The next event on the Pinty's Grand Slam curling schedule will be in North Bay in October.
See: Solid sales numbers already for Pinty’s Grand Slam curling event
One of the Sportsnet commentators on the six-event series is former Brier, Olympic and World Curling champion Kevin Martin.
He told CKAT News that a Grand Slam event is highly competitive and that benefits everyone.
"For the players because they enjoy playing the best against the best. And for the fans too because it's so much fun to watch the best compete," he says.
Martin says you must be among the top 15 ranked teams in the world to qualify for a Pinty's. The event features eight-end games.
Martin says one of the cool things about a Pinty's is as part of your ticket you can walk in the pub they set up and watch the curling and have a beverage with one of the competitors.
"You're going to see a lot of the curlers go into the Pinty's Pub and you can talk to them. They're happy to have a chat with the fans," Martin says.
Event chair Mark Brown says the Ford Women's Worlds inspired the community as a whole and he hopes this event does too.
“When we saw the support of the citizens of North Bay coming out to watch that event, when we saw the financial support we received from the business community, it definitely inspired us to take on this no question,” said Brown.
The event will bring in the top 15 men’s and top 15 women’s teams to North Bay next October from the 22 to the 27.
