#3
Date sent: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 16:18:04 -0500
From: Jeff Timson
Subject: 2001 Canadian Curling Trials
Fans, sponsors flock to Canadian Curling Trials
November 20, 2001 There will be a house full of fans and sponsors
when the upcoming Canadian Curling Trials take place December 1-9 at
the Agridome in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Ten of the best Canadian men's and women's curling teams will take to
the ice, trying to earn the right to represent their country at the
2002 Olympic Winter Games in Utah. There, curling will once again be
an official medal sport, as it was for the first time in 1998 in
Japan, when the Sandra Schmirler team won gold, the Mike Harris team,
silver for Canada.
The local corporate sponsorship program, comprising gold, silver,
bronze, friends and media supporter packages, has sold out. In
addition, there are two diamond sponsors for the Trials, Monsanto
Canada Inc. and Casino Regina. Then, there's the presenting
sponsor, Canada Life. In total, over 60 companies have committed to
the Trials, generating close to $900,000 in corporate support.
Not only have local marketing initiatives been very successful, the
Agridome is close to a sellout, with 6,195 seats for each draw and 22
draws scheduled (excluding tiebreakers). There are still some
tickets left for several draws, though and standing room will also be
available.
Add to that four television associate sponsors, Best Western Hotels,
Ford Motor Company of Canada Ltd., Karcher and Labatt Breweries and
the ingredients are set for a tremendously well-supported and much
anticipated curling competition. The Trials are expected to attract
large audiences on both TSN and CBC.
TSN will carry all round robin games plus the two semi-finals on
Friday, December 7, close to 60 hours of live coverage. RDS in
Quebec will carry selected draws as well. CBC-TV will televise the
women's final Saturday, December 8 and the men's final Sunday,
December 9, with both games starting at 12:30 pm CT (1:30 pm ET).
-30-
Jeff Timson
Media Director, St. Clair Group
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