Brandon-born Mike McEwen coming home for Countdown to the Tim Hortons Brier Day

It’s an exciting time to be a curling fan in Brandon with the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier, presented by AGI, just over six weeks away, and that excitement level will be ramped up even further this week!

Wednesday will be Countdown to the Tim Hortons Brier Day in Brandon, a day in advance of all single-draw tickets, including tickets for the closing weekend playoff draws, going on sale.

Brandon-born Mike McEwen, who will be attempting to represent Manitoba at the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier, March 2-10 at Westoba Place, will be in town on Wednesday to interact with fans and media alike at the Keystone Centre.

From 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, McEwen will be at the Keystone Centre Box Office, where fans can take photos with him or get autographs, and they can also participate in a pre-sale for single-draw tickets, including playoffs, or pick up previously purchased ticket packages.

The Brier Tankard will be on display for photos, and fans can enjoy some Tim Hortons coffee and treats, and get some Tim Hortons Brier swag.

Later on Wednesday, from 1-2 p.m., the action will shift to the Skating Oval, located adjacent to the City of Brandon’s Community Services Complex (2020 McGregor Ave.), where media members are invited to participate in an outdoor curling event. Media folks can go head to head with McEwen, as well as Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest, Wheat Kings mascot Willie, local Tim Hortons store owners and members of the Tim Hortons Brier Host Committee.

Thursday at 10 a.m. CT, fans will have their chance to purchase all remaining single-draw tickets for the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier, including playoff tickets.

Tickets for games on the closing Friday games are priced at $35 apiece. Saturday Page Playoff games and Sunday’s semifinal are $39.50 each, while tickets for the Championship Final on Sunday are $49.50 each.

The new ticket offers are in addition to other single-draw tickets that went on sale back in November:

• Weekday Mornings (Monday to Wednesday): $22.50
• Weekday Afternoons (Monday to Wednesday) $27.50
• Sunday and Weekday Evenings (Monday to Wednesday): $32.25
• Championship Pool Afternoon (Thursday): $32.25
• Premium Opening Day (Saturday) and Championship Pool Evening (Thursday): $35

Other options include day packages starting at $59, the opening weekend package for $119, and the championship weekend package at $229. Full event packages are also still available.

All prices are per ticket, are subject to standard facility and ticket service fees, and are available at the Westoba Place Box Office, online at curling.ca/tickets or by calling 204-726-3555.

Brad Gushue’s powerhouse team from St. John’s will be in Brandon in pursuit of its third straight Tim Hortons Brier championship; only Randy Ferbey has ever pulled off a Brier three-peat.

Manitoba’s reps won’t be decided until the conclusion of the provincial men’s championship, Feb. 10 in Virden. But we already know Team Manitoba’s early round-robin schedule, as the home-province team will play in the opening draw on Saturday, March 2, and also will be featured in Draws 3 and 5 (both on Sunday), 7 (on Monday), 9 and 11 (both on Tuesday) and 13 (on Wednesday).

Once the preliminary round is complete and the top four teams from each pool move into the Championship Pool, the remainder of the schedule will be set.

After all of the provincial/territorial champions are set early next month, the seedings will be determined for the two eight-team pools — one of which will feature two-time defending champion Brad Gushue and his Team Canada foursome from St. John’s.

The pool allocations, and remainder of the early round-robin draw, will be announced the week of Feb. 12.

The Tim Hortons Brier Wild Card game will be played on Friday, March 1, at 7 p.m.

Not only will you be a part of the world’s most famous curling competition inside Westoba Place, you’ll also get to enjoy the world’s most famous curling party, the Patch — just a short covered walk away from the arena at the adjacent Manitoba Room at the Keystone Centre, where you can check out live music, have a meal and mingle with players and fellow fans from all over Canada.

Keep checking  www.curling.ca/2019brier for all event updates, ticket information, team announcements and the event schedule when it is set.

TSN/RDS2 will provide complete coverage of every draw at the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier.