Red Deer to host 2028 Montana's Brier

I'm Lina Alsadi. Earlier today it was announced that the Montana's 2028 Brier Canada's Men's National Curling Championship will be here in Red Deer, Alberta at the Marchant Crane Centurion behind me. This is the 101st iteration of the event which will be in March 2028. Let's hear a bit about the announcement earlier today. So it's my privilege to announce that the 2028 Montana's Brier will be hosted right here in Red Deer. Here. I've been part of some of the championship bids in the past, so I do know first-hand the effort, the time, the commitment that it takes to put forward a bid and to put Red Deer forward and to present this winning bid for this Montana's Brier, and it's pretty obvious that it was the case here in Red Deer that they put together a fantastic bid. Alongside several curlers and some of the best in the country, fans will be filling up the local hotels, eating at local restaurants and spending, especially all during off-season. Now, the organizers of the tournament hope that while the spotlight is on Red Deer, it will bring a boost to the local economy. Montana's Brier is so much more than just a sporting event. It's one of Canada's most recognizable championships, attracting fans from across the country and drawing national attention for more than a week of competition. In 2028, Red Deer will have the opportunity to welcome over 20,000 visitors to our community. They'll stay in our hotels, enjoy our restaurants like this one, support our local businesses, and experience everything that makes Central Alberta such a special place to live. The impact of this event is significant, with estimates suggesting it could generate over $15 million in economic impact. Now Red Deer is no stranger to hosting different events like the Canadian Finals Rodeo as well as the Canada Winter Games and next year the IIHF World Junior Hockey Ice Championship which will be alongside Edmonton. And Red Deer has also been host to Curling Canada events in the past such as the Scotties Tournaments of Hearts in 2004 and 2012. So for those local curlers, they can't wait to see their local arena filled with... Players from, you know, the best teams in Canada, and it will definitely make a change for the future of the sport. As you may know, the last time Red Deer hosted this event was in 1994, and I was actually born here in Red Deer just a few days after that event concluded. So quite literally, I have been waiting my entire life for this moment. I hope this event inspires a new wave of curling fans, whether that means cheering from the stands or stepping onto the ice and throwing your first rock. Having the Briar here is a tremendous opportunity to introduce curling to a whole new wave of people. We already have a great curling community here in Central Alberta, and I like to think that this event can only make it stronger. Now, this event will run from February 25th to March 5th. The stadium here behind me will be able to host about 7,000 fans. Tickets as well as volunteer information is to come in the new year. Lina El-Assadi, CBC News, Red Deer.