Photo by: Jalen Marlowe
[EDEN PRAIRIE, MN, November 11, 2026] — Competitors from across the country are in Irving, TX, this week for the USA Curling Men’s & Women’s Arena Club National Championships, an event that is open to those who play on skating ice that is temporarily converted for curling. This year’s event is particularly notable—not only will the curlers be in Texas to compete, they’ll be celebrating the members of the newly opened Dallas-Fort Worth Curling Club. After years of hard work, they have made the transition from playing at late hours in a hockey rink to having a 30,000 square foot dedicated ice curling club they can call their own.
On the ice, twelve men’s teams and twelve women’s teams that have qualified through a regional playdown process will all be aiming for national titles. Teams will be divided into pools of six, with the top three in each group advancing to a playoff round.
The five-day championship caps a remarkable few months for the Dallas-Fort Worth Curling Club. After weathering construction delays, the club opened for its first bonspiel over Halloween weekend, followed that with an event for curlers with five years of experience or less in the sport, and will now host its first national championship event just three weeks after its official opening.
Not only has the club had a busy schedule of curling, their opening weekend celebration took a terrible turn when intruders broke in just 30 minutes after the facility had been locked up. Surveillance cameras showed the thieves stealing tools and electronics, scattering food and equipment, and raiding the bar and kitchen. A police investigation has led to the arrest of one suspect, but the stolen items have not been recovered.
“We are so proud of the perseverance and resilience of these Texas curlers,” said USA Curling CEO Dean Gemmell. “When new facilities are built for our sport, it’s generally because of an incredibly dedicated group of people that raises money, does the planning, and often comes together to do the actual construction. As a result of all that, Irving now has an amazing community resource that will welcome anyone who is interested in the sport, while also bringing countless visitors to the area.”
The defending women’s champions will be in the field at the Arena Club Nationals, but the men’s competition is wide open. The team from Dallas-Fort Worth, the defending champions, declined the berth since they no longer play and practice on converted skating ice. That team will do what curlers do well—be great hosts all who have traveled to Irving.
"Hosting this national championship at our new facility is so exciting," said Dallas-Fort Worth Curling Club President Brigitte Minucci. "Being able to offer curling in the right environment, here in Texas, illustrates how the game is growing across the country, and I’m so proud of our team that has made it happen."
"I always that our members who play in hockey arenas are our most dedicated because of all they have to go through to get on the ice,” Gemmell added. “Last year we were at a brand-new facility in Las Vegas, so being in Irving at this club continues the tradition of celebrating the journey to a dedicated ice facility that serves the community."
Spectators are encouraged to attend throughout the week as teams compete in round-robin play starting on Wednesday, November 11th at 3 PM, with full sessions of play continuing until the medal games on Sunday, November 15th at 1 PM. More information about the event, including team rosters, full schedules, and update scores, is available on the USA Curling website. For a full preview of the teams in the event and a take on their chances, visit Stones & Stripes.
About USA Curling
Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA Curling is the National Governing body for the Olympic sport of curling and the Paralympic sport of wheelchair curling in the United States. The mission of USA Curling is to grow, strengthen, and advocate for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of curling in the United States by prioritizing accessibility and programmatic development from grassroots to podium. USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, the Dale’s family of beers, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Ice, Sports & Solar (ISS), Rock Solid Productions, Jet Ice, and Laurie Artiss. USA Curling is a proud member of World Curling and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. To learn more, visit usacurling.org.
