March 3-12, 2023
Tim Horton's Brier
Budweiser Gardens, 99 Dundas St., London, Ontario
Schedule: Friday March 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Draws start at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Saturday, March 4
Sunday to Thursday at 9:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m.
Friday at 8:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m.
Page Playoff Saturday at 1:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m.
Semifinal Sunday at 12:00 p.m.
Final Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
All Times local
Tickets and Passes:
Single Tickets: $23.00-$47.50 per draw
Youth (under 18) March 3-9: Free with paying adult
Youth (under 18) March 10-12: $13
Playoffs and Semi Final: $47.50
Final: $60.00
Full Event Passes: $485
Premium Full Event: $520-$550
Opening Weekend Mini Pack: $120-$150
Championship Weekend Mini Pack: $235-$260
Day Packs: $69
The Tim Hortons Brier is probably the truest of any Canadian sporting championship. Fifteen teams, representing each of Curling Canada’s 14 Member Associations as well as the defending champion Team Canada, compete for the Brier Tankard, the refurbished silver trophy that was presented to the winners of the Brier during Macdonald Tobacco’s 50-year sponsorship. The trophy was re-introduced in 2001 in Ottawa at the first Nokia Brier, when the famed Labatt Brier Tankard was retired after the 2000 Brier in Saskatoon.
The Canadian men’s curling championship began in 1927 in Toronto and has been contested each year since, with the exception of the war years (1943, 1944 and 1945). After being held in Toronto from 1927-1939, the Brier went ‘national’ in 1940, staged in Winnipeg. It has been held in every province at least once and in 31 cities from coast-to-coast.
Manitoba has won a leading 27 Briers, the last by skip Jeff Stoughton in 2011 in London Alberta is next with 26 victories. Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and the three Territories have yet to win.
Thousands of curlers attempt to qualify each year for the Brier through zone, district and eventually provincial championships, the latter taking place from late January through mid-February. The Brier format was altered for the 2015 championship in Calgary, allowing for the first time the inclusion of the defending champion team — known as Team Canada, following the format used by the Scotties Tournament of Hearts — and giving each of the three Territories the right to enter separate teams. Prior to 2014, the Northwest Territories and Yukon Territory combined for a single team, while Nunavut did not have access to the championship. The change meant, for the first time, players from every Member Association in Canada had equitable access to the Brier. The traditional 12-team round robin is preceded by a four-team pre-qualifying round to determine the 12th and final entry into the main round robin.
The round robin concludes on Friday morning. The playoff format is the Page System, whereby, after any tiebreakers are required to determine the first four teams, the first- and second-place teams meet in one playoff game, while the third-and-fourth place teams meet in another game.
The winner of the 1 vs. 2 match goes directly to Sunday’s final. The loser meets the winner of 3 vs. 4 in the semifinal for the right to compete in the championship final. The semifinal loser plays the 3 vs. 4 loser for the bronze medal.
The Original 16 Patch
RBC Place, 300 York Street
It’s the perfect match – curling fans across the country share one driving passion… a pure and simple love to party! During the nine days of the Tim Horton's Brier, the Patch is where it will all come together. The Original 16 Patch, championship curling’s legendary party place, is where fans are guaranteed a rockin’ good time, highlighted by a nightly lineup of live entertainment, and fuelled by a tasty selection of food and beverages. You’ll have a number of opportunities to meet with the athletes at daily Team Autograph sessions and Up Close and Personal interviews. And, you could be the hottest shot in the Patch just by registering for the Cool Shots competition. The best part is, admission comes free with every same-day event pass.
The Original 16 Patch is championship curling’s legendary party place! Fans are guaranteed a rockin’ good time, highlighted by a nightly lineup of live entertainment, and fuelled by a tasty selection of food and beverages.You’ll have a number of opportunities to meet with the athletes at daily Team Autograph sessions and Up Close and Personal interviews.
Hours:
Friday, Mar. 3: 9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Saturday, Mar. 4: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Sunday, Mar. 5: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Monday, Mar. 6: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Tuesday, Mar. 7: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Wednesday, Mar. 8: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Thursday, Mar. 9: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Friday, Mar. 10: 12:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Saturday, Mar. 11: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Sunday, Mar. 12: 11:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
