What an amazing first weekend for the 2024 Montana’s Brier at the Brandt Centre in Regina. The crowds have been great, the the Brier patch has been rockin’, the food has been tasty, and the atmosphere within the Brandt Centre is contagious. For those who are not curling fans, one can’t help but get into the game thanks to the rest of the fans.
The forecast over the weekend was certainly not favourable for people wanting to travel in to Regina to watch the Montana’s Brier, but in true Saskatchewan spirit, it did not dampen the mood of die hard curling fans. Heavy snow on the roads? Blizzard like conditions? Not a problem for prairie people and curling obsessed people alike! Clearly the saying “where there’s a will there’s a way” applies to curling fans because the Brandt Centre was filled for the past weekend’s draws. They’re not just Saskatchewanians in the seats, either. I’ve seen several fans representing and cheering for both Alberta teams – proudly wearing their team’s shirts and ringing their noise makers. Contingents of fans from Manitoba, Northern Ontario, Quebec, and BC have all dotted the Brandt Centre with their flags, team shirts, vintage curling sweaters, and more.
In my experiences with curling fans I’ve noticed they’re a lot like baseball fans. They’re very relaxed, very social, and there for a good time. The encouraging part of everything is seeing the next generation of fans jumping on the curling bandwagon, not just as fans, but as competitive curlers too. The sport of curling is alive and well!
A shout out to all the volunteers as well. Without volunteers there probably wouldn’t be a Brier in Queen City because they’re the ones that keeps things running smoothly, answer any questions, and guide fans into the right places. One volunteer arrived all the way from France to help with the Brier!
“I was born in Saskatoon to French parents, moved back to France, started curling in my late 30’s in France and when I learned the Brier was coming to Regina on the year of my 50th birthday I thought I got to be there,” said Mat Chauveau, who hails from the Marseille region.
The Brier patch never disappoints either. Fans can watch the draws on the big screen TV’s, play a couple rounds of cornhole, or play a few rounds of mini-curling. At night, the patch comes alive with live music after the day’s curling draws wrap up. Yes, curling fans know how to rock and hopefully you, too, will hurry hard down to the Brandt Centre and take in some incredible curling action.
