The spotlight was on The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre this weekend thanks to the return of the Pinty’s All-Star Curling Skins Game.
TSN aired the three-day curling event live, attracting an average audience of 461,000 – a 40% increase compared to last year’s event. Audiences not only got to see The Fenlands at its best on live TV, but were also treated to spectacular scenery from around the Town of Banff and national park.
This is the second year in a row The Fenlands has hosted the country’s top curlers for TSN’s signature curling event. The most-watched draw was the women’s final, a showdown between the Olympic gold medal winning team of Jennifer Jones and Scotties Tournament of Hearts champions Team Rachel Homan. An average audience of 597,000 viewers watched the two powerhouse teams battle on Banff’s ice, with Team Homan taking the final, and $52,000 in prize money. For the men, 521,000 viewers watched Team Brad Jacobs defeated Team John Morris, winning $65,500 in prize money.
When not hosting world-class curling events, The Fenlands boasts four curling sheets, an NHL-sized hockey rink and a smaller hockey rink with spectator capacity of 550. The state of the art facility was completely renovated in November 2010.