2025 U.S. Nationals in Wichita, KS & Skate America returns to Allen, TX in 2024

[gatorinfl]

Watching last night, it was disappointing to see the arena half empty for the pairs short and even the women’s short had many empty seats. How can figure skating attract a younger audience? I hate that Prevagen is the title sponsor and many of the other sponsors are geared towards old people. (I’m an old person but try to think young.)

Another thing is that ticket prices are high - at least to me. Looking at the St. Louis tickets, I will have to wait for the Championship Weekend tickets because the all access tickets are high, at least for the “good” seats. (I’m sure that Boston Worlds will be full but how many spectators will be from the U.S.)

 

[Lanie]

I think part of it is being on a Thursday night.

Columbus was packed; the whole community got involved. That seems rare. USFS needed to tap into that.

I'm leaving for the airport in a few! See you all soon!

 

[Carolla5501]

Watching last night, it was disappointing to see the arena half empty for the pairs short and even the women’s short had many empty seats. How can figure skating attract a younger audience? I hate that Prevagen is the title sponsor and many of the other sponsors are geared towards old people. (I’m an old person but try to think young.)

Another thing is that ticket prices are high - at least to me. Looking at the St. Louis tickets, I will have to wait for the Championship Weekend tickets because the all access tickets are high, at least for the “good” seats. (I’m sure that Boston Worlds will be full but how many spectators will be from the U.S.)

IMHO ticket prices and promotion are two problems.

USFS depends on the locals to promote... why should they do anything LOL! Some places work REALLY hard (Greensboro and Boston come to mind. Sounds like Columbus did well too) and some seem to just assume a miracle will occur ( remember Omaha, locals were totally unaware there was even an event... but, my all-time fav was the San Jose rep who told me with full conviction in his voice that "the only way to buy tickets will be all event, we will sell out" Hmmm... not even close. I walked up to the ticket window and bought every event just before it started)

And then even if they do get "interest" they price the market out. I used to go EVERY year. Skipped last year, skipped this year and probably won't go next year. When I saw those prices for St. Louis I just laughed. I can go to Europe for what a trip to US Nationals cost.. guess what I am doing! If you live in St. Louis and wanted to take your kid or kids do you really want to spend that much for the all-event ticket? Probably not so you MIGHT just wait and buy Women's Long....

And then of course there's the schedule... want to watch the men's final... that's now a 2-day event. Want to watch Dance, plan to spend all day because we broke it up into segments spread out. They aren't making this a "user friendly" event IMHO

 

[Poptarts]

I’ll go check again. I asked at the table and she said no they didn’t. I don’t like programs because it will just be put in a box somewhere. I like to display pins on a cork board.

I bought a pin yesterday! They are hidden up front and gold. Definitely not as good as the ones from previous competitions.

 

[Poptarts]

So practice rink is closed off for general public right?

Unfortunately I think so. We can watch the practices at the main rink at least.

 

[Karen-W]

I thought it was a decent turnout, given that it was a Thursday evening. Far better than the turnout in San Jose a couple years ago - boy was that entire event depressing as far as attendance goes. The audience was enthusiastic and loud enough to be heard often. Hopefully it will be larger the rest of the weekend.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Dallas/Allen seems to have the best turn outs these days

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I thought the turnout last night was fine and not unusual for a weeknight. There are posters in every local business about the event and I’ve seen spots on the local news so I think they are doing a good job promoting it.

 

[muffinplus]

I didn't think it was too bad really. Nothing as bad as Canadian Nationals last year or some challenger events

 

[gatorinfl]

IMHO ticket prices and promotion are two problems.

USFS depends on the locals to promote... why should they do anything LOL! Some places work REALLY hard (Greensboro and Boston come to mind. Sounds like Columbus did well too) and some seem to just assume a miracle will occur ( remember Omaha, locals were totally unaware there was even an event... but, my all-time fav was the San Jose rep who told me with full conviction in his voice that "the only way to buy tickets will be all event, we will sell out" Hmmm... not even close. I walked up to the ticket window and bought every event just before it started)

And then even if they do get "interest" they price the market out. I used to go EVERY year. Skipped last year, skipped this year and probably won't go next year. When I saw those prices for St. Louis I just laughed. I can go to Europe for what a trip to US Nationals cost.. guess what I am doing! If you live in St. Louis and wanted to take your kid or kids do you really want to spend that much for the all-event ticket? Probably not so you MIGHT just wait and buy Women's Long....

And then of course there's the schedule... want to watch the men's final... that's now a 2-day event. Want to watch Dance, plan to spend all day because we broke it up into segments spread out. They aren't making this a "user friendly" event IMHO

 

[gatorinfl]

Carolla, I totally agree about St Louis prices. I haven’t been to a Nationals in a very long time. I think it will be a fun event right before the Olympics. But between the tickets, hotel and flight, I thought the same thing. I can go to Europe instead.

 

[muffinplus]

Not really understanding why they have so few 40 minute practice sessions per group. Space?The sessions with he program music where you can see a snippet of the program run-through are so much better.

 

[Debbie S]

Not really understanding why they have so few 40 minute practice sessions per group. Space?The sessions with he program music where you can see a snippet of the program run-through are so much better.

On the days that skaters compete, they get a 20-min warmup, no music. That's how it's always been at Nats. On other days, they get at least one (i see on the sched, on some days there were 2) regular practice session with music played. Skaters are allowed to practice on unofficial sessions at local rinks if they want extra practice time. I believe the official practice rink in Wichita is selling unofficial sessions on its second rink surface.

Skaters used to always get 2 official practices per day but that was back when 3 rinks/surfaces were used. With only 2 rinks, there isn't enough ice for that anymore, which is why skaters are now allowed to practice elsewhere.

 

[Aceon6]

I can go to Europe for what a trip to US Nationals cost.

That’s why I’m doing Euros instead next year. The flight is actually cheaper than St. Louis, the tix are reasonable, and I get a few days of wandering around.

 

[muffinplus]

On the days that skaters compete, they get a 20-min warmup, no music. That's how it's always been at Nats. On other days, they get at least one (i see on the sched, on some days there were 2) regular practice session with music played. Skaters are allowed to practice on unofficial sessions at local rinks if they want extra practice time. I believe the official practice rink in Wichita is selling unofficial sessions on its second rink surface.

Skaters used to always get 2 official practices per day but that was back when 3 rinks/surfaces were used. With only 2 rinks, there isn't enough ice for that anymore, which is why skaters are now allowed to practice elsewhere.

This is only my second US nationals but when I attended last year I don't even remember sessions without music being played. I attended more than one session.

 

[Debbie S]

This is only my second US nationals but when I attended last year I don't even remember sessions without music being played. I attended more than one session.

You probably only attended the practice sessions, not the warmups. Practice sessions are 40 min, warmups are 20 min.

At GPs and Worlds, there are no 20-min warmups. All practice sessions, even those the day the skaters compete, are usual length and play music.

 

[Debbie S]

On another note, TanithandBenFan and I were among the first 1000 spectators to enter the arena for the RD and got a souvenir hat. I wonder if they were able to give away all of the hats.

It's a little more populated for the RD than it was for the pairs yesterday. Hopefully they sold more tix for tonight.

 

[muffinplus]

You probably only attended the practice sessions, not the warmups. Practice sessions are 40 min, warmups are 20 min.

At GPs and Worlds, there are no 20-min warmups. All practice sessions, even those the day the skaters compete, are usual length and play music.

It's just weird, b/c i am sure i was at pretty much all the ice dances ones last year from Wednesday on...were there 20 min ones last year for sure? But yeah, exactly i have never experience the 20 min one at the GP or Worlds i have attended

 

[Rukia]

It's just weird, b/c i am sure i was at pretty much all the ice dances ones last year from Wednesday on...were there 20 min ones last year for sure? But yeah, exactly i have never experience the 20 min one at the GP or Worlds i have attended

jlb was saying the 20 min warm-up with no music is unique to us nats and a little strange to him lol

 

[Debbie S]

It's just weird, b/c i am sure i was at pretty much all the ice dances ones last year from Wednesday on...were there 20 min ones last year for sure? But yeah, exactly i have never experience the 20 min one at the GP or Worlds i have attended

Yes, there were 20-min warmups last year, on the day of each event. IIRC, the ones in the main rink were early in the day and some were in the practice rink across the hall.

 

[muffinplus]

jlb was saying the 20 min warm-up with no music is unique to us nats and a little strange to him lol

Agreed lol

 

[muffinplus]

Yes, there were 20-min warmups last year, on the day of each event. IIRC, the ones in the main rink were early in the day and some were in the practice rink across the hall.

Fair enough, I don't even remember those. I think the way they scheduled it this year, ice dance had only 1 40 min one on the main rink, and all the others were on the practice rink, which is not accessible unlike last year