New ticket packages available Friday for 2017 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings

The Trials race is heating up, and so is excitement over the opportunity to watch Canada’s best curling teams battle it out next December in Ottawa for the right to wear the Maple Leaf at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

The 2017 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings — the event that will decide Canada’s four-player teams for the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea — is scheduled for Dec. 2-10 at the Canadian Tire Centre, and based on the enthusiastic sales response to full-event ticket packages going on sale in December, the new packages on offer will be a hot commodity.

Here are the highlights of the new offers, which go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. ET:

Weekend Packs
• Championship Weekend Pack ($249): includes a single ticket to final seven draws on Dec. 8-10; plus tiebreakers (if necessary).
• Opening Weekend Pack ($119): includes a single ticket to first five draws on Dec. 2-3.

Day Packs
• Opening Day Pack ($59): Single ticket to first two draws on Dec. 2.
• Standard Day Pack ($69): Single ticket to three draws in one day. Purchase for Dec. 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7.

Meanwhile, there are still full-event packages available, but the prime seats are selling quickly.

• Full Event Package ($549): Same great seat in level 100 or 200 for all 24 draws plus any necessary tiebreakers
• Club Bell Premium Seat ($649): Exclusive access to the Club Bell premium seating area. Limited number of seats starting only nine rows from the ice at the home end. A ticket in Club Bell gives you access to dedicated bar service, an area to sit and relax between draws and private washrooms. *Only five “Luxe” seats are left.

All ticket packages are subject to standard facility and ticket service fees. Packages will be available at the Canadian Tire Centre box office, curling.ca/tickets or 1-877-788-FANS (3267)

The upcoming Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Feb 18-26 in St. Catharines, and Tim Hortons Brier, March 4-12 in St. John’s, could potentially decide two more entries into the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings. Should the Scotties and Brier winners also win medals at their respective world championships, they will qualify directly for the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings.

They’ll join already-qualified teams skipped by Ottawa’s own Rachel Homan, Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, Kevin Koe of Calgary and Reid Carruthers of Winnipeg.

Nine men’s and nine women’s teams will participate in the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings. By the conclusion of the 2016-17 season, seven men’s and seven women’s teams will be set for the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings, with the Canadian Team Ranking System determining those who haven’t qualified through the Home Hardware Canada Cup or the Tim Hortons Brier/Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

For the complete Trials qualifying process, go to: http://www.curling.ca/blog/2015/05/14/qualifying-process-for-2017-tim-hortons-roar-of-the-rings-unveiled/