CALGARY, October 12, 2007... Calgary has been awarded the 2009 Tim Hortons Brier, it was announced today by the Canadian Curling Association (CCA).

The 80th edition of the Canadian men's curling championship will be held March 7-15, 2009 at the Pengrowth Saddledome. It will mark the sixth time that the city has hosted the event. Calgary will join Toronto as the only cities to have staged the Brier at least six times, since it began in 1927. It will be the 12th time the Brier has been held in Alberta, the latest being 2005 in Edmonton.

It was also confirmed that Tim Hortons, the largest quick service restaurant chain in Canada, has renewed its title sponsorship of the Brier through 2010. As well, the new three-year agreement includes sponsorship of the 2009 Tim Hortons Canadian Curling Trials (site and date to be announced), which will determine Canada's representatives for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

"The Canadian Curling Association is excited to have its premier championship returning to Calgary to enjoy the spirit of Alberta,' said CCA Board member Bernadette McIntyre. "The curling venue is terrific and a stampede atmosphere in the Brier Patch will be enjoyed by all. It's also tremendously gratifying to know that Tim Hortons has enjoyed the involvement in our sport enough to renew its sponsorship of the Brier and the Trials for the next three years. It's an excellent Canadian company to be associated with and we certainly appreciate their support."

Calgary last hosted the Brier in 2002, attracting 245,296 fans, the third highest in Brier history. The city also staged the 1997 Brier, setting an attendance record, at the time, of 223,322, in addition to the 1948, 1961 and 1980 Briers. In 2009, Calgary will hold the unique distinction of having staged a Brier for the event's four title sponsors over the years...Macdonald Tobacco (1927-79), Labatt (1980-2000), Nokia (2001-2004) and, since 2005, Tim Hortons.

"Tim Hortons has been a long-time supporter of curling in Canada for over 12 years," said Bill Moir, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Tim Hortons. "The sport of curling, similar to the Tim Hortons brand, has a unique Canadian identity and community appeal and we are both proud and excited to be a part of this world-class event."

"I am very pleased that the Brier is returning to Calgary and the Pengrowth Saddledome in 2009," said Host Committee Chairman Ian Henderson, who held a similar post for the very successful 2002 event. "It will be our first Tim Hortons Brier and we are looking forward to putting that special Calgary stamp on what is one of Canada's premier sporting events. Our city has experienced significant growth since the last Brier here in 2002 and our challenge is to catch the spirit of Calgary and grow the Brier as well, building on the successes in 1997 and 2002."

Tickets for the 2009 Tim Hortons Brier, which is being presented once again by Monsanto Canada, are expected to go on sale in February of 2008. The Keith's Brier Patch and Purple Heart Lounge will be located in the adjacent, refurbished Big Four Building.

The Brier began in 1927 in Toronto and has been played in 31 different cities across Canada, from Victoria to St. John's. Manitoba has won a record 26 Briers, while Alberta is next with 22. New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Yukon/Northwest Territories have yet to win.

The Brier competition involves 10 provinces plus teams representing Northern Ontario and Yukon/Northwest Territories playing a round robin, leading to the Page Playoff system involving the top four teams. The first and second place teams meet in the Page 1 vs 2 game, with the winner advancing to the final while the loser goes to the semi-final. The third and fourth place teams meet in the Page 3 vs 4 game, with the winner advancing to the semi-final while the loser is eliminated.

The Brier attendance record is 281,985, set by Edmonton in 2005 at the first Tim Hortons Brier, which eclipsed the former mark of 248,793 established in 2000 in Saskatoon.

The 2009 Tim Hortons Brier will also be the first time that TSN will officially provide exclusive coverage of the championship, from the round robin, through the Page Playoffs, semi-final and final.

Since 1980, when the first Labatt Brier was held in Calgary and a playoff format was introduced, 18 of 28 Brier winners have gone on to win the world men's curling championship. The latest was Ontario's Glenn Howard, who won the 2007 Tim Hortons Brier in Hamilton and the Ford world men's curling championship in Edmonton.

The winner of the 2009 Tim Hortons Brier will then represent Canada at the Ford world men's curling championship in Moncton, New Brunswick, April 4-12. Other 2009 events confirmed to date are the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, February 21-March 1 in Victoria, British Columbia and the world women's curling championship, March 21-29 in Gangneung, Korea.

Meanwhile, the 2008 Tim Hortons Brier will be held at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, March 8-16, with the winner then representing Canada at the world men's championship in Grand Forks, North Dakota, April 5-13.

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