We are less than a month away from the world watching as Moose Jaw hosts the BKT Tires World Men’s Curling Championship.
The festivities will run from March 29 to April 6 at the Moose Jaw Events Centre, with 13 teams from around the globe being represented.
Mayor James Murdock feels that this world-class event will be a huge boon for the city.
“Financially, I think it’s just going to be great for the community. I’m not privy to what reports say the financial amount will be, but we know it’s in the millions,” he said.
Moose Jaw is no stranger to holding major curling events. The city hosted the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in 2015 and 2020, and the 2023 and 2024 Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championships.
Murdock said none of these events would be possible without the support of the city’s strong volunteer base.
“Financially, I think it’s just going to be great for the community. I’m not privy to what reports say the financial amount will be, but we know it’s in the millions,” he said.
He said the Moose Jaw Events Centre is another reason why the city is able to host events like this.
The facility’s location downtown makes it easily accessible, and having the Moose Jaw Curling Centre as a lounge makes it a one-stop shop for fans.
“Really, the teams and the fans as a whole don’t have to leave the facility once they arrive. There’s that close proximity to everything,” commented Murdock.
Murdock believes it will be a busy time for local shops and boutiques, the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa, and Moose Jaw’s tourism sector, including the Tunnels of Moose Jaw, the Western Development Museum, the Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery, and much more.
As for hotels, he expects there will be no rooms available.
“That’s having to spin off into Regina now for accommodations. They are even going to have a bit of a financial reward because of Moose Jaw hosting this,” Murdock said.
To welcome the teams, the city plans to fly the flags of all 13 nations competing over downtown starting in mid-March.
Tickets for the event are still available and can be purchased here.