If you are like me, going to an event means taking your bank card and making some purchases at the merch area.
Going to Calgary and stopping by the Scotties Tournament of Hearts is no different than going to a concert, the likelihood of walking out with a pin, keychain, coffee cup or in the case of curlers, a broom, a slider or shoes is not out of the question! For the Tournament of Champions 2024 it appears that Curl Canada and their partners in merchandise are prepared!
The Scotties Tournament of Hearts is being held at the WinSport Event Centre at Canada Olympic Park, Calgary. The whole area has definitely grown since the 1988 Winter Games, when Eddie the Eagle was launching himself off the ski jump. Now families can learn to ski, go tubing, use the half pipe, watch or play hockey and of course it is home to the ICE HOUSE! For reference sake, the Ice House is where training takes place for luge and bobsleigh. The main arena where the Scotties is being held is a perfect venue giving fans an intimate experience with the teams. Fans that are anchored to the event can enjoy a break in the Patch! The Original 16 Patch offers a place to socialize, have a refreshment and something to eat. Listen to curlers talk about their game, family and well, just about anything! The hot stove Q & A is a fan favourite. Try your hand at such games as Jenga, shuffleboard, cornhole and don’t forget to get selfies with mascots and other curlers from across Canada.
Back to the merchandise. The Scotties’ selection is fantastic and I hope it spills over to the Montana’s Brier. Love curling, then you will be scooping up pins, stickers, scarves, toques, hoodies and crewnecks. The designs of the Original 16 Patch t-shirts are great. My souvenir is the above shirt! “SOCIABLE” will be heard throughout the Patch on a regular basis as the Scotties wraps and the Brier begins! If you are second or third tier in spending dollars, you’ll absolutely LOVE the jewelry. Two and 3 – D necklaces and bracelets are nicely fashioned accessories along with earrings, bottle stops, paper weights, socks, water bottles. You guessed correctly, I love merchandise! But I also have spending limits!
I will add, you might notice a familiar face at the Montana’s Brier Goldline Merchandise till. Olympic and Brier champion, Ryan Fry and his wife Jess are there to share stories. Ya never know, you might just get a gander at the 2014 Sochi Olympic Gold Medal. The Brad Jacobs skipped Team Canada rink included Ryan Fry and brothers E.J. & Ryan Harnden. Their success is well documented.
The sport of curling is so family and fan friendly, even if you don’t know anything about the game, you are bound to have a great time. The Scotties wraps up this weekend in Calgary. And within days the Brandt Centre and the Viterra International Trade Centre will be filled with the calls of RIGHT OFF and HURRY! Don’t miss the action.
