EVELETH - Since opening in 1998, the eight-sheet Curl Mesabi venue at Range Recreation Civic Center has become known as one of the best curling facilities in America.

In December, the 25,000 square-foot facility will gain an even larger profile.

Curling Night in America, a made-for-TV international curling event, will be filmed Dec. 3-5 at Curl Mesabi.

Nine two-hour television programs filmed at the competition will air on national television in January and February.

"It's a huge deal for the area," said Phill Drobnick of Eveleth, USA Curling national coach. "With it being on national TV and with us being the host community, we will get a lot of national exposure. Beyond curling, viewers will be able to see what else we have to offer up here such as skiing, snowmobiling, fishing, and the United States Hockey Hall of Fame."

Curling Night in America, produced by World Curling TV, is in its second year.

Last year, six segments of Curling Night in America were filmed in Blaine, Minnesota. The program had about two million viewers.

"It's a made-for-TV event produced in partnership with our organization and the World Curling Federation," said Rick Patzke, USA Curling chief executive officer. "The program does a great job in promoting the sport and featuring the area where it's filmed."

Men's and women's teams from four competing nations, totaling 40 athletes, will participate.

Included will be a mixed doubles competition that will be a new discipline in the 2018 Olympics in South Korea.

The U.S. will be represented on the men's side by John Shuster (Duluth, Minn.), Tyler George (Duluth, Minn.), Matt Hamilton (McFarland, Wis.), and John Landsteiner (Duluth, Minn.) The women's team will feature Jamie Sinclair (Blaine, Minn.), Becca Hamilton (McFarland, Wis.), Tabitha Peterson (Eagan, Minn.), and Jenna Haag (Milwaukee, Wis.). The mixed doubles team for the U.S. will be reigning national champions Sarah Anderson (Broomall, Pa.) and Korey Dropkin (Southborough, Mass.).

Patzke says he expects good crowds will attend to watch some of the best curlers in the world.

"The desire for us is to showcase the sport," said Patzke. "We would love to have as many people come as can. But it's less about attendance than exposure. It's an asset for us as far as potential sponsors and for our athletes to play against the best in the world."

Drobnick says members of the Curl Mesabi met and then contacted USA Curling with hopes of landing the event.

Curl Mesabi is composed of 300 curlers from the former Eveleth, Gilbert and Virginia curling clubs.

One of the most prestigious events ever held at the facility was the 2007 World Junior Curling Championships.

However, television exposure gained from Curling Night in America is expected to boost the facility's reputation even more.

"I believe we have the best curling facility in the country and this is a great chance to show it off," said Drobnick. "It will be a big undertaking that will take a lot of volunteers to help with transportation, food setup and other needs, so we will be reaching out to local groups such as the Elks, Rotary and Lions clubs to help fill-in."

Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board is supporting the event through its Film Production Incentive Program.

Pictured above: Phill Drobnick, USA Curling national coach, is looking forward to the Curl Mesabi curling club hosting Curling Night in America at Range Recreation Civic Center in Eveleth.