North Bay is going to bid to host the 2018 Ford World Women’s Curling Championships. Canada is the host country during even years and right now the world championship is going on in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Spokesman Rick Miller says eastern cities will have a slight advantage in two years because the women’s championship usually alternates between east and west.
The event would bring one thousand people from the 13 countries involved including Team Canada to North Bay. That doesn’t include spectators who follow the sport or media. In terms of economic benefit, North Bay could see about $8 million injected into the city during the event.
North Bay has to file a letter of intent by March 31st and once it submits its bid, the decision on the host city comes down August 30th. One condition it has to meet is guarantee it has 800 hotel rooms, something Miller has been told it has. The games would be played from the Memorial Gardens. And TSN would broadcast those games daily and provide 45 hours of live coverage during the one week event.