2015 Brier, in Calgary

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by InglewoodFan

I've always enjoyed watching curling, but don't follow it terribly closely outside the Brier etc. One thing that struck me about Team Canada in the late round robin and playoff rounds is that they seemed very tense with each other. Especially Morrison and Simmonds. They often communicated poorly and their body language looked like they weren't getting along too well. Is this a case of the team being thrown together at the last minute or just friction between two "win at all costs" personalities?

The very same could be said for Team Jacobs as well, they are mostly all family tough so the team dynamic is a bit different there. Morris and Simmonds are opposites on the ice and Simmonds seems as if he is ignoring Morris a lot of the time. The brodcasters (Howard) mentioned this last night, he basically said that Morris talks a lot and Simmonds has to filter out we he needs to hear from all that Morris says. Prior to Morris joining them (when Koe was the skip) it looked even worse though, Koe and Simmonds are so much the same, there was no balance, no personality at all.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Arsenal14

I think the future of the Brier is going to look a lot more like the Grand Slam events where the live attendance is quite low, the venues are often smaller, and the TV revenue drives everything. I doubt Calgary will host again in the Saddledome (or the hockey arena that replaces it). Next time it comes it will probably be at Winsport or the Corral.

While watching some of the Brier I was actually wondering if Winsport could host the event. It is a great facility but I think the ~3,000 seating capacity would be inadequate. For smaller curling events it would probably be sufficient.

[Arsenal14]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

While watching some of the Brier I was actually wondering if Winsport could host the event. It is a great facility but I think the ~3,000 seating capacity would be inadequate. For smaller curling events it would probably be sufficient.

They hosted the Continental Cup there in January but I was thinking it was more like 10,000 seats. You're right though, 3000 is too small and the Corral is only 6475 seated and also a bit too small (they hosted the tour championships a few years back).

Next Brier is in the TD Place Arena in Ottawa which is a 10,000 seat venue which is probably the sweet spot for now.