2024 US Figure Skating Championships

I decided to start the campaign to change the bag policy early this year. :lol: I emailed both USFS and Nationwide Arena, and in a shocking turn of events, I received replies within thirty minutes. USFS said they are in active discussions with the arena and will update us when they have news. The arena said they would forward my email to the appropriate department and would take it into consideration. So far this is better than the runaround we got last year!
 
I'd be surprised if the policy will be reversed. If it is, it would have wide spread policy impact for all arenas, stadiums, concerts venues, theater venues across the US and perhaps the world.
 
once_upon said:
I'd be surprised if the policy will be reversed. If it is, it would have wide spread policy impact for all arenas, stadiums, concerts venues, theater venues across the US and perhaps the world.
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Most sports venues/events allow 12x12x6 clear bags. That’s pretty much the standard. This arena’s policy is much much stricter and not the norm. San Jose altered their policy last year for us. They just waited until the week of the event to do it.
 
once_upon said:
I'd be surprised if the policy will be reversed. If it is, it would have wide spread policy impact for all arenas, stadiums, concerts venues, theater venues across the US and perhaps the world.
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No, it wouldn't. Any establishment has the right to set the rules and consider modifications on a case by case basis. SAP Center changed its bag policy for Nats last year and I haven't seen any "widespread policy impact."

And do people really pay attention to what happens at skating events, unless they are attending?
 
once_upon said:
I'd be surprised if the policy will be reversed. If it is, it would have wide spread policy impact for all arenas, stadiums, concerts venues, theater venues across the US and perhaps the world.
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LOL I am assuming you were not serious???

It's an arena, not the Supreme Court or the United Nations! This would have NO impact on anything but this one event.
 
In several recent years we've initially been told of a highly restrictive, clear-bags-only policy. 100% of the time the policy has been revised or totally ignored no later than Day 2 of the event. I don't know why USFS doesn't address this farther in advance, but perhaps it will do so this year.
 
acraven said:
In several recent years we've initially been told of a highly restrictive, clear-bags-only policy. 100% of the time the policy has been revised or totally ignored no later than Day 2 of the event. I don't know why USFS doesn't address this farther in advance, but perhaps it will do so this year.
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How many times must we remind everyone that the USFS doesn't care about the fans? (Unless you want to pay $3k for one seat at Worlds). :P
 
ice coverage said:
* Times are subject to change. * All times ET.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 23​

  • 12:50 p.m. – Junior Pairs Short Program
  • 2:15 p.m. – Junior Men Short Program
  • 6:25 p.m. – Junior Rhythm Dance

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24​

  • 8:30 a.m. – Junior Women Short Program
  • 11:15 a.m. – Junior Men Free Skate
  • 3:25 p.m. – Junior Pairs Free Skate
  • 6:20 p.m. – Junior Free Dance

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25​

  • 10:40 a.m. – Junior Women Free Skate
  • 2 p.m. – Championship Pairs Short Program
  • 4:30 p.m. – Championship Rhythm Dance
  • 7:15 p.m. – Championship Women Short Program

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26​

  • 3:15 p.m. – Championship Men Short Program
  • 7:45 p.m. – Championship Women Free Skate

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27​

  • 1:45 p.m. – Championship Free Dance
  • 7:35 p.m. – Championship Pairs Free Skate

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28​

  • 2:50 p.m. – Championship Men Free Skate
  • 7:30 p.m. – Prevagen Skating Spectacular
https://www.columbussports.org/skate/schedule/
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Competition times for Novice Dance and Novice Pairs have been added to the published schedule.

Tuesday, January 23
12:00 p.m. – Novice Pairs Short Program
12:50 p.m. – Junior Pairs Short Program
2:15 p.m. – Junior Men's Short Program
5:15 p.m. – Novice Pattern Dance
6:25 p.m. – Junior Rhythm Dance

Wednesday, January 24
8:30 a.m. – Junior Women's Short Program
11:15 a.m. – Junior Men's Free Skate
2:25 p.m. – Novice Pairs Free Skate
3:25 p.m. – Junior Pairs Free Skate
5:35 p.m. – Novice Free Dance
6:20 p.m. – Junior Free Dance

2024 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships | U.S. Figure Skating

www.usfigureskating.org www.usfigureskating.org

BTW, times and pricing for Boitano's Lounge also have been added at the link immediately above.
From the ticket page: " ... will include Brian's signature cocktails, a full bar, a selection of appetizers and special guests, including Nancy Kerrigan, Gracie Gold and more!" With the note: "Special guests subject to change."

I am a big fan of Brian, but this experience is not for me. The list of cocktails does make me smile -- especially the last one:

Head Banger (named after the move)
Fields of Gold (homage to Michelle Kwan’ programs)
The Dwyer Girl (named for Richard Dwyer)
Peggy’s Chartreuse Dress (pays tribute to the costume worn in France when she won the gold. Her mother designed the dress chartreuse endear her to her to the locals)

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

ETA (on Dec 6):​

USFS event page has been revised again, with additions of Tentative Color-Coded Schedule (subject to change) and Practice Groups:

(Draft 1.7, as of Nov 22)

(Version 1, as of Dec 5)​
 
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Thanks for the schedule updates! Yikes it’s coming up fast. I need to get my hotel reservation. Have airfare and tickets!
 
ice coverage said:
ETA (on Dec 6):​

USFS event page has been revised again, with additions of Tentative Color-Coded Schedule (subject to change) and Practice Groups:

(Draft 1.7, as of Nov 22)

(Version 1, as of Dec 5)​
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Sorry, I see now that color-coded schedule -- at least Page 1 -- also is dated Dec 5.

(Although Page 2 is dated Nov 22.)
 
I'm flying Southwest from Washington-National to Columbus. I thought I had a pretty good fare ($182 round trip), but I just checked, and the cost is now $95 roundtrip. Those flying Southwest to Columbus should check to see if they are due a flight credit (or a refund if they didn't buy the cheapest fare class). I couldn't figure out how to get a credit on the website or in the app despite going to multiple online sources for instructions, so I had to call. I was only on hold briefly, and the agent told me most people looking for credits do obtain them by calling; I suspect there's a website glitch.
 
acraven said:
I'm flying Southwest from Washington-National to Columbus. I thought I had a pretty good fare ($182 round trip), but I just checked, and the cost is now $95 roundtrip. Those flying Southwest to Columbus should check to see if they are due a flight credit (or a refund if they didn't buy the cheapest fare class). I couldn't figure out how to get a credit on the website or in the app despite going to multiple online sources for instructions, so I had to call. I was only on hold briefly, and the agent told me most people looking for credits do obtain them by calling; I suspect there's a website glitch.
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You have to go to your original flight and select “Change flight.” It then shows you the difference in fares between your original price and the updated price. If it’s lower then select the new fare and you’re done ?
 
TanithandBenFan said:
You have to go to your original flight and select “Change flight.” It then shows you the difference in fares between your original price and the updated price. If it’s lower then select the new fare and you’re done ?
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Yep! This works fabulously well, and if you paid for the early bird check in, that transfers to the new flight, too. You would lose that if you cancelled and rebooked.
 
That wasn't working for me yesterday. On a day with 8 or so departures, it gave me only one option, a 5-hour routing. Something was screwy. Come to think of it, I didn't try it with Chrome as my browser; sometimes that works when Edge doesn't.
 
I just had a nice chat with the guy who's answering seating questions for 2025 Worlds in Boston, and he mentioned they are already working on the bag policy for that event (yay!), which reminded me--we still don't know if they've set a reasonable bag policy for Columbus yet, do we?
 
Iceblink said:
I just had a nice chat with the guy who's answering seating questions for 2025 Worlds in Boston, and he mentioned they are already working on the bag policy for that event (yay!), which reminded me--we still don't know if they've set a reasonable bag policy for Columbus yet, do we?
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Not yet. USFS said they're working on it with the arena. TD Garden currently allows larger bags so hopefully they stick with that!
 
All I want for Christmas is confirmation Hawayek/Baker will be participating.

OMG, I am DECEASED that they want $725 per person to attend the Boitano Lounge on Friday/Saturday/Sunday. :eek: I assume sponsors and USFS VIPs are attending free, so peons are expected to pony up ? to help cover the bill. :lol:
 
peibeck said:
All I want for Christmas is confirmation Hawayek/Baker will be participating.

OMG, I am DECEASED that they want $725 per person to attend the Boitano Lounge on Friday/Saturday/Sunday. :eek: I assume sponsors and USFS VIPs are attending free, so peons are expected to pony up ? to help cover the bill. :lol:
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I’m sorry to hear that The cost of the lounge has caused your death.


They did the same money grab last year. I heard not many people were there. If I was going, I wouldn’t be there this year.
 
I think there are tickets for only one of the days for $200 or $300, depending on the day. But yeah, outrageous. I heard there weren't many takers last year, and it definitely seemed that way given that Rusty was on the jumbotron promoting it during just about every ice cut. I thought they would lower prices this year but guess not.
 
Debbie S said:
I think there are tickets for only one of the days for $200 or $300, depending on the day. But yeah, outrageous. I heard there weren't many takers last year, and it definitely seemed that way given that Rusty was on the jumbotron promoting it during just about every ice cut. I thought they would lower prices this year but guess not.
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Not to speak for another poster, but I know @AnnM went one night the year Nationals were in Nashville, I believe. I recollect she wasn't particularly impressed considering the price tag.

Sunday is the $200 one day price. Friday and Saturday it's $300.

Sadly I'm not making it to Nationals or Worlds, so no live skating comps for me this season. Pesky real life bills took their place.

ETA: No sad emojis, please. I took a wonderful (but expensive) trip to NYC last spring, which easily could have gone toward going to both SKAM and Nationals.
 
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The price point of Boitano's Lounge is too high for me, but I cannot really criticize the concept. USFS is savvy to make use of Boitano's unique dual cachet as not only an Olympic champion, but also an established personality in the food/hospitality world.
My guess would be that the target head count for Boitano's Lounge at Nats would not be too high? So that the experience would have an aura of being special/exclusive/whatever you want to call it. (If everyone is special, then no one is special.)
For fans with deeper pockets than mine, I could see that the combination of Boitano's skating-themed cocktails + fancy appetizers (I believe the recipes for last year's also were personally created or curated by Brian?) + rubbing elbows with Olympians would could be a draw.

Not directly related to Nats, I think, but on the topic of USFS marketing initiatives:

Has anyone received an e-mail about the inaugural edition of USFS "Golden Blades Auction"?
I am curious because yesterday Sonja Hilmer asked via Instastory (which is about to expire) whether any of her followers received the e-mail.
The USFS graphic in her Instastory says that auction items include: "Unique experiences, signed memorabilia, swag packages and more!" Auction starts Wed Dec 27, 8 am MT.
Sonja added that the auction is "dedicated to raising funds to support our athletes," and that she will have four items/experiences available.

https://www.instagram.com/stories/gosanjaygo_03/​
 
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ice coverage said:
The price point of Boitano's Lounge is too high for me, but I cannot really criticize the concept. USFS is savvy to make use of Boitano's unique dual cachet as not only an Olympic champion, but also an established personality in the food/hospitality world.
My guess would be that the target head count for Boitano's Lounge at Nats would not be too high? So that the experience would have an aura of being special/exclusive/whatever you want to call it. (If everyone is special, then no one is special.)
For fans with deeper pockets than mine, I could see that the combination of Boitano's skating-themed cocktails + fancy appetizers (I believe the recipes for last year's also were personally created or curated by Brian?) + rubbing elbows with Olympians would could be a draw.
Click to expand...

In theory, I agree. But the 3 night price is still pretty considerable given that decent all event tickets could be had for 17 events at $550 or so.

Yes, I get the exclusivity factor attraction, but I have gotten to briefly interact with Boitano and other skaters for free just walking around the concourse at events.

Anyway, I should stop harping about it, since my a** isn't going anyway. :lol:
ice coverage said:
​
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