Scotties Tournament of Heart returning to Moose Jaw Mosaic Place to host 2020 women’s national curling championship

The Scotties Tournament of Hearts is coming back to Moose Jaw

Only four years after last hosting the national women’s curling championship in 2015, the Canadian Curling Association announced on Thursday, Oct. 25th that the 2020 edition of the tournament will be taking place at Mosaic Place, running Feb. 14 to 23.

“This is so exciting, I could hardly sleep last night waiting to share the news with everyone,” said CurlSask executive director Ashley Howard. “I know that feeling will go across the province to many other athletes, ‘just how cool would that be to be the home team for Team Saskatchewan at a Scotties in 2020’. It’s going to be pretty neat for those four girls in 2020.”

A host of curling dignitaries from throughout the country were on hand for the announcement at the Great Western Lounge in Mosaic Place on Thursday morning, and the sense of excitement was palpable.

“I’ve known for about a month since (Curling Canada CEO) Katherine (Henderson) called me and it’s been a whirlwind, with so much to do,” said bid co-chairperson Kevin deDelley, who worked alongside Joe Gunnis in putting the successful package together. “We’re looking forward to it, we’re going to have a great team of volunteers here; we’ve touched base with a lot of them already and they’re quite willing. This is going to be great for our city.”

There’s little question the success of the Scotties in 2015 played a large part in the quick turnaround and return of the tournament. That event drew over 70,000 fans and proved to be a universal money-maker, bringing in an estimated $6 million dollars to the community. “You go where you know it’s going to work,” said Resby Coutts, past chairman of board of governors of Curling Canada. “And while there are always more remarkable bids, you have to choose between very good bids and more and more we’re focusing on the business model and proven by previous success; it’s just the right thing to do.”

Mosaic Place is also a major reason. Having the curling facility and lounge directly attached to the hockey arena carries the added benefit of keeping the main curling and, um, ‘ancillary’ activities all centralized under one roof.

“It’s just such a great asset,” Coutts said. “The opportunity to be indoors, you have this wonderful curling facility that has to be the envy of communities across the country; this lounge we’re in right now is attached to a spectacular arena... not to have to go outside even if you’re going to the hospitality facility (Heartstop Lounge). Other communities do a great job with a five-minute bus ride. But when you don’t have to go outside, you might have an inclination to say and completely enjoy the event.”

All in all, Moose Jaw itself – the city as a whole – was the final selling point. “I think what set Moose Jaw apart was the great facility, first of all, and the people here and the support of the people behind it shows that it can be really successful, based on past history,” Howard said. “Moose Jaw did everything right. They had a memorable facility, great support from the community and sponsors and really put on a show for our athletes and our fans.”

Moose Jaw deputy mayor Dawn Luhning was part of the unanimous city council decision to support the project when it first came forward on June 25, but even she was surprised to see things work out so well so fast.

“We knew it had to be put together pretty quickly, which is why we met quickly to discuss it, but when I saw the announce- ment I was like ‘oh, it’s already happening’ and I’m just excited to see that we got it for 2020,” Luhning said. “We did it in 2015 and it was received very well, we had lots of people come through here and enjoy the city and I’m thinking that set us apart.”

The financial benefits of hosting a Scotties can be exceptional for a community – the estimated $6 million brought in to Moose Jaw in 2015 could swell to $12 million this time around. “Curling is a huge sport all over the country and when you get the Scotties, you see all those people coming to Moose Jaw,” Luhning said. “So, our hotels and restaurants are going to benefit, obviously, our stores and local retail shops. It’s a huge economic spinoff.”

And it’s an event where planning has already started, even though it’s well over a year away.

“It’s just an amazing event to be involved in and when you see the effort people put into it, we have our work cut out for us... but everyone has pitched in because they know how great and how important this event is going to be,” DeDelley said.