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Visit Ogden, Weber County officials hail World Curling event and local economic boost
Summary
Visit Ogden and Weber County officials told the Ogden City Council that the recent World Curling championship drew international coverage, local volunteers and nearly 10,000 tickets sold, and said the event produced about $1.7 million in direct economic impact and helped fund facility renovations.
Sarah Tolliver, a representative of Visit Ogden, told the Ogden City Council on May 19 that hosting the World Curling championship was a major community effort that generated substantial local benefits.
Tolliver said the event relied on broad partnerships — including Weber County Culture, Parks and Recreation, the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation and local sponsors — and credited more than 250 volunteers who covered roughly 750 shifts, totaling about 4,500 volunteer hours. She reported that organizers sold “just under 10,000 tickets,” secured about 1,700 room nights for teams and staff, and estimated the economic impact to the community at about $1,700,000.
Marty Smith, director of Weber County Culture, Parks and Recreation, described the logistical work: building a single-event ticketing platform, coordinating hospitality and feeding athletes and volunteers twice daily, and running an all-digital ticket system. Assistant director Todd Ferreiro said in-house caterers and conference-center staff handled the volume, running meals up to the ice-sheet venue.
Presenters listed major sponsors and underwriting support, including a $150,000 contribution from the Utah Sports Commission and participation from the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, Weber County and Visit Ogden. Organizers also highlighted broad media reach: World Curling TV and Eurosports broadcast to multiple countries and China Central Television carried coverage into China.
The presentation noted community outreach efforts that brought curling to more than 45 classrooms and 1,200 students during spring break, downtown “community dressing” and partner-created videos aimed at increasing local attendance. Speakers said those efforts, plus international broadcast exposure, helped sell tickets and introduce the sport to local residents.
Council members and staff praised the partners and volunteers. The council additionally heard that the city and county received a state grant of $3.8 million for renovations to the ice-sheet facility; speakers described completed upgrades including new video boards, a sound system, renovated team rooms and dehumidification and filtration improvements.
Organizers framed the event as a one-time international spotlight with possible future returns: World Curling staff told them they “can’t wait to come back,” and local partners said the event highlighted Ogden’s capacity to host world-class competitions.
The council received the presentation; no formal action on event funding was taken at the meeting.
