🏗️ MSCA Chess Building Survey: Summary and Next Steps

Thank you to everyone who responded to last month’s chess building survey. When the survey closed on June 22, we had received 111 responses, including dozens of thoughtful narrative comments. Below is a brief summary of the results and our intended next steps.

Survey Results / Key Findings

Quantitative responses

86.5% of respondents thought the MSCA’s rental of a chess building would be beneficial for our Minnesota chess community.

82% of respondents would be willing to support the MSCA’s rental of a chess building by paying a higher annual MSCA membership fee (e.g., $60/regular, $40/senior, $20/youth).

90.1% of respondents thought it would be good for our Minnesota chess community if the MSCA and other organizations shared a new chess building space that was effective for both small and large events.

53.2% of respondents would oppose a scenario where the MSCA does not rent a chess building and is forced to decrease the number of annual MSCA chess tournaments from 16 to approximately 6 due to the high level of volunteer time needed to continuously organize many chess tournaments at various third-party sites. 17.1% would support such a decrease, and 29.7% had no strong opinion.

Common themes from narrative comments

📌 Many respondents expressed general support for the MSCA renting a chess building, often echoing the potential benefits described in our June 11 email.

📌 Location was a key concern. Some members emphasized the drawbacks of concentrating MSCA events in a single location, regardless of where it might be.

📌 A number of members and supporters of the Chess Castle of Minnesota raised concerns about how the MSCA’s rental of a building could affect the Castle.

Board Reflections

Based on the survey results, the Board has drawn the following conclusions:

📌 There is broad support among members for the idea of the MSCA renting a chess building, including a willingness to pay increased membership fees to help fund it.

📌 If the MSCA’s events become more concentrated in the Twin Cities, the MSCA would need to collaborate with affiliates and organizers across Greater Minnesota to expand their role in planning and hosting events in their local areas.

📌 The Minnesota chess community strongly values the continued success of both the MSCA and the Chess Castle, and wants to see the two organizations work together.

Next Steps

Despite the strong support expressed by the majority of members in the survey, the Board has decided not to move forward with the current opportunity described in our June 11 message. We remain convinced that a dedicated chess venue may ultimately prove critical to the future of organized chess in Minnesota, but we are also mindful of the thoughtful concerns raised by some of you and the Chess Castle’s preference to remain independent rather than partnering with the MSCA on a larger shared space at this time. As we continue to evaluate options, we invite you to continue sharing your input, concerns, and suggestions to help inform any future building-related decisions.

Thank you again for your engagement and support. You are what makes our Minnesota chess community great!

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