IN THE NEWS By Terry L. Kolesar, Editor,
terry.kolesar@usacurl.org
version of the Ryder Cup had been staged outside of Canada — attracting an event-record 51,215 throughout four days at the Orleans Arena. “T e real payoff of the calculated risk that so many diverse parties got
Continental Cup returns to Las Vegas in 2016 C
urling’s unique event is returning to the Entertainment Capital of the World. T e World Financial Group Continental Cup set an attendance record in 2014 in Las Vegas — the fi rst time curling’s
behind in 2014 was that curling won,” said Rick Patzke, interim chief ex- ecutive offi cer of USA Curling. “T at is why feathered boas and blue suede shoes will again grace the pebbled ice, and we are pleased to be a part of this epic event.” T e 2016 renewal of the event, which is a partnership between the Reno-
Tahoe Winter Games Coalition, USA Curling and the Canadian Curling Association (CCA) – and part of the CCA’s Season of Champions – will run Jan. 14-17, 2016, at the same facility, which is attached to the Orleans Hotel and Casino. “Aſt er what took place in 2014 in Las Vegas, we knew we had to bring this
event back as soon as possible,” said Greg Stremlaw, CCA chief executive offi cer. “It was a gamble that paid off , thanks to the combination of a won- derful facility, our amazing Canadian curling fans who packed the arena, and the hard work of the Reno-Tahoe Winter Games Coalition (RTWGC), which was one of the driving forces behind bringing the event to Las Vegas in the fi rst place, and making it so successful.” T e 2016 World Financial Group (WFG) Continental Cup will return to
the format that was used for the fi rst 10 editions, meaning four Canadian teams (two men’s, two women’s) will be joined by two U.S. teams (one of each gender) to form Team North America and take on Team World. (T e 2015 event took place in January in Calgary and featured Team Canada ver- sus Team World – the fi rst time a U.S. team was not included in the event.) T e Continental Cup is a unique competition featuring a variety of curl-
ing disciplines over a four-day period — traditional team games, mixed doubles, singles, skins and mixed skins, with each segment worth a speci- fi ed number of points. Each side also will have a captain and a coach. Team North America prevailed in 2014 in Las Vegas, giving the host
side a 6-4 advantage over the fi rst 10 editions of the World Financial Group Continental Cup since the event’s inception in 2002 in Regina. T e 2016 edition will also mark the sixth year of title sponsorship by World Financial Group. T e U.S. teams will be announced by USA Curling leading up to the
event, while the composition of the World Team also will be announced later. Curling fans are once again responding in unprecedented numbers to
the return of the World Financial Group Continental Cup to Las Vegas. T ousands of event tickets at the Orleans Arena, and more than 1,000
spectator rooms have already been purchased by fans eager to come back, as well as plenty of fans who missed out on those historic, record-setting four days in 2014. For the 2014 event, rooms at the Orleans sold out four months in advance.
T is time around, that could happen aſt er just a few short weeks of on sale. With a total of 1,230 rooms per night secured for spectators – 200 more
than for 2014 – the Orleans has little more than those 200 additional rooms remaining for the fi ve night Hit & Stay package, at the rate of US$999.
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usacurl.org )) “We are both thrilled and amazed,” said Jon Killoran, event manager.
“Our 2014 post-event survey among attendees indicated a strong interest in coming back for another curling event and the initial 2016 sales numbers are incredible. If fans desire the convenience of the Orleans “all-inclusive” experience they should hurry hard to purchase their Hit & Stay packages while they last at this lowest price. In the small picture, 200 rooms isn’t a lot.”
T ere is a possibility that the Orleans could release a limited number of
additional rooms for spectators at a future date, but there would likely be a slight increase in the package prices for any such additions. While available rooms are becoming scarce at the Orleans, plans are
underway to announce additional Hit & Stay options, as well as preferred room rates at other nearby properties. In the meantime, plenty of prime tickets remain in the arena for fans to
choose from. ■
Alternate Reality By Matt Gamboa
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