Lethbridge to host 2019 World Men’s Curling Championship

“When you’ve seen the city step up in the past like it has with the 2007 Scotties Tournament of Hearts and the 2012 World Women’s Championships, you know what you’re getting. That makes the decision process easier. It’s good people, good fans, great support from the city and the venue, and it makes for an easy decision.”

This will be Lethbridge’s third opportunity in seven years to have world champions crowned in southern Alberta.

On top of the World Women’s Championship in 2012, 11 months ago the 2017 World Mixed Doubles and World Senior Men’s and Women’s Championships were played at the ATB Centre in Lethbridge.

Cameron says they’re working with a great host committee and added the three vice chairs announced today will be hard at work getting community support and working with potential volunteers.

“The World Curling Federation will be working with them, we’ll be working with them, so there’s definitely a lot of work to do but the great thing is these are people who’ve been through this grind before,” Cameron said.

One of those Vice-Chairs, Jody Meli, says they were beyond thrilled to learn that their bid to host the games was accepted.

“The next 13 months will be extremely busy for us, but we’re ready to go work on an event that we believe will be one of the best ever and will send everyone home with wonderful memories of Lethbridge,” Meli said.

The event will be taking place during the WHL playoffs, and Cameron says the brain trust of the Lethbridge Hurricanes had a big part in facilitating the event coming to town.

“Let’s face facts: they could’ve said no because it’s a key time of year for a hockey team. If they have playoff aspirations it forces them to make some sacrifices, but all the credit to that franchise for seeing the big picture and just how important this event is to the city,” he continued. “A nine-day event like the Men’s Championship generates anywhere between $6-10 million in economic activity for a host city. The Hurricanes saw that big picture, and we’re truly thankful because without their support and sacrifice this event is not happening in Lethbridge.”

It will be a return trip to Alberta for the World Men’s Championship after its 2017 edition was played at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, won by Canada’s Brad Gushue.

It will also be the fourth time the World Men’s Championship has been played in the province of Alberta.

World Curling Federation Competitions and Development Officer Darrell Ell, who himself is a Lethbridge native, says after seeing the support for the two events in 2017 it was a no-brainer to come back to Lethbridge.

“Everyone got behind the event, and when you look at the local support for curling from 2012 to now, Lethbridge is just a super host.”

Ell says having experience hosting these sorts of events is important.

“There are so many different things that you have to be aware of. We’re talking representatives coming here from 13 different countries and they all have little different things associated with their cultures. Being able to understand the different nations coming to the event, their cultures and traditions is important to be a good host,” Ell said.

On top of the significant economic spinoff, Ell says the world championships are going to bring good recognition to the city as well.

“The World Championships are going to be broadcast around the world, so if Lethbridge isn’t already on the map for some of these people it definitely will be after this event next year,” Ell stated.

A total of 13 Member Associations will compete in Lethbridge — the second year of a 13-team format.Teams will qualify through the Pacific-Asia, Le Gruyère AOP European Curling Championships, Americas Challenge and World Qualification Event.

Berths will be distributed in the following manner:

• Two Americas Zone (including host Canada) *

• Two Pacific-Asia Zone *• Eight European Zone *

• Two from World Qualification Event

• *The zone with the lowest-placed team at the previous World Curling Championship loses one guaranteed berth

Canada will be represented by the winner of the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier in Brandon, Manitoba.

Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman wasn’t on hand for the announcement, as he’s representing the city at the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, but Councillor Mark Campbell spoke about the $500,000 council put towards the bid back in November 2017.

“The reason everyone on council said ‘yeah let’s do this’ is because of the economic spinoff we heard about today. It brings people from all over the world. They’re going to see our city, stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, it really is a win-win for everybody,” Campbell said.

Campbell also spoke about the involvement of the Hurricanes in the process.

“When it came up at council one of the first questions I asked was if the Hurricanes were on board with it,” Campbell continued. “ENMAX Centre General Manager Kim Gallucci said yes, and when it comes to next year there’s going to be around six to eight scenarios involving the team so here’s hoping everything aligns properly.”

The 2019 World Men’s Curling Championship will be televised exclusively and extensively in Canada by TSN/RDS2, from the round robin, through to the bronze-medal and gold-medal games.

The 2018 World Men’s Curling Championship is scheduled for March 31 to April 8 in Las Vegas.

by Aaron Mahoney (@Mahones93 on Twitter)

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Lethbridge to host 2019 World Men’s Curling Championship

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