Big-time curling is returning to Abbotsford this fall.
The Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre has been awarded the right to host The Masters Grand Slam of Curling, Oct. 30 to Nov. 3.
The five-day international event – part of the Sportsnet-owned Grand Slam series – will feature 30 men's and women's teams competing for a combined purse of $200,000.
"We're very excited about it," said Jason Blumenfeld, general manager of the AESC. "It's something we've been working on for a couple years now. It's been held in other Global Spectrum buildings in Canada, and it's done very well."
The Fraser Valley/Lower Mainland region isn't necessarily known as a curling hotbed, at least when compared to the Prairie provinces, where the sport is truly embedded in the culture.
But Abbotsford has a rich history of hosting major curling events. The city has hosted national championships, including the 2003 Canadian Mixed and the 2012 Canadian Seniors, and has been home to big-time cashspiels in the past, including the Wayden Transportation Ladies Classic, a former Grand Slam event, from 2000 to 2008.
Blumenfeld noted that with the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, on the horizon, interest in curling will be heightened when the Masters arrives in town this fall. The exposure on Sportsnet should also help draw fans.
"We're going to have some of the top teams who have already qualified for the Olympics who will be performing," he said.
"Not only will you have the best Canadian athletes here, but you'll have international athletes as well. Also, we're working really closely with the Abbotsford Curling Club on this, and they'll be helping to drive this as well in the community."
Last year's Masters was held in Brantford, Ont., and champions were Kevin Koe of Alberta and Rachel Homan of Ontario.
Full-event passes for the five-day spiel are $175, and go on sale this Friday at the AESC box office, by phone at 1-866-977-2372, or online at www.abbotsfordcentre.ca.
Additional details regarding schedule, single event ticket information and broadcast details will be announced at a later date.