Las Vegas, Nevada to host 2019 Skate America!

[Firedancer]

I am also in row F on the judges side, not realizing AA, etc. However, I am fine with this- row 11 works. I have not been to a Skate America since 2002, do they still let you sit anywhere at practice? I do like front row at practice.

Last year they only let us sit in specific sections.

 

[Stephanatic]

I'm totally frustrated trying to purchase tickets; I get through the whole order (twice!) and then the site says it sent a "verification code" that I have to insert, but the email address it says was used for this code is not the one I posted on an earlier page, it's one I haven't used in eight years and it no longer exists! I can't find a phone number on the site, although a couple of posters said they called someone for assistance. Please help!!! I thought I had scored great seats but I guess not...

 

[Lutzcy]

You all have a fabulous time at Skate America in Vegas. Unfortunately, I have a prior commitment, so will not be there this year. See you all in Montreal! (And possibly Greensboro...)

 

[Debbie S]

I'm totally frustrated trying to purchase tickets; I get through the whole order (twice!) and then the site says it sent a "verification code" that I have to insert, but the email address it says was used for this code is not the one I posted on an earlier page, it's one I haven't used in eight years and it no longer exists! I can't find a phone number on the site, although a couple of posters said they called someone for assistance. Please help!!! I thought I had scored great seats but I guess not...

Assuming you are logged in to your account, go to your profile and update your email (and delete the one you no longer use). And make sure your credit card info is up to date, that may be why they are sending you a code.

 

[SkateSand]

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I'm totally frustrated trying to purchase tickets; I get through the whole order (twice!) and then the site says it sent a "verification code" that I have to insert, but the email address it says was used for this code is not the one I posted on an earlier page, it's one I haven't used in eight years and it no longer exists! I can't find a phone number on the site, although a couple of posters said they called someone for assistance. Please help!!! I thought I had scored great seats but I guess not...

If you want to try and buy your tickets over the phone, the following number is listed on the SA USFS promo: 800-982-2787. The Orleans Arena also lists a box office number of 800-745-3000.

 

[SidelineSkater]

I'm totally frustrated trying to purchase tickets; I get through the whole order (twice!) and then the site says it sent a "verification code" that I have to insert, but the email address it says was used for this code is not the one I posted on an earlier page, it's one I haven't used in eight years and it no longer exists! I can't find a phone number on the site, although a couple of posters said they called someone for assistance. Please help!!! I thought I had scored great seats but I guess not...

I too was very frustrated when trying to call in to Ticketmaster (all agents busy, please order online), as well as the Orleans Box Office - where I was bounced around repeatedly from desk to desk to box office to transferring to Ticketmaster to only get the all agents busy, please order online message. This continued throughout the day yesterday. All I wanted was help selecting seats in a row/on the aisle and to find out which direction the seat numbers were.

Regardless, I bit the bullet and ordered online after finding aisle seats to come up with my selection. Sec 118, Row CC, Seats 1-4. From the Orleans arena website, it looks like seat #1 starts on the right side of the section, which I'm interpreting as being next to Sec 117. If anyone can confirm which way the numbers go, that would be awesome!

Also randomly replying to folks asking about safety and the strip. I've visited Vegas for the last three years and have never felt unsafe. However, I tend to not go out later at night and try to follow basic common sense safety rules when out and about. The resorts on the strip cater to different crowds and you get what you pay for. If you sign up for one of the casino rewards programs, you can often get discounts on rooms without even gambling ahead of time. They sometimes offer a cheap room rate to get you to come spend money in their casino/restaurants/etc. I have the most experience with MLife properties who have a partnership with Hyatt (Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, MGM Grand, NY NY, Bellagio, etc.) Having stayed at MB, MGM Grand, and NY NY, and I can say MB was my favorite - south ened of the strip and quieter than being in the middle of things.

Taxis are a plenty as well as Uber/etc. If you aren't staying at the Orleans, you should have plenty of safe options to get you around. Feel free to message me if anyone has specific questions, and I will try to help answer based on my experience.

Oh and if anyone wants to splurge on high tea - Mandarin Oriental does a really nice and fancy tea service all day with great views of the strip. There's even a champagne vending machine in the hotel lobby!

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I too was very frustrated when trying to call in to Ticketmaster (all agents busy, please order online), as well as the Orleans Box Office - where I was bounced around repeatedly from desk to desk to box office to transferring to Ticketmaster to only get the all agents busy, please order online message. This continued throughout the day yesterday. All I wanted was help selecting seats in a row/on the aisle and to find out which direction the seat numbers were.

Regardless, I bit the bullet and ordered online after finding aisle seats to come up with my selection. Sec 118, Row CC, Seats 1-4. From the Orleans arena website, it looks like seat #1 starts on the right side of the section, which I'm interpreting as being next to Sec 117. If anyone can confirm which way the numbers go, that would be awesome!

The easiest way to find out how the rows and seats are numbered in any arena is to go to the arena's page on Ticketmaster and look at another event that is currently on sale with a seat map. You can see all the number details on the map.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

From the Orleans arena website, it looks like seat #1 starts on the right side of the section, which I'm interpreting as being next to Sec 117. If anyone can confirm which way the numbers go, that would be awesome!

The order of seat numbers follows the section sequence - in every section, seat 1 is on the side closest to the previous section. So yes, seat 1 of section 118 is across the aisle from the last seat in section 117. You're good.

 

[DobrinFan]

New seating chart available on SA's site: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/photo/5cea-122915680/2019_Skate_America_map_large.jpg

 

[SidelineSkater]

The easiest way to find out how the rows and seats are numbered in any arena is to go to the arena's page on Ticketmaster and look at another event that is currently on sale with a seat map. You can see all the number details on the map.

The order of seat numbers follows the section sequence - in every section, seat 1 is on the side closest to the previous section. So yes, seat 1 of section 118 is across the aisle from the last seat in section 117. You're good.

Excellent - thank you both!!! I think in about another 56 minutes, the regular sale opens and I could see then. Good to know for future events.

 

[Debbie S]

I got an email from Ticketmaster this afternoon that my tickets have been printed and will be mailed "shortly." Wow, that's quick, saves the anxiety of waiting for them to be mailed 3 weeks before the event.

 

[Urban Queen]

My family lives out in Vegas. IMO, the Strip is completely safe, and I'm generally a paranoid person when it comes to stuff like that.


Yes. The only smoke-free places you'll find in casinos are the poker rooms. (This is the worst part about Vegas!)

Uber and Lyft are very cheap and convenient. You should be fine travelling in a pair. If you're alone, just be safe about your driver. Make sure the license plates match up, and ask your driver for his/her name and make sure it matches what the app says.

Thank you! I am having trouble figuring out how to download the Uber app, but hopefully my friend already has it. We are deciding on where to stay now and trying to get tickets near where the skaters get their scores.

Neither of us have any interest in poker, thank God!

I have heard so much about Las Vegas. It will be surreal to see it.

 

[HeatherC]

I got an email from Ticketmaster this afternoon that my tickets have been printed and will be mailed "shortly." Wow, that's quick, saves the anxiety of waiting for them to be mailed 3 weeks before the event.

I got that same email and boy will it be nice to have tickets in hand way early for SA! I actually ordered tickets to two other events recently through Ticketmaster and I have all those tickets in hand right now too. They are really on the ball with getting things printed out this year!

 

[thvu]

Neither of us have any interest in poker, thank God!

I meant that Poker Rooms are the only parts of Casinos that are smoke-free. There is smoking almost everywhere else in a casino.

 

[Coco]

I wish the tickets were electronic, but oh well...

 

[AnnM]

I meant that Poker Rooms are the only parts of Casinos that are smoke-free. There is smoking almost everywhere else in a casino.

People looking for a completely smoke free environment may want to consider staying at Vdara hotel. It doesn't have a casino at all, and the entire property is smoke free.

Aria does have a casino which allows smoking, but they also have an air filtration system that seems to minimize the impact compared to other hotels on the Strip.

 

[cygnus]

There is no smoking in the restaurants either, but the ones that are open to the casinos are not immune from the second-hand stuff. And I agree about Aria- the smoke isn't as bad there. New York New York has really high ceilings that diffuse it a bit too. Now Excalibur makes my eyes hurt just walking through, the smoke is so bad. I have heard that the Trump hotel is non-smoking, but I won't go there to check it out.

 

[Debbie S]

Well, that was fast. I got my tix in the mail today. Fastest ticket mailing ever? The tix come in a string and the sessions are a bit out of order, but they're all there. Looking forward to October!

 

[Brenda_Bottems]

Will smoking be permitted in the arena?

-BB

 

[Cleo1782]

There is no smoking in the restaurants either, but the ones that are open to the casinos are not immune from the second-hand stuff. And I agree about Aria- the smoke isn't as bad there. New York New York has really high ceilings that diffuse it a bit too. Now Excalibur makes my eyes hurt just walking through, the smoke is so bad. I have heard that the Trump hotel is non-smoking, but I won't go there to check it out.

The Trump hotel is smoke free. I stayed there when it first opened 10 or so years ago and it's actually really nice (obviously this was long before he was president). My husband and I had a suite and it was fairly inexpensive and super close to the strip.
I live in Vegas now and some of the older hotels (Luxor, TI, Cesar's) are decent deals. I would also recommend the M hotel in Henderson if one has a car. It's about a 20 min drive to the strip, but it's nice and quiet with an awesome buffet and away from the craziness of the strip.

 

[Megi]

There is no smoking in the restaurants either, but the ones that are open to the casinos are not immune from the second-hand stuff. And I agree about Aria- the smoke isn't as bad there. New York New York has really high ceilings that diffuse it a bit too. Now Excalibur makes my eyes hurt just walking through, the smoke is so bad. I have heard that the Trump hotel is non-smoking, but I won't go there to check it out.

Here's to another round of Vegas!

For me smoking in the casinos is something that I get used to after a few hours. It doesn't bother me unless there's a person smoking at a slot machine right next to mine.

What bothers me more is the bone chilling cold basically anywhere indoors. Always vary a blazer or something.

Safety - I've been to Vegas something like 10 times in the last 5 years and never for a second felt unsafe on The Strip, be it at 10am or 4am.

And to get yourself into a *horror story* with Uber/Lyft, I don't know how much drugs, alcohol or carelessness it would take to find yourself in one. The app gives you alll the info you need to feel safe and identifying your actual driver is very easy - always check the plate number. Vegas hotels have the whole thing very well organized (designated pickup areas away from the main entrance to minimize congestion).

 

[Urban Queen]

Will smoking be permitted in the arena?

-BB

Isn't it illegal for this? Maybe Vegas has different laws, though. I will try to look it up.

My friend and I are struggling with choosing where to sit. I'm hoping we can find aisle seats because it's nice to be able to go to the bathroom without trying to step over others, but I don't know if it's possible to do that without calling the arena.

On a positive note, we are about to pull the trigger on a room at the Plaza Hotel. As a child I loved reading the Eloise books. I never knew there was a Plaza in Las Vegas just like in New York. I have not been to either city before. The hotel is extremely affordable and downtown, so hopefully it will be easy to catch the Uber nearby.

I just hope there isn't a lot of rain during the event as I am scared of riding in vehicles when the roads are wet.

 

[SkateSand]

Will smoking be permitted in the arena?

-BB

From the Orleans Arena website:

"To make your visit enjoyable for all, we ask that you refrain from any of the following behavior:

Smoking or vaping in an area not designated as such. We provide a smoking balcony located on either side of the concourse for convenience."

 

[Cleo1782]

Neither here nor there-and I know it wasn't a serious question- but when I was growing up (I am in my 30's) you could smoke in the lobby! of my ice rink and parents did. That couldn't have been especially healthy. This was in the Chicago area, but I am pretty sure you could smoke inside the Blue Jay arena (the secondary rink to Ice Castle in Lake Arrowhead) through the late 90's too. Crazy..

 

[Brenda_Bottems]

From the Orleans Arena website:

"To make your visit enjoyable for all, we ask that you refrain from any of the following behavior:

Smoking or vaping in an area not designated as such. We provide a smoking balcony located on either side of the concourse for convenience."

A shame. I need my Parliaments to dull my senses as much as possible while the Russian girls are on the ice.

-BB

 

[Carolla5501]

Isn't it illegal for this? Maybe Vegas has different laws, though. I will try to look it up.

My friend and I are struggling with choosing where to sit. I'm hoping we can find aisle seats because it's nice to be able to go to the bathroom without trying to step over others, but I don't know if it's possible to do that without calling the arena.

On a positive note, we are about to pull the trigger on a room at the Plaza Hotel. As a child I loved reading the Eloise books. I never knew there was a Plaza in Las Vegas just like in New York. I have not been to either city before. The hotel is extremely affordable and downtown, so hopefully it will be easy to catch the Uber nearby.

I just hope there isn't a lot of rain during the event as I am scared of riding in vehicles when the roads are wet.

Ummm... this Plaza has absolutely no relation to the Plaza of Eloise fame. This is not really a great hotel which is why it’s extremely affordable. And being downtown is far from ideal. Vegas has horrid traffic.

Fremont street is a very different experience from the strip. I personally don’t like it but some do.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

A shame. I need my Parliaments to dull my senses as much as possible while the Russian girls are on the ice.

-BB

I just love you.

Maybe you could sniff some jet fuel 30 minutes prior at McCarran Airport?

 

[Urban Queen]

Ummm... this Plaza has absolutely no relation to the Plaza of Eloise fame. This is not really a great hotel which is why it’s extremely affordable. And being downtown is far from ideal. Vegas has horrid traffic.

Fremont street is a very different experience from the strip. I personally don’t like it but some do.

Oh that is sad. I imagined being able to fulfill so many long time goals on this trip, seeing skating and experiencing a wonderful hotel I had read about in childhood.

If the traffic is bad, I don't know why it matters whether we stay downtown unless the Strip has less traffic? Do they have streets that are only for buses, people, and taxis? I have heard about those in some cities.

My friend and I are going to meet at Panera tomorrow evening to use the wireless there and make some planning updates, so we'll have to discuss this. Luckily there is no smoking section at our Panera!

 

[Carolla5501]

Oh that is sad. I imagined being able to fulfill so many long time goals on this trip, seeing skating and experiencing a wonderful hotel I had read about in childhood.

If the traffic is bad, I don't know why it matters whether we stay downtown unless the Strip has less traffic? Do they have streets that are only for buses, people, and taxis? I have heard about those in some cities.

My friend and I are going to meet at Panera tomorrow evening to use the wireless there and make some planning updates, so we'll have to discuss this. Luckily there is no smoking section at our Panera!

No Vegas does not have arrangements for transit lanes. It matters because downtown is farther away from the arena so you will spend more time and money on transit.

 

[Debbie S]

I stayed at the Plaza in NYC once. The only connection to Eloise is a picture in the lobby.

@Urban Queen if you are worried about traffic and getting Ubers, why not just stay at the Orleans Hotel and be connected to the arena? I think I read that the Orleans runs a shuttle to The Strip, so you'd be able to hang out there when your schedule allows. I think the rates at the Orleans are pretty cheap...$49 and $99 per night is hard to find, at least in a big city.