The final frontier

I suspect that the vast majority of chess clubs, primarily for financial reasons, do not own or control their own space. They arrange to use senior centers, schools, libraries, community centers, local pubs, etc. often during off-hours for these locations. There are exceptions, of course. For instance, the Marshall Chess Club in New York holds title to its Greenwich Village brownstone and I think I read somewhere that the Mechanics Institute Club in San Francisco has some kind of sweetheart deal on its space.

For our part, the BCF rents the space which houses the Boylston Chess Club. The good news is that we have control over the use of the space 24/7, but of course the challenge is that we must generate sufficient revenue through dues, tournament income, and donations to cover this substantial expense.

It turns out, however, that those who borrow their space face challenges of their own.

The role of chess clubs

Shaun Press has some food for thought for brick and mortar chess clubs that are struggling in the new online world:

The main reason we have chess clubs today (as opposed to the past) is to provide a social environment for chess players. Having said that however, my belief is that a lot of chess clubs are failing to provide this. And consequently their numbers are starting to drop off.

While I'll continue this commentary at some point in the future, I'll suggest for now that for a club to increase its numbers, it needs to revisit what demand it is trying to fill, and to see if that demand still exists.

Wouldn't you rather live in England?

When the Boylston Chess Club went looking for a new location, the Board focused on things like an urban location, access to public transportation, affordable rent and availability of parking. So when the Streatham & Brixton Chess Club moves from a local pub to their new digs at the Woodfield Grove Tennis Club, what do you suppose is one their most important priorities?

Access to a licensed bar on the premises.

So boring, they created a chess club

This should make you happy that you don't live in Florence, Kentucky (bold is mine):

Chess enthusiasts no longer have to leave Florence to meet other players for a casual game. A small group has been meeting the past four Wednesday evenings at the Florence Branch Library for play for all experience levels. Librarian Scott Beran, who oversees the group, said the chess club was created in response to popular demand. "Some people had ... expressed an interest because there's nothing else around here," he said.

From "Florence Library hosts chess club" at the Community Press.

The Trans Fat Open

Nothing really goes together quite as well as chess and fast food -- just look around the skittles room prior to the start of the afternoon round of any large Swiss. Around our neck of the woods, Gus Gosselin runs a series of scholastic tournaments in Burger King restaurants. Now, the New Haven (CT) Register reports on the goings-on at the "McCheckmate" chess club. As they so aptly put it, "To the victors go the fries."

The worst chess club in the world

President Eric Holzer explains why his chess club, Club de Ajedrez San José located on the Mediterranean island of Ibiza, is the worst chess club in the world:

The thing is we drink too much and are unable to analyse as a consequence.

Chess in Tucson

Courtesy of the The Arizona Daily Star.

Chess Knights - Borders, 5870 E. Broadway. A chess challenge for players of any skill level. Boards and pieces provided. 6 p.m. Mondays. Free. 584-0111.