2025 Skate America location/dates

[john3lutz]

Does anyone know where the 2025 Skate America will be held? I know it is usually the 3rd weekend in October. I am curious as to the location.

 

[Sylvia]

All we know right now is that it will be the first Grand Prix again and the dates. Maybe folks will hear something during Nationals in Wichita next week?

ISU Communication No. 2677 Decisions of the Council (December 2024):

Skate America, USA: October 17-19, 2025 Location TBA

2025 GP series dates/event order info was posted originally in the "ISU Provisional Allotments for 2024-2028" thread in GSD, here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...nts-for-2024-2028.109977/page-10#post-6703705

 

[apgold]

I'm hoping we get an announcement soon. 2024 SA was announced last April towards the end of the month and tickets went on sale in June.

For some reason, I feel it will be in Baltimore but maybe that is wishful thinking. It's only a 2.5 hour train ride from me.

I would also love SCOB but with Worlds just in Boston that's not happening. But I love that venue.

 

[Aceon6]

I would also love SCOB but with Worlds just in Boston that's not happening.

With the spotlight on US skating from the crash through Worlds, SkAm will need more than 2,500 seats this year. I’m thinking they might target a venue around 5,000 seats.

 

[Debbie S]

For some reason, I feel it will be in Baltimore but maybe that is wishful thinking.

Most likely wishful thinking. But I appreciate your wishfulness. The arena was renovated a couple years ago and had SOI in 2023 (I'm hoping they come back for the post-Oly tour).

I would love for SA to be 15 minutes or even a 2.5 hour train ride, but all indications are that I'll be flying somewhere.

 

[mattiecat13]

Take it with a grain (or more) of salt, but in Boston I heard possible SA locations of Lake Placid, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.

 

[Karen-W]

With the spotlight on US skating from the crash through Worlds, SkAm will need more than 2,500 seats this year. I’m thinking they might target a venue around 5,000 seats.

I'd say that the likely venue size is probably around what they've had with SkAm in Allen the past few years - that arena seats 6,275 for ice hockey. So, I'd guess anything in the 6-8k range is possible.

Here's a list of indoor arenas in the US - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_indoor_arenas_in_the_United_States

There's also this Wiki page that provides a list of all indoor ice hockey venues in the US by state - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Ice_hockey_venues_in_the_United_States_by_state

There are plenty of options for arenas in the country, so I suppose it just depends on which arenas/venues have availability the week scheduled for SkAm.

 

[Badams]

It should come to Buffalo, NY. I'm not sure why they haven't picked Buffalo in my lifetime, but I'd seriously appreciate it if they did.

 

[tlk]

Take it with a grain (or more) of salt, but in Boston I heard possible SA locations of Lake Placid, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.

Lake Placid? So the skaters will have to pick up the dead bugs off the ice again before their programs?
I'd be pleased to go to Vegas again.

 

[Karen-W]

Take it with a grain (or more) of salt, but in Boston I heard possible SA locations of Lake Placid, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.

Okay, nosing around...

Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid - nothing booked the week of SkAm; the week before it's hosting the 2025 World Figure & Fancy Skating Championships
Maverik Center in SLC - nothing booked the week of SkAm
Orleans Arena in Las Vegas - nothing booked the week of SkAm

 

[Debbie S]

If it's in SLC, my guess is they would use a smaller arena, not the main one. Isn't there another arena in the burbs that hosted some of the Olympic skating in 2002? (I don't mean the one that hosted the U.S. Classic)

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Allen seems to really good job selling tickets I say, leave it there, Ohio nationals had a good turn out as does Boston.

Lake Placid …Thanksgiving day when Bradie had her freshman year, ticket sales were not great… Plus it’s too far off the beaten path.

West Hollywood be great location.

 

[Carolla5501]

So how many people were in Allen? Was it close to sold out?

I don’t think this is going to draw that many more people just because of what’s happened in the past year. Two reasons. One is the normal US figure skating complete and total lack of promotion. Which is evidenced by the fact that we still don’t have a location. And secondly, it doesn’t have the cachet. You can’t say the Olympic team is going to be named, you can’t say that all the big stars are participating

 

[PRlady]

Oh it’s not that hard. “First elite international competition of the Olympics season!” “Alysa/Amber faces off again against Japan!” Blah blah blah.

That said, much as I would like Lake Placid for myself, they should put it somewhere accessible.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Oh it’s not that hard. “First elite international competition of the Olympics season!” “Alysa/Amber faces off again against Japan!” Blah blah blah.

Totally. “Guest appearance by ANL.” It gets Butts in seats.

 

[Karen-W]

If it's in SLC, my guess is they would use a smaller arena, not the main one. Isn't there another arena in the burbs that hosted some of the Olympic skating in 2002? (I don't mean the one that hosted the U.S. Classic)

Well, there's the Delta Center, which is WAY bigger than the Maverik Center.

The only other venues that hosted skating or ice events during 2002 have rink capacities of under 3,000 -

The Ice Sheet at Ogden - 2,300 - hosted curling & practice venue for figure skating & hockey
Peaks Ice Arena - 2,000 - hosted hockey (capacity will be temporarily increased to approx 10,000 for 2034 hockey)

Compared to that -
Maverik Center - 10,100 - slated to host figure skating in 2034
Delta Center - 16,200 - slated to host hockey in 2034

The fact that the Maverik Center is the smaller of the two major arenas in SLC and it's the designated venue for 2034's FS events makes me think it's more likely than any of the other venues in the SLC region.

 

[Debbie S]

The fact that the Maverik Center is the smaller of the two major arenas in SLC and it's the designated venue for 2034's FS events makes me think it's more likely than any of the other venues in the SLC region.

I didn't realize that was the smaller arena, thanks.

 

[A.H.Black]

I didn't realize that was the smaller arena, thanks.

Yep. In 2002, it was the arena for hockey and the Delta center was figure skating. Plans call for those to be switched for 2034. I'm not happy about the size, but the viewing will be better - much closer to the ice.

Now, all this said, there are huge developments in the works for downtown SLC. By 2034, everything could be changed and different.

Maverick Center should be great for Skate America. Easy to get to (by car) and no parking problems. Not tons right around it and most people would need to stay a ways away - by freeway, it will be about a 10-15 minute trip.

I wouldn't mind Vegas. Others will complain like crazy, but I enjoy the Orleans arena.

 

[tony]

So how many people were in Allen? Was it close to sold out?

Not even remotely close.

 

[Rukia]

Not even remotely close.

The attendance was better in 2023, but idk why (I felt like I didn't see it promoted as much in 2024?? but also I could be 100% incorrect about that)

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Someone asked the USFS booth people in Boston and they said we’d get an announcement this month.

 

[cailuj365]

I'd love for it to come to the Bay Area with local girl Alysa Liu headlining along with Ilia, Chock/Bates, etc.

 

[once_upon]

It won't happen but Omaha has a nice arena that was built for a university hockey team - other events too. US Olympic curling trials, concerts etc. It has main ice arena and practice ice in the same facility.

With plenty of hotels near by and food choices within a mile walking distance. In a pleasant part of the city, lighted walkways college campus.

But it's a pipe dream.

 

[ChillSkate]

The attendance was better in 2023, but idk why (I felt like I didn't see it promoted as much in 2024?? but also I could be 100% incorrect about that)

Agree the attendance was better the first year but both years were pretty good. Maybe because Amber was there the first year? It seemed like a lot of local skaters came out to see her and that created more local interest.

 

[ChillSkate]

I'd be happy with any venues mentioned here (and many others) except not Lake Placid.

Salt Lake City would be exciting - major airport, lots of downtown hotels, and weather can still be pretty good in October. The Maverick Center is also served by light rail, which works pretty well.

 

[lexeoe]

Boston has Agganis Arena. If they decide to go to BOS for Skam maybe they'll look into that. If it's Baltimore how's the arena? i read it's newly renovated.

 

[Carolla5501]

Oh it’s not that hard. “First elite international competition of the Olympics season!” “Alysa/Amber faces off again against Japan!” Blah blah blah.

That said, much as I would like Lake Placid for myself, they should put it somewhere accessible.

Let’s Get real. Lake Placid and Colorado Springs are the. “ oh no no one else will pay us lots of money so we’ll just go there because they’ll at least let us come.”


Being accessible to skaters and fans is very low on their requirements.

 

[Aceon6]

Boston has Agganis Arena. If they decide to go to BOS for Skam maybe they'll look into that.

Despite the recent renovations, Agganis is uncomfortable, even for the duration of a hockey game. I’d hate to spend a full day there, let alone three.

 

[alizadavida]

I'm hoping we get an announcement soon. 2024 SA was announced last April towards the end of the month and tickets went on sale in June.

For some reason, I feel it will be in Baltimore but maybe that is wishful thinking. It's only a 2.5 hour train ride from me.

I would also love SCOB but with Worlds just in Boston that's not happening. But I love that venue.

SCOB just hosted SKAM a few years ago. Although I live in Boston so 0 complaining from me! Agannis could work they held SOI there in the past.

I saw the comment about Allen - TOI nationals is being held there so it could work.

 

[ChillSkate]

I don't think it will be SCOB this year - that arena could only hold 2000 people and certainly there will be more interest in Skate America in an Olympic year. I also really didn't think it was an appropriate venue for Skate America - the concourse was open to the ice, there was very limited food in the arena or nearby (remember the disaster with the food trucks in between events one day), it is far from downtown Boston, there are limited hotels within walking distance (i.e., one - the Courtyard), etc. It was also annoying to have no cell phone signal inside the arena. Sure, it would work for Cranberry Cup or Sectionals but Skate America deserves a larger, less remote, and grander venue.