LAS VEGAS – Curling fans from the most passionate to those who are curious to check out the sport in an exciting setting will get their first chance to buy tickets Friday, Feb. 1, for the 2014 World Financial Group Continental Cup at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

The four-day event pitting Team North America against Team World in a Ryder Cup-style competition will take place from Jan. 16-19. It will mark the first time that this event, sanctioned jointly by the Canadian Curling Association, World Curling Federation and U.S. Curling Association, will be held in the United States.

Early indications are that this will be one of the most anticipated events on the 2013-14 curling calendar, especially with the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, opening just three weeks later.

“The Canadian Curling Association (CCA) is really excited about the 2014 World Financial Group Continental Cup being hosted by Las Vegas,” said Greg Stremlaw, Chief Executive Officer of the CCA. “A lot of Canadians living in Western Canada love Las Vegas as a vacation destination year round. Taking that into consideration along with the fact that the largest concentration of curlers in the world is in Western Canada we are confident a few thousand Canadians are going to find their way to Las Vegas in January of 2014.”

Tickets go on sale at noon Pacific Time (4 p.m. AST) on Friday. During this first phase, fans will be able to purchase the traditional “Old Classic” package, which includes one ticket for the same seat during all 11 draws of the competition. The “Old Classic” is priced at $229 (all dollar figures US) and can be ordered online (www.curling.ca, www.worldcurling.org, www.curlingrocks.net) or by phone at 888-234-2334. Ticketing is being co-ordinated by the host committee in Las Vegas.

“Following on from the success of the 2013 World Financial Group Continental Cup, the stakes are high for the 2014 event in Las Vegas,” said World Curling Federation President Kate Caithness. “With this official launch of ticket sales, the World Curling Federation and its partners, the World Financial Group, the Canadian Curling Association and the U.S. Curling Association, extend an open invitation to curling fans, the world over — this is your chance to see some of our sport’s finest athletes in action and at the same time enjoy what Las Vegas has to offer. Come and be part of it!”

The host hotel is the Orleans Hotel and Casino, adjacent to the Orleans Arena and located just west of the famed Las Vegas Strip. The Orleans will offer five-night hotel/ticket packages starting at $663. Hotel/ticket packages must be ordered by phone at 800-675-3267.

USA Curling Chief Operating Officer Rick Patzke is excited to bring the Continental Cup to the U.S. for the first time.

“This will be world-class curling at its best,” said Patzke. “Add in the dazzle of Las Vegas and you have the makings of a double-check-off bucket list event. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

More than one million Canadians visited Las Vegas during the first nine months of 2012. Bringing one of the country’s favourite participation and spectator sports to the city is expected to attract big attendance.

Mini ticket packages and individual draw tickets will be available later this year.