Attendance figures for the 2010 Brier in Halifax are expected to be around 120,000, much lower than the 158,414 that the Metro Centre drew in 2003.

(In case you're wondering, Edmonton set the record in 2005, drawing 281,985)

Organizers are blaming the Olympics and curling fatigue as the main reasons for the drop off.

"At the end of the day, a lot of people had the choice, 'do I go to the Olympics, or do I go to the Brier,'" Hugh Avery, co-chair of the host committee, said.

Halifax has also hosted three major curling events in the past seven years, the Brier in 2003 and 2010, and the Olympic trials in 2005.

"We knew the numbers weren't going to be as succesful. Halifax is sort of getting used to it. In 2003, there was an eight-year span between big events, so people [were more interested] because we hadn't had an event in a long time," Avery said.

The Olympic buzz certainly died down after Kevin Martin's autograph session on the opening weekend. Avery said it might have helped the walk-up crowds, but most of the fans were the hardcore curling faithful.

There were a few younger faces in the crowd, more towards the end of the week, but the changing of the guard in terms of fan support hasn't happened yet.

But, according to the Canadian Curling Association, enrollment is up among all age groups.

Organizers of the Halifax Brier also made a concerted effort to reach out to school children, offering free tickets to 5,000 kids (along with half-price vouchers for their parents), and introducing curling content into the school curriculum.

But perhaps curling's biggest weapon when it comes to attracting younger fans has been the success of the sport's young stars.

Brad Jacobs, the 24-year-old skip from Northern Ontario, proved the power of youth and that curling is no longer dominated by the grey-hair types.

All-star teams have Ontario flavour

It should come as no surprise that Ontario's undefeated Glenn Howard rink placed all of its members on the two all-star teams.

Three-quarters of the 1st team all-stars were from Ontario -- second Brent Laing, third Richard Hart, and skip Howard -- Alberta lead Nolan Thiessen broke up the Coldwater sweep.

The 2nd team all-stars were lead Craig Savill of Ontario, second Carter Rycroft of Alberta, third E.J. Harnden of Northern Ontario, and skip Brad Gushue of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Nova Scotia skip Ian Fitzner-LeBlanc won the Ross G.L. Harstone sportsmanship award, chosen by the players.

Monsanto draws criticism

One of the Brier's top sponsors biotechnology-giant Monsanto is drawing the ire of environmental and farming groups in Nova Scotia.

Monsanto holds patents on certain types of genetically-engineered seeds, popular for their ability to survive blanket spraying of pesticides.

The company has repeatedly gone after family farmers for violating its patent regulations, resulting in criticism from consumer and agriculture groups around the world.

"We are saddened that the great Brier championship is now associated with this relentlessly controversial company," said Maria MacLeod of the Halifax-based Ecology Action Centre.

With curling being so popular in prairie farming communites, it's somewhat surprising that there hasn't been a bigger backlash against the Monsanto sponsorship, which has gone on without incident for the past six Briers.

But environmental groups are trying to draw more attention to the issue.

"Curling is being used to soften the image of a company that takes farmers in Canada to court for alleged patent infringement, for saving seeds," said Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator of the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network.

For its part, Monsanto said the Brier sponsorship is a way of supporting the sport of curling. "It's a way to give back to rural communities," spokesperson Trish Jordan said.

The Canadian Curling Association has said it has no plans to drop its deal with Monsanto, and that this controversy seems to go on every year.