you're bringing your own chili to be checked out, you'll want it there at 5pm, with dinner from 5:15pm to 6:00pm. The bridge game gets going at 6:00pm (along with voting) and the winner of the chili cookoff (and bragging rights) will be announced at 7pm (right after round 3). The information is listed on the flyer to your left, and they've made sure to let everyone know you do not need to bring a chili dish to participate in the dinner and bridge game. "The Chairman" has spoken: bring the heat to St Cloud two weeks from tonight! (The secret ingredient this month is declarer's tears.) WHOSE CHILI DISH WILL REIGN SUPREME? |
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS * The Minnesota Twins (MLB) play at Target Field. Early July opponents are the Cleveland Guardians (July 7-9) and the LA Angels (July 10-12). Discounted tickets will be available to NABC players. The tickets can be obtained [by clicking here]. * The Minnesota Lynx (WNBA) play at the Target Center. Their schedule will be available later this spring. * The Saint Paul Saints (AAA) play at CHS Field in St. Paul. July home games are against the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs (July 14-19). Tickets can be obtained [by clicking here]. ARTS AND CULTURE * The Minneapolis Institute of Art is one of the country's top art museums with a huge global collection and free general admission. * The Walker Art Center + Minneapolis Sculpture Garden - Contemporary Art Museum * The Weisman Art Museum on the Mississippi River with striking architecture designed by Frank Gehry. * The Bob Dylan Mural and Prince Mural * The Minnesota Orchestra at Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, performs the Beethoven Triple Concerto July 16-18. Tickets@mnorch.org or call 612-371-5656. PARKS AND NATURE * Boom Island Park - A riverside park with skyline views and green space for strolls or relaxation. * Gold Medal Park - A stylish downtown park with lawns, gardens and river views. * Minnehaha Regional Park - This park is famous for Minnehaha Falls and scenic trails along the Mississippi. SHOPPING * Of course, we can't forget to mention The Mall of America! In future months we will present parking and transportation options as well as instructions about how to use Entry Express to obtain your entries in advance. There will be one final week for NABC Fundraiser games in late May, and next month we will have instructions for running those games. Finally, a reminder to make room reservations before the Host Hotels are fully booked. The ACBL's Housing Bureau will close on June 18th. The Bureau is available Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. (Eastern), by calling toll-free at 855-956-0776 or contact acbl.org/minneapolis. See you next month! Summer Minneapolis NABC PR Committee |
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 | The Minnesota Twins have provided a special discount for ACBL bridge players this summer, for games held during the NABC here in July. It's a great opportunity to see the Twins while taking a break from the cards - and have some fun away from the bridge table for a few hours. To get a discounted Twins ticket for one of these games, click here. (And a shout-out to Patti Stuhlman [Minneapolis], our local NABC Chair who helped to make this perk possible for everyone.) |
 | Overall, the Upper Midwest and Great Plains states have seen a +5.5% jump in tables since last year's 1Q. 7,597 tables were played at local bridge clubs during the past 13 weeks, versus 7,204 tables in the same 13-week period of 2025. Minnesota's year-over-year change of +9.4% leads the way, both in terms of percentage change and nominal tables. That's great news for bridge around here. Nebraska had a bit of a rough year in 2025, but has bounced back with a gain of +7.6% in tables so far in 2026; Iowa and Wisconsin also showing positive numbers, with each of the Dakotas shedding almost 5% of their tables compared to a year ago. These numbers are good - but could always be better. You can help, with mentoring, educating, volunteering, all the things that make your local club grow. That will help to keep our results looking good - and leading the way. |
   | This year, however, for this week, there is no such snowstorm in the forecast. Whether you are driving down each day to the tournament from the Twin Cities or driving locally across Rochester to get to St Luke's Episcopal Church (site of the big tournament), the weather will be terrific for getting to the cards. In fact, at the moment, the forecast is calling for a chance of thunderstorms each day - so even better to be inside earning some silver points! 2018's Rochester Sectional was held April 6-8, so missed the big storm by just one week, otherwise it would have been canceled. Certainly the forecast between now and Saturday will change, but it won't change that much. Look for good travel weather and good weather for cards later this week - and when it comes to a seat at the table starting Thursday, as they say, "good seats are still available". |
   | A better update and complete summary of the tournament from Connie Nelson [Avon] can be found on the St Cloud Bridge Club website. PREVIOUSLY: Silver points, and quite a few of them, went out the door in St Cloud this weekend. The I/N Spring Fling that the St Cloud Bridge Club held (in their own club this year!) saw 18 tables in the morning and another 16 tables in the afternoon - that's right in line with the past couple of April I/N Sectionals there. The 2026 Tournament Champions for this event would be David Hanson [Mora] and Eileen Johnsen [St Cloud], who had a 64.72% game in the morning and a 61.90% game in the afternoon to pick up 5.07 masterpoints. Congratulations to both of you! All of the results from this tournament can be found by clicking here. More than four dozen Minnesota advancing players earned masterpoints in this tournament; the top 10 are to your left, and the entire list of masterpoint winners can be found by clicking here. And of course, a tip-of-the-hat to everyone who played and had fun, regardless of the results. |
  | Charlie was most recently at the St Louis MO NABC, where he picked up 72.74 masterpoints for the week - this zoomed him well past the 2,500 masterpoint mark (he's already at 2,618.66 as of today). We're looking forward to seeing what Charlie does at our own NABC in less than three months. Layne is a great contributor to the Rochester club, playing with more than a half-dozen partners during the month and also helping to run the Rochester Chat bridge group on Monday mornings. He directs the monthly Pro/Am games and teaches a class at the Rochester Community Education Center. As is the norm in Minnesota's 3rd largest bridge club, a party was held to celebrate Layne's achievement at the estate of Ann Van Ryn [Rochester]. Fun and food was had, along with a few stories (none of which were permitted on-the-record to the press), and everyone having congratulated the new Gold Life Master. As for Charlie, we have a request out to see what flavor of celebratory cake Charlie wants - but whatever it is we are sure it will be sweet. |
 | Congratulations to Scott Richardson [St Joseph], the Minnesota player who earned the most black points in our local bridge clubs last month. Scott scored an average of 57.80% over eleven club games which put him at the top of the heap this time around. In doing so, Scott "slayed the King" who held the title for the past three months, Joe Koester [Brooklyn Park]. Joe came in 2nd this month. . .so for April it's all hail to Scott, who has the crown this time around. Your top 12 masterpoint winners are listed to your left. (With April being Charity Month across the ACBL, look for lots more black points to be awarded in the upcoming month.) |
 | (NOTE that there is plenty of time to either A)extend that lead over your other competing players or B)overtake the current MP category leader. But neither option is accomplished without getting out there and playing!) |
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   | To your left is a look at the post-COVID NABCs, with a table count compared to their most recent pre-COVID NABC held in the same city. Relative table counts are all over the place (Las Vegas NV is such a great card-playing town, and Austin TX hadn't held an NABC in the past 50 years), but overall about ⅔ of the tables from before the COVID pandemic hit has been the rule when it comes to post-COVID NABC table counts in the same location. If this was to be the case in Minneapolis in July, then we would have about 4,876 tables (7,181 x .679) during the 11 days of the NABC (or 443 tables each day on average). Of course, everyone here on the ground in Minnesota is hoping for and expecting a much better turnout than "average" for this NABC. Expectations are not big, considering how small the 1994 NABC was here, and the fact that it was partly in December (see: winter). With a terrific turnout here in July, expectations for this summer's Minnesota NABC could easily be exceeded. Should that be the case, we sure won't have to wait another 31 years to host our next NABC. |
Saturday, April 25, 11:30am Bridge Center of St Paul* Luncheon is FREE to all players 12:30pm Bridge game FREE to top 3 Unit 178 winners in Mini- McKenney and Ace of Clubs award categories 12:30pm Bridge game $8 for everyone else  Unit 178 does not presently have a mechanism for RSVPing at this time, but as we get closer, there may be one (either a sign-up sheet or email request, etc.) - we'll have an update just as soon as we hear of anything. |
Sunday, May 3, 11:00am Bridge Center of St Paul* Luncheon is FREE to all players 12:30pm Bridge game FREE to top 3 Unit 103 winners in Mini- McKenney and Ace of Clubs award categories 12:30pm Bridge game $6 for everyone else  Unit 103 requests an RSVP by April 29th by:
Emailing an RSVP to bridgecenterofstpaul-at-gmail-dot-com Calling the BCSP at 651-490-5430 |
| It's not too late to get a partner and plan on getting in on the action! And if you need a partner, the partnership chairs are listed on the flyer to your left. Right now the forecast for Rochester next week includes scattered singletons and a 50% chance of working finesses; be sure to bring your convention card and the expectation of a good time. |
      | At the top on your left is a look at the Minnesota bridge clubs, and their relative position in total club tables. Many of these clubs have come and gone in the past ten years, and of course COVID rapidly accelerated both the decline in bridge tables and the decline in bridge clubs - and not just here in Minnesota. Next is a look at the number of tables each of Minnesota's bridge units ran in the two years of comparison. In 2015, Unit 178 (Minneapolis + West Metro) ran 7,638 tables. (It's no surprise that the vast majority of these were held at the perennial powerhouse that was the Twin City Bridge Center, far and away the number one bridge club in Minnesota for decades.) When you're looking at the change in tables run by our local units, this chart is a bit deceiving. With no Unit 178 club replacing the TCBC, Unit 178's club tables are down a whopping -62.3% in ten years. Part of that is due to the fact that many of those tables that were run at the TCBC are now being held about 13 miles to the northeast, over in Roseville at Unit 103's Bridge Center of St Paul club. A better examination of the overall picture of the Twin Cities area bridge community would be the 7-county Metro area's total bridge tables, regardless of the Unit in which they're played. Looking at these figures, the total Twin Cities area club tables dropped from 11,572 to 6,634 during the past ten years. That's a drop of -42.7%, which appears especially steep when you compare that to the drop in outstate tables during the same period. Outstate Minnesota saw their club tables fall from 5,414 to 4,772, or just -11.9%. So why would the Twin Cities area bridge tables fall at more than 3½ times the rate of Outstate Minnesota during this ten year period? In terms of potential bridge players (or as much as the change in general population can provide potential bridge players), both Outstate Minnesota (+5.5%) and the Twin Cities Metro area (+8.1%) saw an increase in population since 2015, so it's not as if everyone simply moved out of the Metro. But something has clearly taken hold during this period - and whatever it is, it may only really be properly determined by doing some audience research. If this trend was to continue, we'd hope that such a research effort would get underway.
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We will all miss Tom, his booming voice, his stories, and his laughter. His obituary can be found [here]. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Quiet Oaks Hospice House or The Nature Conservancy. |
Dan O'Keefe [Minnetonka] Brian Keogh [Marine] Paul Sever [Duluth] |
  | As one would expect, the Unit 103's Bridge Center of St Paul had the greatest share of Minnesota club tables so far, with 24.7% of all club tables played there (or 607 of the 2,456). St Cloud came in 2nd (427 tables of 2,456), with 17.4%, and Rochester ekeing out Edina to become the 3rd largest club now with 13.5% (or 333 tables of 2,456; Edina saw 330½ tables in play in the 1st quarter). Unit 178 posted a year-over-year gain of +10.2% for the 1st quarter, due to the new Spades and Company club. Without their 70 tables so far this year, Unit 178 would see a decline from 2025 of -2.8%. Previous posts on this bridge blog have documented a couple of trouble spots in the form of Mankato and Northfield; they're still flashing red at the moment. But overall, the picture of bridge in the state could be far, far worse - and we should all be grateful that it is not. |
 | The flyer is just to your left - click on it to expand it and open it in a new window. Then plan to have some fun Saturday. |
  | Looking at the make-up of Twin Cities bridge players that have played in Unit 178's Aquatennial tournament over the past four years, along with their participation rates, a few things stand out. First of all, there are more tables when this event is played in Roseville. These tournaments have a lot of fixed costs - rent, the director, the sanction fees, etc., and the more tables you have, the more $$ to the sponsoring tournament Unit. Running tournaments is one of the two funding mechanisms for bridge units, so more tables is a good thing, regardless of whether the Minneapolis unit holds their tournament actually in Minneapolis or over in St Paul. Second, Twin Cities players that play in the Aquatennial tournament tend to show up in greater numbers when it's held in St Paul - and not as much when it's held in the West Metro. That's true of players in both Units 103 and 178. During the past four years, the Aquatennial Sectional has been held twice in Maple Grove and twice in Roseville. You might expect more East Metro players to show up at this tournament when it's held in their own backyard - and they do. The two years the Aquatennial was held in Roseville, there were 192 East Metro players involved. The two years the Aquatennial was held in Maple Grove, only 133 East metro players showed up - that's a not insignificant difference of 44.4%. But even Unit 178 players are more likely to play in their own tournament when it's held in St Paul. There were 163 West Metro players between the two Aquatennials held in Maple Grove, but 179 West Metro players at the two Aquatennials in St Paul - or an increase of +9.8% when their own event is held over in Roseville. It simply comes down to table counts (or as one of our local players likes to say, "putting butts in seats"). When more of your own players - and those from elsewhere - play in a tournament at the Bridge Center of St Paul, the smart money says that's where the tournament is going to get scheduled. (Unit 103's take on it is "whatevs", as they're perfectly happy to help support bridge in general by okaying the venue for another unit.) The bottom line is don't be surprised to see Unit 178 schedule more of their tournaments at the club in Roseville. The Bridge Center of St Paul went to a great deal of effort to try and figure out the best place for their club in the Twin Cities, and the fact that that both Minnesota units are utilizing the BCSP's location so well (and to their advantage) just makes the BCSP's decision for the location of their club that much more the right spot. |
Your bridge unit has two sources of funds from which to operate. One is the money they get from running tournaments. The other, that's the subsidy from the ACBL of your unit's membership fees. Up until 24 months ago, the ACBL used to provide its units with 11% of the unit's membership fees, a sort of "kickback" that allows units to operate. In an effort to get units more active in retaining and recruiting players, the decision was made two years ago to limit a unit's baseline subsidy to 5% of membership fees - with incentives to get an additional 10% depending on how active each unit is. Overall, this program has not been well received by ACBL's units, as the great majority of the 282 bridge units are "leaving money on the table" every quarter. They're getting paid far less under the new program than they used to under the old program, even though most units are making the effort to retain and recruit players. Collectively, the ACBL's 282 bridge units transferred $51,205.32 (of what they used to get under the old program) to ACBL HQ - just in the last three months.
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  | Hardest hit in the month of March was the Monday Edina game, where tables fell a whopping -26.3%. A good chunk of that was due to the Edina Senior Center being closed one Monday due to a snowstorm. (Most other clubs run a Monday game that was also affected by the storm, but they have additional days of bridge during the week from which to help make up their table count.) Duluth popped +40.0% compared to 2025, and other clubs that did well included Maple Grove, St Cloud, Woodbury, and the Bridge Center of St Paul. You can see the change in year-over-year tables for each of Minnesota's clubs to your left. (The Spades and Company club in Plymouth isn't listed on this chart, as it was not operating last March, and therefore has no year-over-year change.) April has arrived, although April has seen its share of wild snowstorms, too. We'll see. For now, despite the weather and added tournament to the schedule, our club tables are doing ok for another month (and that's good!). |
  | To honor and remember Alice, Spades and Company will hold a special memorial game in her honor next month. The flyer is just to your left, or you can click here to enlarge it and open it in a new window. Saturday, May 2nd, at 9:30am, they'll serve a continental breakfast and offer the chance to remember Alice through stories and memories - followed by an Open bridge game at 10:00am. It sounds like a great get-together to honor a great bridge player. There is no advance sign-up required, just show up with a story or two - and if you don't have a story to share, then share the game of duplicate bridge, which is likely how Alice would have wanted it. |
Get the latest forecast (from the National Weather Service) by clicking here. And take extra precautions if you're out and about today! These weather systems can zig instead of zag, even at the last minute, but somebody is going to get some nasty weather today. . .and it will be somewhere within or very near the Twin Cities. |
| Players will have three days of pair/team games, with 499ers getting their own section each session (although they're always encouraged to "play up"). Dozens of local eateries are within 10 minutes of the playing area, although if history is any guide just the snacking at this tournament will keep you sated. John Miller [Rochester] is the partnership chair, so if you're looking for a partner to get in on the action, his contact information is on the flyer to your left. See you in two weeks "down south" at the next big tournament event! |
  | "The Club With A Heart" is slated to start holding sanctioned bridge games on Thursday, June 3. Private lessons will be available, we're told, and public lessons will start mid-summer. They're planning on a full slate of games during the week - and with a 22-table capacity, should be able to serve plenty of West Metro players. We're all for more bridge, of course! The details can be found on the flyer to your left (or just click here) - and if you'd like directions on how to get to the new club, you can find them by clicking here. |
