In hockey days of old, great competitions were held to see what team was bestowed the honor and prestige of hosting an International ATC Hockey Tournament.  Many bid, but few were chosen.

Yeah OK gramps, but why should I host the tournament?

In 1972 Boston Mass., when the founding fathers of International ATC Hockey played their first game and hoisted beers afterward, they had a vision of things to come.  That vision included a travelling hockey tournament held in a different city each year; better yet, how about a process where two, three, or four groups from different cities bid to host the tourney.  After a couple of days and many beers later a destination was chosen.  How cool is that?  In fact, it became such an honor (as well as a competition) to host the tournament that bidders put up banners, passed out campaign buttons, and wore shirts touting their bid.

That sounds like way ancient history.

Yep.  Sadly, over the past several tournaments the number of bidders each year has dwindled to two or less, and the interest and prestige in hosting just doesn’t seem to be there.  The same groups with host experience have to bid over and over just to ensure a bid is presented each year.  It’s time for a change and you can help make it!

• Choice will renew interest and help attract new participants.
• The competition that multiple bidders create will help restore the prestige and honor of hosting an ATC hockey tournament.

We need three or four bidders each year!

Peter Puck’s top 5 reasons to host the International ATC hockey tournament:

• I like to play hockey with my ATC hockey pals, but once a year is enough of those clowns.
• Why go to the same old places?
• No stinkin’ ATC facility and/or co-workers/family/friends for a few days once a year.
• Beer is good.
• Me like Hockey!!! 

You say “that really doesn’t address why I should host a tournament in my own backyard and there’s always the chance that if I bid to host I could be staying at home that year.”  Yeah, but the good news is that for your one small sacrifice (and the example you set) many others will follow your lead and bid for years to come.

YOUR REWARD?

• Ensure your place in ATC hockey history
• Your friends will provide you with a few nights of free drinks.
• Many bid choices in the future!

THINK ABOUT IT…Read on!

HOW DOES ONE HOST AN ATC HOCKEY TOURNAMENT?

Think about where you would like to host the tournament and ask yourself the very basic questions…can players easily get to the destination, is there enough ice, is there a suitable hotel, and can players reasonably get from each of these places to the other?  If so, think about past tournaments you’ve attended and make a list of what you liked and disliked, plus anything else you would like to do as a host.  Now look around your town (or wherever you might want to hold the tourney) and see what amenities are available.

If your choice looks like a potential ATC Hockey destination, it’s time to get specifics.  This would also be a good time to round up 20 or so of your closest friends as volunteers to help (you can get more later)!  Check availability and approximate costs for:

• Hotel rooms.
• Welcome package.
• Ice rental/refs/scorekeepers.
• Bus rental/transportation.
• Meet and greet/banquet
• Hospitality suite/beer/meeting rooms.
• Any other costs.

What’s this “any other costs”…I don’t know what you’re talking about?

ATC Hockey Rules Appendix 4 provides a checklist of things to do and consider, as well as a bid proposal form you must fill out to present to team reps when you bid.  If you need more help (and you will) your Rules Committee plans to have more specific information as well as a “Tournament Host Coordinator” available by mid-summer 2009 so keep watching www.atchockey.com for all of your planning needs.  Put all of these considerations together and you’ve answered the question of “do we have the potential to host a tournament that would satisfy us as well as our hockey group?”

GOOD LUCK in your bidding quest!