The Curling Group revises travel plans for the upcoming professional Rock League debut this spring. Instead of including European events as initially intended, the league will focus solely on North America for its inaugural six-week season starting in April. The decision, announced by Nic Sulsky, the CEO of The Curling Group, comes after facing venue availability challenges for the planned European stops.
The Rock League will introduce a multi-format competition with six global franchises, including team captains like Rachel Homan from Ottawa leading Canada 1 and Brad Jacobs from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., heading Canada 2. Despite the initial ambition to expand globally, logistical constraints have prompted the organization to prioritize North American venues for the league’s launch.
The full details for the Rock League’s first two seasons, encompassing locations, team names, dates, and rosters, are set to be disclosed in mid-December, according to Sulsky. Notable captains from various regions include Bruce Mouat from Scotland (Europe 1), Alina Paetz from Switzerland (Europe 2), Korey Dropkin from the U.S., and Chinami Yoshida from Japan representing Asia/Pacific. Each team will comprise five male and five female curlers.
The unveiling of Rock League information follows the Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials in Halifax from November 22-30 and precedes the HearingLife Tour Challenge in Saskatoon from December 16-21. Sulsky emphasized the significant impact the Rock League will have on the curling community, stressing the importance of team dynamics, particularly during an Olympic year.
The Grand Slam series, now in its second full season under The Curling Group ownership, has seen both successes and challenges. Additional events such as a wheelchair curling invitational, a military invitational, and more Tier-2 competitions have been incorporated into the circuit. Despite these enhancements, concerns persist regarding television ratings and attendance figures.
Recent Grand Slam events like the AMJ Masters finals and GSOC Tour Challenge finals have faced fluctuating viewership numbers, with some broadcasts experiencing lower-than-expected audience engagement. The scheduling overlap with significant sporting events like the U.S. Olympic team trials has also posed challenges for the Grand Slam series.
In a bid to enhance the fan experience, The Curling Group has launched the Rock Channel streaming service and introduced various invitational events. However, the organization continues to address issues related to TV ratings and event attendance. The Grand Slam season is set to culminate with the Players’ Championship in Steinbach, Manitoba, from January 6-11.
