The Original 16 Patch: “Curling’s party place”

Canada has hosted world championships more often than any other country, and, with the BKT World Men’s Curling Championship 2025 now underway in Moose Jaw, another Canadian community is added to that proud list.

While these events have travelled coast-to-coast in Canada over the years, no matter where the competition ends up, there has always been one outstanding social feature for fans and everyone else involved: the legendary Original 16 Patch, also known as, “curling’s party place”.

The set up for the Patch in Moose Jaw looks set to be among the most legendary experiences so far. For a start, the location – under the same Temple Gardens Centre roof as the field of play – means that moving from arena spectator seats to the Patch is a matter of a couple of steps. Add in a nightly line-up of some of the best local bands for evening entertainment, daily ‘Up Close and Personal’ sessions with the players, an outstanding offer of food and beverages, as well as the camaraderie generated by what is always a friendly international curling crowd, and you’ve got a recipe for success.

Team Norway speaking on the ‘Up Close and Personal’ panel © World Curling / Jeffrey Au

No Patch without Stu Brown

While the Patch might be a constant feature of world championships held in Canada, so also is the Master of Ceremonies who runs the show and introduces the teams to the crowd at every draw – Canadian Stu Brown.

Stu started in his ‘emcee’ role at the 2003 world championships in Winnipeg, meaning he’s been entertaining the live crowds at every world championship held in Canada this century.

Since that start in Winnipeg, Stu has been learning on the job. He explained, “I knew nothing about curling.

“I had to sit down with people who knew about curling. Then I sat down with a bunch of old men, and you can learn a lot listening to the old men talking.”

Stu Brown presents to the Temple Gardens Centre crowd on day one © World Curling / Stephen Fisher

People make Curling special

More generally, he added, “It’s been a great journey, it’s been fun all the way round. That’s the best part about curling.”

He also said, “The best thing about this job is the people. Curling fans are a different breed of fan. They are courteous, they are friendly.

“I always say that you can bump into someone at a hockey game and the beer gets dropped, then that’s bad news. You do that at a curling event, you’re both apologising to each other, you’re buying each other a beer, you’re sitting down at a table and now you’re friends for life, and you’ll plan going to the next event together.

“That’s the best part of it all. That’s why I think curling is the best sport.”

When asked about what makes the Patch concept so special, Stu said, “The best thing about the Patch is… energy.

“The energy in the Patch is something different. During the day-time, it’s a family-friendly area and at night-time it becomes the Patch Bar.”

Stu Brown emcees a packed out Patch © World Curling / Jeffrey Au

All under one roof

Explaining further, he said, “It’s the biggest travelling bar in Canada. It’s a place where people can sit back and talk to friends, enjoy good music — and we always showcase local talent — have conversations with players… that’s the Patch.”

When he’s not hosting the curling crowd, Stu has another interesting job.

“I’m a National Whisky Consultant for the scotch whisky brand Johnny Walker. I was their first Canadian Ambassador. I do tastings and masterclasses across Canada.”

When asked about the Moose Jaw set-up, he said, “It’s ideal. When you have a Patch that’s attached to the arena, that’s the best.

“I think the local talent from Saskatchewan that we’ll have here is going to be the draw.”

The Patch full of curling fans on Saturday afternoon © World Curling / Jeffrey Au

Nothing like being here

After all his years of experience, Stu has one big message to give curling fans: “Come out and see it live. There’s a different energy when you see it live, rather than watching on TV.

“If you have a chance to come to an arena, especially when it’s packed like here in Moose Jaw, that energy is like lightning in a bottle — and that transfers over to the Patch.

“They come in with that attitude and that energy, and then you just feed off it, and you just bring it up.”

From day one of the Moose Jaw championship, the Patch has been packed and will soon be established as ‘the place to be’ in town.

With a full schedule of music and other entertainment, culminating with a performance just before Sunday’s medal games by the Asham Stompers — a high-energy jig and square dance group who bring fans to their feet everywhere they perform — the BKT World Men’s Curling Championship 2025 looks set to linger long in the memory not just for outstanding curling performances, but also for the experience and memories made at the Original 16 Patch.

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