The Rock League schedule update planned by the Curling Group for Wednesday has been postponed, marking another setback in the developmental phase of the emerging professional curling league.
Initially announced in December, the five-event Rock League schedule included stops in Moose Jaw, Sask. (Jan. 7-10), Halifax (Jan. 14-17), Utica, N.Y. (Jan. 28-31), and Ottawa (Feb. 4-7), with the playoffs and championship set for April 8-18 at an undisclosed venue.
However, one of the showcase venues listed on the schedule, Halifax’s Scotiabank Centre, does not have any Rock League event bookings. The arena, which hosted the Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials last year, stated that they have not confirmed any Rock League event.
In response to queries about the discrepancy, Jennifer Cram, the communications director of The Curling Group, mentioned that all location and ticket details for Rock League 2027 will be announced publicly on September 16. Cram later informed via text message that a news release was scheduled for the following day.
The delay in the schedule update was attributed to a request from a partner for an additional day, according to Nic Sulsky, the CEO of The Curling Group. Some Rock League dates currently overlap with various provincial championships and national playdowns in other countries.
The Curling Group, which acquired the Grand Slam of Curling series in 2024, made last-minute adjustments to the Rock League schedule before its inaugural season last spring. Initially planned as a six-week international campaign, the season was eventually condensed into a weeklong competition in St. Paul, Minn., before being relocated to Toronto.
Rock League was initially met with enthusiasm from curlers aiming to elevate the sport to a professional level, drawing interest from major national and international broadcasters. The upcoming season will be crucial in determining the league’s reception in a sport deeply rooted in tradition.
Despite attracting several top domestic and international curlers last season, including those forming new franchises with altered rules and scoring systems, some high-profile Canadian curlers withdrew just before the competition began. The event at Mattamy Athletic Centre faced production challenges initially and struggled with low attendance throughout.
While marketed as a professional league, The Curling Group has not disclosed individual athlete earnings or attendance figures. Concerns loom over the upcoming Grand Slam season, which has been condensed into a two-month period this fall without a title sponsor for the series except for the Co-op Invitational in Victoria from Oct. 13-18.
Events like the GSOC Masters in Medicine Hat, Alta., GSOC National in Sydney, N.S., GSOC Open in Thunder Bay, Ont., and GSOC Players’ Cup in Kingston, Ont., are scheduled under the GSOC branding, with minimal event sponsors secured.
