Guelph expects 'huge economic impact' from hosting Grand Slam of Curling

The city of Guelph is hosting the 2025 World Financial Group Masters Grand Slam of Curling this week, and organizers say the six-day event will have a "huge economic impact" on the local economy.

The top 16 women's and top 16 men's curling teams worldwide are in competition at Guelph's Sleeman Centre between Jan. 14 to 19 for World Curling Federation points and a chance to curl at the Olympic Games.

"For the city of Guelph, it's approximately a $4-million economic impact right out of the gate," said Rob Mungham, co-chair of the Guelph Grand Slam host committee and vice-president of Guelph Curling.

"Twenty thousand unique visitors will come to the city of Guelph this week, which has larger impacts to the greater Wellington region with all hotels and restaurants. There's a huge economic impact to the immediate area, certainly with this event."

Rob Mungham, right, and Erin Cook of Guelph Curling are co-chairs of the committee that brought the Grand Slam of Curling to Guelph this week. They are seen beside the ice during warmups on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 just before the 8 a.m. games at the Sleeman Centre in Guelph, Ont. (Kate Bueckert/CBC)

Mungham said it was an "in-depth process" that took "about three years" to get to the stage of hosting the event.

"Guelph Curling really wanted to host this because we wanted to showcase what Guelph is really about, what Guelph Curling is about," he said.

"We also wanted to introduce information that curling is inclusive for everybody in our community. We really wanted to make sure that people understand that this is a safe space for everybody to come and it's welcoming and curling really is a friendly sport."

Erin Cook, Guelph Grand Slam host committee co-chair and communications chair of Guelph Curling, said some of the more widely known international players at the event include Niklas Edin from Sweden, American curler Korey Dropkin, Silvana Petra Tirinzoni from Switzerland and Bruce Mouat from Scotland.

Canadian favourites Brad Gushue, Rachel Homan, Kerri Einarson, Mike McEwen and Brad Jacobs are also competing at the event, Cook said.

"The Grand Slam also gets to invite two Ontario teams just to bring some local flair to it, so we've got John Epping and Danielle Inglis. So that kind of brings some of the local fans out to cheer for them."

Friends Wiley Ferris, left, and Clark Acheson, both of Dundalk, Ont., sit in the front row to watch curling action at the Grand Slam of Curling at the Sleeman Centre in Guelph, Ont., on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. Acheson is also a first-year University of Guelph student. (Kate Bueckert/CBC)

Among the local fans were Clark Acheson and his friend Wylie Ferris, both of whom were on hand to see the games on the first day.

Acheson said when he heard about the games coming to Guelph he told his parents he wanted tickets as his Christmas gift — to which they agreed.

"It's really cool," Acheson, a first-year student at University of Guelph, told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.

"I would never [have] thought I'd be able to get to see one of these, but last year I got to see a couple games at The Brier and that was really cool as well, and then to see it so close, it was really good."

Mungham said there are approximately 150 volunteers working at the event.

He said tickets are getting scarce as the weekend approaches, when the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship rounds will be played, but there are still some tickets available.

"If you haven't come and seen a live curling event, this is the time to do it. It's rare that it comes to our community, so please take advantage of it," Mungham said.