The sport of curling (yes, it’s a sport) is getting its first professional league.
What happened: Toronto-based startup The Curling Group (TGC) plans to launch the Rock League next year, with six mixed-gender teams — two from Canada, two from Europe, one from the U.S., and one from Asia-Pacific — going head-to-head in a six-week season.
- Top players are already on board, including Olympic gold medalist Brad Jacobs and reigning women’s world champion skip Rachel Homan, who will each captain a Canadian team.
Catch-up: TGC is on a mission to update curling for the modern age. Last year, it purchased Grand Slam of Curling tournaments from Sportsnet and has introduced new events like a “battle of the sexes” match, an all-star weekend, and, uhhhh, the Grand Slam of Karaoke.
- That event sees curlers convene with fans to belt out tunes after Grand Slam matches are done. Here’s a clip of Homan performing the R&B classic No Diggity.
Why it matters: There’s no such thing as a full-time curler, and even the world’s best stone-throwers have day jobs. The Rock League presents a chance to professionalize the sport to a new level, and even bring it to an audience outside of its core Canadian fanbase.
Bottom line: As demand for sports content skyrockets, and new leagues from pickleball to women’s soccer nab broadcasting deals, maybe curling can be the next hit.—QH