Grand Slam of Curling's Canadian Beef Masters coming to North Bay

It’s official, the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling is coming to North Bay.

Sportsnet has announced the 2019/20 season schedule with the Canadian Beef Masters tour stop in North Bay October 22nd to 27th.

It will be the first major of the Grand Slam season and tickets are on sale (at noon).

At the local launch in January, event chair Mark Brown says they’re looking to mirror the success of last year’s World Women’s Curling Championship.

“We anticipate our attendance will be roughly the same as what we were able to achieve at the World Ladies. We’re trying to again set another record for this event that we did for the World Ladies,” he said.

Tourism North Bay chair Jake Lacourse said the local economy stands to benefit.

“They’re talking that it’s going to be about a two to three million dollar direct economic impact to the community, most of the money being spent inside the community will be things like hotel rooms, transportation and food,” he said at January’s local launch.

A total of 30 teams, 15 men’s and 15 women’s teams, will be taking part.

“Over the years, Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling has been instrumental in the continued growth of curling and the advancement of world-class athletes,” said Kevin Martin, 18-time Grand Slam of Curling champion and Sportsnet curling analyst. “Next season, the Grand Slam competition will reach new levels as the world’s best battle with higher stakes and larger purses – promising to deliver must-see action for curling fans coast-to-coast.”

2019-20 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Schedule

*Ticket information for the below events will be available online
– Canadian Beef Masters – North Bay, ON (Oct. 22-27, 2019 at North Bay Memorial Gardens)
– Tour Challenge – Pictou County, NS (Nov. 5-10, 2019 at Pictou County Wellness Centre)
– Boost National – Conception Bay South, NL (Dec. 10-15, 2019 at Conception Bay South Arena)
– Meridian Canadian Open – Yorkton, SK (Jan. 14-19, 2020 at Gallagher Centre)
– Players’ Championship – Toronto (April 7-12, 2020 at Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic Centre)
– Humpty’s Champions Cup – Location and Venue TBD (April 21-26, 2020)

“Since 2012, Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling has grown to become the destination series for the world’s best curlers,” said Rob Corte, Vice President, Sportsnet & NHL Productions. “As the demands of the curling season continue to grow, we want to ensure that the Grand Slam series remains accessible to elite curlers. Our new six-event format better accommodates the demanding travel and playing schedules of the world’s top curling teams.”

The total prize money of the Grand Slam series is $2.1 million, to be divided amongst the six events of the 2019-20 season.

Next season will also see the return of the Pinty’s Cup, a season-long race towards the combined $300,000 bonus pool.