Lethbridge City Council votes to support bid to host 2025 Canadian Olympic Curling trials

Curling Canada does not require a bidding fee, and no money changes hands until all accounting is done after the event in 2025. If the bid is deemed unsuccessful when Curling Canada announces the host city in November 2023, there will be no financial impact for the City of Lethbridge.

Mayor Blaine Hyggen explained in a news release, “As we witnessed with the 2022 Tim Hortons Brier, as well as all the other elite curling action held in Lethbridge, there would be significant social and economic benefits to hosting an event of this magnitude.”

He said, “The estimated economic impact of the Canadian Curling Trials event is anticipated to rival the 2022 Brier, which saw more than $10 million in economic activity through areas such as hotels, restaurants and shopping in the Lethbridge area. Council is proud to help support this bid.”

Roar of the Rings would feature both men’s and women’s curling, with the winners earning spots at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

In the span of 15 years, Lethbridge has hosted every other elite curling event.

The Lethbridge Curling Club board has already engaged with and received letters of support from key community stakeholders. These include the ENMAX Centre, the Lethbridge Hurricanes, the Lethbridge Soccer Centre, the Lethbridge Lodging Association, Tourism Lethbridge, Lethbridge Sport Council and Curling Alberta.

Kirk Mearns, General Manager of the Lethbridge Curling Club expressed his gratitude to Lethbridge City Council and Administration for their support in the 2025 Canadian Olympic trials host bid.

Mearns said, “These events inject millions of dollars into the local economy, plus they create a sense of civic pride that contributes to our sharing common memories, emotions and beliefs with other people.”

He added, “They also help build the sport by attracting young people and new adult curlers, as well as inspire upcoming athletes in curling.”

Mearns continued, “We are committed to bringing world class curling events to Lethbridge and we are always humbled by and appreciative of the support we get from the City and the citizens of Lethbridge.”

According to the presentation from the Lethbridge Curling Club, Curling Canada will guarantee more than 2,000 room nights for their exclusive use, totaling more than $300,000 in room revenue.

Additionally, revenue from the sale of 50/50 tickets at the 2025 event would stay directly in Lethbridge and would be used to support the Lethbridge Curling Club’s diversity programming, junior program, high school curling, senior accessibility as well as “Rocks and Rings” outreach programs, initiatives and equipment.

Bids for the 2025 Canadian Olympic Curling trials must be submitted by the end of the June 2023.

Read more at LethbridgeNewsNow.

by Sarah Jones

Lethbridge City Council votes to support bid to host 2025 Canadian Olympic Curling trials

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