Curling Canada’s new CEO faces challenges on the domestic scene as attendance concerns and performance woes plague the sport. The interim CEO, Danny Lamoureux, is currently holding the position until a new hire takes over next year. With major events experiencing declining attendance, fewer top-tier competitions scheduled, and Canadian teams slipping in international rankings, curling in the country is at a crucial crossroads.
The decline in interest can be attributed to the sport’s lack of appeal to the younger generation, who are accustomed to entertainment-driven productions and a sports world dominated by social media, engaging athlete personalities, and viral YouTube clips. While curling still garners decent ratings, the in-venue experience falls short.
Internationally, the competition remains fierce, with teams from other countries dominating world championships and the Olympics. Despite this, Canadian curling is going through a transition phase. Nolan Thiessen, Curling Canada’s executive director of marketing and fan experience, acknowledges the need for teams to adapt and improve outside of the traditional competition season. Winning medals requires dedicated training and hard work, even during the months when nobody’s watching.
Canadian teams have seen mixed results in recent competitions. Brad Gushue’s team won bronze at the Beijing Olympics, the sole Canadian podium appearance in curling. Kerri Einarson’s team secured bronze at the women’s worlds, while Canada missed the podium in other events. With only a handful of Canadian teams in the top rankings, it is evident that funding arrangements and centralization play a crucial role in international success. Many Canadian teams balance regular jobs alongside their curling commitments, making it challenging to compete with fully dedicated international teams.
To address the declining interest and performance, Curling Canada needs to foster more top-tier teams in the country. However, this presents a challenge due to the vast size of Canada and the limited resources available to support numerous teams. Despite the uphill battle, Canadian teams remain optimistic, viewing the challenges as exciting opportunities to improve and achieve success.
Curling Canada’s upcoming Season of Champions calendar has yet to announce potential replacements for dropped events such as the Canada Cup and Continental Cup. Notably, the PointsBet Invitational had disappointing attendance, and Grand Slam events have struggled to attract spectators, despite being held in smaller venues.
However, there is hope that attendance will pick up later this season with the national championships returning to provinces with strong curling roots. Calgary will host the women’s playdowns in February, while Regina will be the venue for the men’s championship in March.
In conclusion, the incoming CEO of Curling Canada will face a series of challenges. Attendance concerns, a decline in performance, and a lack of appeal to the younger generation plague the domestic curling scene. It is crucial to address these issues and foster the growth of top-tier teams in the country. Despite the tough competition from international teams, Canadian curlers remain determined to succeed. The upcoming national championships provide hope for increased attendance and a chance to showcase the sport’s enduring appeal within Canada’s rich curling tradition.
