JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - In 30 days, the 2016 USA Curling National Championships start at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena with plenty of offers and opportunities to see our country's best battle for the right to be called champion. The 8-day event begins on Feb. 6 with the opening ceremony at 2:30 p.m. followed by the first wave of women's matches (4:30 p.m.) and men's matches (8:30 p.m.). The competition concludes with the women's championship match on Friday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. The men's championship will start at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 13.
Tickets start at $10 for a daily pass, with a special rate for a week-long pass set at $66, available at the Tom Bush Family of Dealerships Box Office located at the Arena, all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone at (800) 745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
"We can't wait to host one of the most unique sporting events that has ever happened in Jacksonville," said Dave Herrell, Sports & Entertainment Officer. "For eight days, the Veterans Memorial Arena will be the venue for the national championship and an opportunity to showcase this increasingly popular international sport. It will be a privilege having these athletes in our community as they compete to represent the U.S. in the world championships and we are confident that Jacksonville will deliver an unforgettable experience."
Throughout the week, there are special offers for fans to come to the matches. On Sunday, Feb. 7, fans can enjoy the Super Bowl while taking in the curling championships with a $50 ticket that includes a full buffet with beer and wine while the game is shown on the scoreboard and all the televisions in the EverBank Arena Club.
Fans wanting to get the most unique experience of the event are encouraged to participate in the Community Curling Challenge. Teams of 10 can sign up for $1,000 that will enter them into the event on Saturday, Feb. 13, before the championship match. The tournament will start at 1p.m. and all participants get VIP access to the EverBank Arena Club area for the men's championship match that night.
One feature that will go throughout the event is the "Learn to Curl" zone - giving fans an opportunity to get on the ice and experience the sport by throwing stones and brushing the ice. "There is excitement brewing within the curling community for the National Championships in Jacksonville. We're looking forward to building our fan base in Florida and can't wait for the first stones of the championship to be thrown next month," said Rick Patzke, chief executive officer for the U.S. Curling Association, which is based in Stevens Point, Wis.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday features the business person special. For $15, fans get all-day admission to the event as well as their choice of a burger or hot dog, chips and a drink. There are also theme nights as well - Monday is Margaritaville Monday with $2 margaritas, Tuesday is Twofer Tuesday featuring Canadian beer, and Wednesday is Wine Down Wednesday.
The competition features the top eight women's and top 10 men's teams from across the USA, playing for the right to represent the country in the world championships. Each team will play each other in a round-robin format from Saturday through Wednesday. The top four teams qualify for the playoffs, with the any ties being broken in matches on Thursday morning. The unique Page Playoff system is used in the tournament play - with the #1 seed facing the #2 seed in the first match, with the winner advancing to the championship match. The #3 seed and #4 seed face off in the other first match of the playoff, with the winner advancing to the semifinals to face the loser of the #1 vs. #2 match. The women's semifinal is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 12, at 11 a.m., followed by the men's semifinal at 3 p.m.
