World Financial Group Continental Cup headed to London, Ont., in 2018

Curling’s biggest names will be headed to London, Ont., next year for the 2018 edition of the World Financial Group Continental Cup.

The Sports Centre at Western Fair District in London, Ont., will play host to the 2018 World Financial Group Continental Cup. (Photo, courtesy Tourism London)

Curling’s version of the Ryder Cup is returning to Canada for the first time since the 2015 event at Calgary, and should offer fans in attendance from Jan. 11-14 at The Sports Centre at Western Fair District an advance look at many of the teams that will be competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea.

“Having been a part of many past successful events in my hometown of London, I’m very excited to see our city get another chance to host an elite Season of Champions event,” said Peter Inch, Chair of Curling Canada’s Board of Governors. “The World Financial Group Continental Cup gives fans a wonderful opportunity to see the world’s best men’s and women’s players in one exciting event under one roof, and I know London is going to put on a great show for the players and fans alike.”

The WFG Continental Cup is a four-day event that pits Team North America against Team World in three forms of competition: traditional team games, mixed doubles and skins games. There are point values assigned to each match, with a total of 60 points available, meaning the first side to hit 30.5 points wins the WFG Continental Cup.

“I am absolutely thrilled to announce that we will be bringing the Continental Cup back to Canada,” said Taylor Stavenjord, Marketing Manager for World Financial Group Canada. “It is an honour to bring home the sport Canadians love so much and I sincerely look forward to cheering with fellow curling fans in London, Ontario.”

Each side has three men’s and three women’s teams; the winning side receives $52,000 Cdn ($2,000 per member, including captain and coach), while the losing side gets $26,000 ($1,000 per member, including captain and coach). As well, the side that generates the highest points total from the six skins games will receive an additional $13,000 ($500 per player, plus captain and coach).

Another major curling event is headed to London, Ont. (Photo, courtesy Tourism London)

The Sports Centre, which is part of the Western Fair District complex, is an Olympic-size arena with seating for around 1,500. It’s the home rink for the London Nationals of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. It sits adjacent to three other NHL-size ice surfaces.

Also part of the Western Fair District is The Raceway, offering standardbred horse racing from October to May, a casino and a Yuk Yuk’s comedy club.

“We are so excited to welcome back some of the best curlers in the world for the 2018 Continental Cup in London,” said London Mayor Matt Brown. “This will be a huge event for our downtown and for curling fans across the region. This is one more opportunity for us to demonstrate that we are a sports city.”

“It is always an honour when our city can host prestigious events and welcome premier level athletes from around the world to London,” added London-Fanshawe MPP Teresa Armstrong. “Events such as this raise the profile of our city as a destination for athletes and spectators alike. This tournament will be a welcome addition to our community’s reputation for hosting successful high-profile sporting events. The benefit to our community and local economy will be strongly felt, and I know our city will take great pride in being a welcoming host.”

Team North America will feature Canada’s Winter Olympics-bound men’s and women’s teams, which will be decided at the 2017 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings Dec. 2-10 in Ottawa.

The other two Canadian teams will be the winners of the 2017 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, which begins Saturday in St. Catharines, Ont., and the 2017 Tim Hortons Brier, March 4-12 in St. John’s, while USA Curling will add a men’s and women’s entry to Team North America at a later date.

Captains and coaches for both Team North America and Team World will be announced later this year; the teams that will comprise Team World will be determined in consultation with Team World’s coach and captain.

“The Ontario Curling Association values the opportunity to host Curling Canada events in Ontario,” said Stephen Chenier, Executive Director of the Ontario Curling Association. “The past successes of London as a host city of major curling championships make certain that the 2018 World Financial Group Continental Cup will be an event to attend for sure.”

It will be the 14th edition of the World Financial Group Continental Cup, with Team North America currently on a streak of winning five straight, including the 2017 event last month in Las Vegas.

North America has won the Cup in 2002 in Regina, 2004 and 2007 in Medicine Hat, Alta., 2011 in St. Albert, Alta., 2013 in Penticton, B.C., 2014 in Las Vegas, 2015 in Calgary and back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017 in Las Vegas. Team World emerged victorious in 2003 in Thunder Bay, Ont., 2006 in Chilliwack, B.C., 2008 in Camrose, Alta., and 2012 in Langley, B.C.

London is no stranger to major curling champions. Most recently, the city played host to the 2011 Tim Hortons Brier. Prior to that, London hosted the 2006 Scotties Tournament of Hearts; both events took place at the downtown Budweiser Gardens (formerly the John Labatt Centre)

Also, the old London Gardens hosted the 1974 Macdonald Brier and  Thompson Arena on the Campus of Western University hosted the 1981 Air Canada Silver Broom world men’s championship.

“We were ecstatic to get the call from Curling Canada telling us that we had earned the right to host the 2018 World Financial Group Continental Cup,” said Ted Smith, Vice-Chair of the London Host Committee. “The Western Fair District is really a wonderful facility, and I know our city will be going all out to put on a terrific show for the world’s best curlers and the fans who will be packing the arena.”

“We are thrilled to be hosting the World Financial Group Continental Cup here in London in 2018!” added Cheryl Finn, Director, Sport Tourism for Tourism London. “London is a prime location to host this exciting event and we couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to be able to work with Curling Canada again.”

TSN, Canada’s leading sports network, along with French language sports network RDS, will televise all of the action from London.