Gerrie Owen, a club owner in Dallas, said it best, “Bridge is never going to be the same.”
Gerrie worries more about her members than she does about her club’s financial well being. Some of Gerrie’s members won’t play online, and the bridge community may lose them forever. Some members live alone and now have nothing to do. It’s not a good situation. I found it interesting that Gerrie is more concerned about her members as people than her club as a business.
Revenue per player has dropped from $10 to $4 for each game, and her online games have fewer players than historical face-to-face games. While her rent has been largely eliminated, she still has to pay for Directors to manage her online games. Some club owners continue to have rent expenses required by their leases. Financially, the club business has taken a big hit.
Gerrie hopes to host face-to-face games again in January or February 2021, but she is not holding her breath. Asking players to wear masks and to bring their own bidding boxes may reduce safety concerns, but perhaps not enough for them to return to face-to-face games.
Uncertainty creates a difficult time for club owners.
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