An Alberta city that has consistently hosted world-class sporting events will welcome back the most famous national men’s curling championship in the world, it was announced today by Curling Canada.
The 2028 Montana’s Brier will be played Feb. 25-March 5 at the Marchant Crane Centrium in Red Deer, which last hosted the Canadian men’s curling championship in 1994.
“This is a great day for curling and for Red Deer, and I know Alberta curling fans will be eager to be a part of the 2028 Montana’s Brier in a city that loves and knows the sport and its athletes,” said Nolan Thiessen, Chief Executive Officer of Curling Canada. “The Red Deer committee submitted a tremendous bid, and I know the Organizing Committee will be working extremely hard over the next 15 months in preparation to welcome one of the most iconic men’s championships in Canadian sport and show their city off at its best.”
At the 1994 Brier, B.C.’s Team Rick Folk prevailed, and since then, the Marchant Crane Centrium has also played host to two editions of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts — in 2004, with Colleen Jones’s Team Canada claiming gold, and in 2012 when Alberta’s Team Heather Nedohin came out on top.
“The 2028 Montana’s Brier is an opportunity to build on Red Deer’s proud curling heritage, inspire the next generation of athletes, and welcome visitors from across the country to experience the best of Central Alberta,” said Red Deer Mayor Cindy Jefferies and Red Deer County Mayor Brent Ramsay. “This announcement is a testament to what we can achieve when our communities work together, creating meaningful economic opportunities for local businesses while showcasing our region on the national stage.”
The 2012 Scotties was actually Nedohin’s second major win in Red Deer; in 1996, she skipped Team Canada to women’s gold in the World Junior Championships, while Scotland’s Team James Dryburgh (featuring Curling Canada High Performance Director David Murdoch at lead) won the men’s gold.
As well, Red Deer played host to the 1986 Canadian Junior Men’s Championship, won by Manitoba’s Team Hugh McFadyen.
“Hosting the 2028 Montana’s Brier is another example of Alberta’s growing reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events,” said Andrew Boitchenko, Alberta’s Minister of Tourism and Sport. “These events bring significant economic benefits to our communities, support jobs and local businesses, and create opportunities to showcase Alberta.”
Montana’s BBQ & Bar has been the title sponsor of the Brier since 2024, and its Red Deer location is just a five-minute drive (or 15-minute walk) from the Marchant Crane Centrium.
“Montana’s is proud to be the title sponsor of the Montana’s Brier, and our commitment to Curling Canada goes well beyond putting our name on the event,” said Mark Sozanski, Chief Operating Officer for Montana’s BBQ & Bar. “We believe in the strength of this partnership and the role it plays in supporting a sport that is deeply connected to communities across Canada. Curling brings people together in a way few sports can, creating opportunities to connect fans, athletes, local businesses and communities from coast to coast. We’re grateful for the opportunity to play a part in that, and we look forward to continuing to grow our partnership and welcome the curling community to Red Deer in 2028.”
“One of the most rewarding parts of our partnership has been getting to know the curling community and experiencing its incredible passion firsthand,” added Dina Ricco, Head of Marketing for Montana’s BBQ & Bar. “We’ve shared unforgettable moments in rinks across the country and seen that same excitement carry into Montana’s restaurants, where fans come together to cheer, celebrate and connect over great BBQ. The loyalty of curling fans is truly special, and we’re thankful for how warmly they’ve welcomed Montana’s into their communities and traditions. For us, this partnership is about more than the Brier itself; it’s about the people, the memories and the sense of belonging that make curling so special. We’re excited to bring that spirit to Red Deer in 2028 and create even more moments worth celebrating together.”
Alberta has played host to the Canadian men’s curling championship on 16 previous occasions since the event’s inception in 1927, most recently in 2022 when Lethbridge welcomed the event. Calgary has hosted eight times, followed by Edmonton with six.
“It’s been too long since Red Deer has hosted a Brier, so there will be no shortage of energy and enthusiasm in a city that truly loves curling,” said Jill Groves, Executive Director of Curling Alberta. “The support from the local community, combined with a volunteer base that is already working hard, will make this a Montana’s Brier that will be remembered as one of the best in the event’s history.”
The team on top of the podium at the end of the 2028 Montana’s Brier in Red Deer will earn the right to wear the Maple Leaf a few weeks later at the 2028 World Men’s Championship (location to be announced by World Curling).
As well, the 2028 Montana’s Brier winner will return to the 2029 Montana’s Brier as the defending champion Team Canada.
“We are incredibly proud to welcome an event of this calibre to our community alongside our municipal partners, Hotels Red Deer, Westerner Park, Central Sport, and other community champions,” said Jesse Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Red Deer. “We are excited to invite curling enthusiasts from across the country to Red Deer in 2028 and are confident they will experience the warm hospitality, welcoming people, and exceptional experiences that Central Alberta is so well known for.”
The Marchant Crane Centrium, home to the Western Hockey League’s Red Deer Rebels, opened in 1991 and can accommodate around 7,000 fans, including standing room. Along with Edmonton, it will co-host this season’s World Junior Hockey Championship, beginning on Dec. 26.
The first entry into the 2028 Montana’s Brier will be declared on March 7 in Saskatoon, as the 2027 Montana’s Brier winner is decided that day, and will play as Team Canada in Red Deer.
Ticket and volunteer information will be released in the new year. Fans are encouraged to sign up on the Curling Canada Collective to receive updates.
“The Red Deer Curling Centre is proud to serve as the host and we are thrilled to welcome the Montana’s Brier back to Red Deer,” said Reg Radford, president of the Red Deer Curling Centre. “This is an incredible opportunity to bring Canada’s best men’s curlers to Central Alberta, introduce new people to the sport, and build excitement and interest in curling throughout the region. Red Deer has a long history of curling and a community of passionate fans and dedicated volunteers. We can’t wait to showcase that passion to the rest of Canada and help make the 2028 Montana’s Brier a tremendous success.”
The Brier has been played in 31 cities across Canada, from Victoria to St. John’s. Teams from, Alberta have won a leading 31 Brier titles, followed by Manitoba with 28. New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut have yet to win
