Curling Hub? Alternate setting a virtual certainty for Scotties and Brier

By: The Canadian Press Posted: 3:02 AM CDT Friday, Oct. 9, 2020 Last Modified: 3:03 AM CDT Friday, Oct. 9, 2020

Curling Canada will likely have to follow the lead of hockey and basketball by using a fan-less hub city approach in order to salvage showcase events like the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Tim Hortons Brier this season.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/10/2020 (2124 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Original plans to hold the Scotties in Thunder Bay in February and the Brier in Kelowna in March have been all but officially dashed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Curling Canada high-performance director Gerry Peckham says the federation is quote — “definitely getting into the deep end of the pool” regarding the possibility of a hub city concept.

A member of Team Northwest Territories throws a rock during a practice session at the Brier in Kingston, Ont., on February 28, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

He says it’s arguably the federation’s final card to play at it relates to its more major events.

Curling Canada cancelled the Continental Cup and five other competitions last month. Host cities for those events will host future competitions instead, a plan that would likely be repeated if there are changes to top events like the Scotties and Brier.

There’s no immediate word on potential hub city locations or timing. A Curling Canada spokesman says the federation is still working on a number of different options and hopes to announce something soon.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 9, 2020.