Interest in Curling Surges in Pittsburgh Area During Olympics

The Pittsburgh Curling Club sees a spike in new members every Winter Olympics as the sport captivates global audiences.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Curling has long been a niche sport, but the Winter Olympics always bring a surge of interest to the Pittsburgh Curling Club. The club, located in McKees Rocks, sees a spike in new members and participation every four years as people become intrigued by the unique sport and want to try it out for themselves.

Why it matters

Curling is a sport that doesn't get much mainstream attention outside of the Olympics, so the quadrennial boost in interest is crucial for clubs like the one in Pittsburgh to grow their membership and keep the sport alive in local communities. The Olympics provide a rare spotlight for curling, and clubs leverage that attention to introduce new people to the sport.

The details

The Pittsburgh Curling Club hosts tournaments and leagues throughout the year, but the Winter Olympics always bring a noticeable increase in participation. Club member Dustin Devine says the Olympics spark curiosity in people who want to try the "weird-looking sport" for themselves. After trying it out, many new curlers get hooked. The club offers beginner-friendly learn to curl classes to accommodate the Olympic-fueled surge in interest.

  • The 2014 Winter Olympics is when Dustin Devine first got interested in curling.
  • The Pittsburgh Curling Club hosts tournaments and leagues throughout the year.

The players

Dustin Devine

A member of the Pittsburgh Curling Club who first got interested in the sport during the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Pittsburgh Curling Club

A curling club located in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania that sees a spike in new members and participation every Winter Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“Everyone's intrigued by it. It's a weird-looking sport. You're running on ice, you're bent over sweeping a giant rock that's sliding down the ice. It's like, there's nothing else in the Winter Olympics that's even close to it.”

— Dustin Devine, Pittsburgh Curling Club member (WPXI.com)

“Pretty much everybody in America that does, is we watch curling on the Olympics and we're like, I can do that.”

— Dustin Devine, Pittsburgh Curling Club member (WPXI.com)

“You make that first shot that actually, you know, you slide out and actually make that first shot, boom, you're hooked.”

— Dustin Devine, Pittsburgh Curling Club member (WPXI.com)

“So we're hoping that eventually changes. I know that the curling community and some of the curling organizations are trying to change that to make it more visible, you know, in mass to the country. But until then, whenever the four years come around, this Olympic time, we just really ramp up and get ready for that and get set to welcome another group of Olympians-at-heart.”

— Dustin Devine, Pittsburgh Curling Club member (WPXI.com)

What’s next

The Pittsburgh Curling Club offers beginner-friendly learn to curl classes and leagues throughout most of the year to accommodate the surge of new interest sparked by the Winter Olympics.

The takeaway

Curling may be a niche sport, but the quadrennial spotlight of the Winter Olympics provides a crucial opportunity for clubs like the one in Pittsburgh to grow their membership and introduce new people to the unique sport. The Olympics captivate global audiences and spark curiosity, leading many to seek out local curling clubs and give the "weird-looking sport" a try.