Image Credit: (SOURCE/CanadianCurlingAssociation)
February 26, 2013 - 1:20 PM
By Jessica Wallace
Tickets for the 2014 Brier in Kamloops go on sale to the general public Thursday and are anticipated to sell out.
The announcement that Kamloops was awarded the 2014 Tim Hortons Brier came from the Canadian Curling Association last fall.
The annual national curling event will take place March 1 to 9 next year and marks the second time it will be hosted in the Tournament Capital. The winning team from the event represents Canada at the World Men's Curling Championship at a venue and time yet to be determined.
Volunteer chair, Norm Daley, who was treasurer for the event in 1996 said it sold out.
"There was 126,000 people through various draws," he said, adding that about 6,000 people attended each one. "We're trusting we will be near capacity (again)."
Daley anticipates the popularity of the event will bring economic benefits for Kamloops and increase the popularity of the sport in the area. He said television exposure of about 60 hours or more puts Kamloops in the spotlight.
"There's also about 2,000 to 3,000 people traveling around and following the Brier," Daley said. "It's a $6 or $7-million impact expected in the community. It's a lot of money for 10 days."
Daley also said the event comes during a slow point in Kamloops tourism.
"It's a good time of the year," he said.
The event will return to the same venue at the Interior Savings Centre and while some things remain the same, it will be run a bit differently than last time. The Canadian Curling Association will play a larger role in managing the event.
"They have all the experience," Daley said. "(There will be) less volunteers making decisions."
Daley said volunteer positions will be posted online along with ticket sales on Thursday.
"We're going to need a number of volunteers, close to 600," he said.
There are a variety of positions to be filled including: drivers, hosts, ice technicians, timers, statisticians and more. A minimum of 24 hour commitment is required and may include time leading up to the event as well as during the event.
"Hopefully there will be some fun too," Daley said.
The Brier expands beyond the rink with the Patch, located at the Kamloops Curling Club, where ticket holders can enjoy food and beverages, live entertainment and meet the athletes.
This year's Brier begins in March in Edmonton, Alta.
Tickets for the 2014 Brier in Kamloops can be purchased beginning Thursday at 10 a.m. online here or by phone at 1-877-985-2875. Tickets for all 22 draws run at $499. For information about volunteering, contact Norm Daley.
To contact a reporter for this story, email: jwallace@infotelnews.ca or call (250) 319-7494.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013