Registered: Mar 2005
Location: St. Albert
Posts: 839

Many may not yet have read the upcoming article in TCN or TCN Digital. Once you do, please come here and comment. I have a few thoughts but no time right now. Interested to get everyone's impression.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2005
Location: the Banana Belt
Posts: 990

is there a link to the article for those of us that don't get the Curling News and don't subscribe online?

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2002
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 4002

quote:

---

Originally posted by dugless_zone 13
is there a link to the article for those of us that don't get the Curling News and don't subscribe online?

---

__________________
CurlingZone
Everything...Curling!

Please click on our sponsors' banners periodically, as visiting their sites helps keep CurlingZone.com Free!

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2011
Location: Quesnel
Posts: 420

Last time I subscribed to a curling news type magazine it went broke without refunds.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2011
Location: Quesnel
Posts: 420

Don't need to read then. Too bad.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2014
Location: Joliet, IL
Posts: 629

quote:

---

Originally posted by fresca
the articles about greg and warren were glowing - written by their mothers about 6 months ago. nothing new in them ..

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by alex
Don't need to read then. Too bad.

---

__________________
Recreational curler & resident armchair curler at Windy City Curling Club.

Co-host of the NerdCurl podcast & occasional blogger.

http://www.nerdcurl.com

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2015
Location:
Posts: 960

quote:

---

Originally posted by Phil_D
The article in question was written by Warren Hansen. It's not about him.

Specifically, it's about the Scotties/Brier, and the trouble he sees looming on the horizon for these events.

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2014
Location: Joliet, IL
Posts: 629

quote:

---

Originally posted by HotRocks


any specific points..seems he saw the issues after leaving??

---

__________________
Recreational curler & resident armchair curler at Windy City Curling Club.

Co-host of the NerdCurl podcast & occasional blogger.

http://www.nerdcurl.com

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2668

He talks about the impact of the Grand Slams on the Brier and Scotties, the inclusion of all the provinces & territories and how after all that work, Nunuvut doesn't really want to be there. And of course how the pursuit of Olympic gold has made an impact. The gap between the Elites and wannabes is growing larger.

After seeing Nunuvut at the Mixed, I too wonder if it was the right decision.

Warren promises to provide a solution in the next issue of the Curling News.

__________________
Well Behaved Women Don't Make History.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2004
Location:
Posts: 485

That's right folks: Warren Hansen, a former columnist for Canadian Curling News, has returned as a columnist in The Curling News over 30 years later! His column gets the cover treatment in the December issue and is a fascinating read. And as he promises, there is more to come this season.

Our digital edition also launches one of his past columns, from 1981, in which he describes curling as joining "the space age" and takes a run at folks who didn't agree with his coaching certification stance at the time. Amazing stuff, don't miss it.

Thanks to fresca for subscribing in the past; we appreciate your support and hope you renew your subscription again.

Thanks to curlerbroad and Phil_D for their subscriptions; you honour us with your patronage. You're also allowing us to continue publishing TCN and you are supporting the struggling curling industry, such as it is. Extra thanks to Phil_D for declining to reveal more of Warren's column in this (free) forum.

alex... you must mean the Ontario Curling Report, for there are very, very few subscription-based curling publications around anymore. If not, you're referring to something that must have died over a decade ago.

The Curling News is the last remaining independent curling publication IN THE WORLD... and as we're coming up to our 60th season, we're not going anywhere. Please consider supporting us as we remain standing faithfully at our post.

Thanks to Gerry for suggesting that curling fans could "and should" subscribe to The Curling News. A tip of the hat to you, sir...

Subscribe to The Curling News here!

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2005
Location: .
Posts: 1844

quote:

---

Originally posted by Posada
That's right folks: Warren Hansen, a former columnist for Canadian Curling News, has returned as a columnist in The Curling News over 30 years later!

Subscribe to The Curling News here!

---

__________________
Guest

Last edited by Guest on 12-04-15 at 09:45AM

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2002
Location: McFarland, Wisconsin
Posts: 90

I just subscribed!

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2014
Location:
Posts: 538

I just finished reading it. First of all, as has been stated elsewhere, Mr. Hanson was "The Man In the Chair" (or as he put it "The Powers that Be") when these developments took place.

Anyway, whether you like the idea of Nunavut competing in the Brier, the thought that a Brier might take place without a province with lots of travelling fans was something that a few of us mentioned quite a while ago. Why would fans buy a week's worth of tickets for a Brier/Scotties only to see their team getting back onto the plane just when they're arriving?

As for 18 teams-first of all, as I recall, the purpose of Team Canada was to increase the exposure of WOMEN'S curling-period. Guess what folks? I think that Team Canada has accomplished its goal-maybe it's time to say "Thanks and enjoy your retirement".

TV Ratings are the biggest issue-the fact of the matter is that TSN covers curling during the Brier/Scotties with more depth (including some "Twofers") that a curling fan (on a tight financial budget and economic uncertainty) might consider just booking some vacation days and staying at home. You see more on TV anyway-not to mention the commentary. Same goes for the Tour on Sportsnet. I don't know how many curling fans in Toronto knew about it, but the pro tour had a stop at High Park and Mississauga in October, featuring nearly all the top rinks-and free admission.

For decades, curling complained about not being recognized as a "Real" sport-then Mr. Martin came up with the equivalent of the "PGA Tour" of the ice, followed by the long-desired Olympic status; as the saying goes "Be careful what you wish for".

The city of Toronto has lost The Terrace, Avonlea and Humber Highland-each with 16 sheets, as well as the Boulevard Club (8 sheets) with nobody really doing too much yelling. We hear about curling making inroads into the U.S.-something we've all wanted to see-there's even a dedicated curling club in New Zealand, but when was the last time a new curling club was built in Canada?

Take a look at the demographics of big cities like Toronto. Young families can't afford to buy property anywhere near the "416" area code-and frankly "905" is getting dangerously pricy.

Sorry Warren-don't you dare try to come off as the "White Knight" now-nobody's buying.

There's my two cents-and most of them have been submitted before-fire away.

__________________
Jim

Last edited by Jimbobogie on 12-05-15 at 09:10PM

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2004
Location:
Posts: 485

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jimbobogie
<snip>
The city of Toronto has lost The Terrace, Avonlea and Humber Highland-each with 16 sheets, as well as the Boulevard Club (8 sheets) with nobody really doing too much yelling. We hear about curling making inroads into the U.S.-something we've all wanted to see-there's even a dedicated curling club in New Zealand, but when was the last time a new curling club was built in Canada?
<snip>

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2004
Location:
Posts: 485

quote:

---

Originally posted by hit-n-roll
I just subscribed!

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2002
Location:
Posts: 222

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jimbobogie


The city of Toronto has lost The Terrace, Avonlea and Humber Highland-each with 16 sheets, as well as the Boulevard Club (8 sheets) with nobody really doing too much yelling. We hear about curling making inroads into the U.S.-something we've all wanted to see-there's even a dedicated curling club in New Zealand, but when was the last time a new curling club was built in Canada?

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2004
Location:
Posts: 485

quote:

---

Originally posted by Guest
Will columnist Warren reply to questions from subscribers, in his column?

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2004
Location:
Posts: 485

He's back...

Warren Hansen provides a possible solution to what he claims is the disaster awaiting Curling Canada's flagship STOH and Brier competitions... only in the January 2016 issue of The Curling News.

The expanded and enhanced DIGITAL edition can be viewed from our website – for subscribers only (log-in required).

Click here to subscribe!

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2005
Location: St. Albert
Posts: 839

I've read it.

Very interested on everyone's thoughts once they've read the article. I have a few I'll share soon (or in a future article on CWM or TCN).

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2005
Location: .
Posts: 1844

Re: Hansen in the January 2016 issue

quote:

---

Originally posted by Posada
He's back...

Warren Hansen provides a possible solution to what he claims is the disaster awaiting Curling Canada's flagship STOH and Brier competitions ...

---

__________________
Guest

Last edited by Guest on 01-14-16 at 10:03PM

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2005
Location: .
Posts: 1844

quote:

---

Originally posted by fresca
the chance of me being interested in hansens opinion is between nil and slim

---

__________________
Guest

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2005
Location: St. Albert
Posts: 839

Warren's comments on "fixing" the Brier and Scotties have merits, but also fit in the category of confusing to my mother. She's 69 and the average age of curling fans, so I'm not certain Warren's plan eliminates the problem (popularity of the event) he perceives to be created by inequality of competition. I disagree with his belief that traditional (ie. older) fans won't watch un-equal teams from provinces, and I'm not certain that adding more elite level teams will draw younger fans. His ideas might create a deeper competition, but I'm not certain it will bring back people to the arena.

His belief that a Team Canada is necessary for marketing; I've always been opposed to that logic (especially for the Brier). Not certain Team Canada will draw fans into the seats, but perhaps Curling Canada has studied this and has numbers to back up the decision.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2005
Location: St. Albert
Posts: 839

Something to consider about the Brier is it actually presents other teams than fans are used to seeing during the 4, 5, or 7 Slams, the Skins, Canada Cups, Trials and Continental whatevers.

I've often wondered if Curling could suffer from fatigue of teams if there are too few at the top and fans grow tired of seeing the same faces every week. Though there is an argument to be made against that concern when one team becomes dominant it can actually bring in more viewers (Tiger, Spieth, Golden State Warriors, Homan, etc). The problem is more likely created by too much to watch (and travel to attend).

Golf, and more-so Tennis, can have this issue when there are so many events throughout a season, and fans have limited time to pay attention, which ones are going to matter? In Tennis, it's the Grand Slams (or really Wimbledon and US Open, with Australian and French lesser events for viewers in North America). In golf, 4 majors, a Fed Ex cup (maybe), the Players, and the Ryder Cup. The second tier events have some life (Arnie's Bay Hill tournament, Jack's Memorial, etc), but I sense they are waning with the more casual golf fans.

The Brier and Scotties need to stand out, and they still do. The play of second (and third) tier teams from other parts of Canada gives it something different. Warren is suggesting they're on their way down and his changes will make them more relevant. I'm not so sure they would have that result.

Last edited by milobloom on 01-17-16 at 11:42AM

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2004
Location:
Posts: 485

A few readers of The Curling News have expressed their thoughts on Hansen's STOH/Brier columns as well... and one of them, a rebuttal, has been approved for publication in the upcoming March (Brier) issue...

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Sep 2013
Location: YYC
Posts: 30

quote:

---

Originally posted by milobloom
Something to consider about the Brier is it actually presents other teams than fans are used to seeing during the 4, 5, or 7 Slams, the Skins, Canada Cups, Trials and Continental whatevers.

I've often wondered if Curling could suffer from fatigue of teams if there are too few at the top and fans grow tired of seeing the same faces every week. Though there is an argument to be made against that concern when one team becomes dominant it can actually bring in more viewers (Tiger, Spieth, Golden State Warriors, Homan, etc). The problem is more likely created by too much to watch (and travel to attend).

Golf, and more-so Tennis, can have this issue when there are so many events throughout a season, and fans have limited time to pay attention, which ones are going to matter? In Tennis, it's the Grand Slams (or really Wimbledon and US Open, with Australian and French lesser events for viewers in North America). In golf, 4 majors, a Fed Ex cup (maybe), the Players, and the Ryder Cup. The second tier events have some life (Arnie's Bay Hill tournament, Jack's Memorial, etc), but I sense they are waning with the more casual golf fans.

The Brier and Scotties need to stand out, and they still do. The play of second (and third) tier teams from other parts of Canada gives it something different. Warren is suggesting they're on their way down and his changes will make them more relevant. I'm not so sure they would have that result.

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged