Grand Slam of Curling series acquired by new sports business venture group
CBC
The Grand Slam of Curling, the tour elite series featuring the best men's and women's teams from across Canada and around the world, has been purchased by a new sports business venture group.
The Curling Group, led by chief operating officer Nic Sulsky, has purchased ownership and operations of the Grand Slam of Curling from Rogers Sportsnet. The network will continue to be the exclusive Canadian broadcast rights holder.
"Being able to continue this legacy alongside Sportsnet is paramount to what we're going to start trying to build together. It's vital for the curling community, both the athlete and the fan," Sulsky told CBC Sports.
"The Curling Group's intentions are true. We will give the fan and curler a level of trust that we are going to do this with the right spirit and motivation in mind. We have a love of the game and [both] the curlers and fans that have made the sport what it is today."
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The new venture has some big names attached to it, including two-time Olympic champion John Morris and Olympic champion Jennifer Jones, who is retiring at the end of this season from the four-person game.
Former NFL star Jared Allen is also part of the group. They will all be part of helping shape what the Slams look like moving forward.
"We want the growth of the game to be so successful. We want to be successful. I think the curlers are going to embrace this and be very excited about the opportunities," Jones said. "Our sport has so much potential and it's just so exciting to be a part of this and hopefully we can have a great impact."
Rob Corte, VP of production at Sportsnet, said staying on as the official broadcaster of the Grand Slam of Curling was a non-negotiable, adding it's been a key property to their programming plans for years.
"It's been a fantastic property for us and what we're really excited about is how the future is going to play out," Corte said. "Just to be clear, the Grand Slam of Curling wasn't for sale but over the last while through conversations with Nic, and his listening to his vision, we started to see what the future of the Grand Slam of Curling could be and it was something Sportsnet wanted to be part of.
"This partnership will help grow the sport while allowing Sportsnet to do what we do best – provide fans a world-class broadcast and the most in-depth curling coverage."
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Sulsky said the athlete's voice is going to be a critical piece in how they shape the Slams moving forward, that's why curling legends like Morris and Jones have been brought in from the beginning.
"We need to provide a platform for curlers to take their position alongside the rest of the international sporting elite because they belong there. They are an incredible, engaging, fun, funny group of folks. It's about time the spotlight shines on them," Sulsky said.
