2025 ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Boston

[TanithandBenFan]

The electronic ticket for the Women’s SP actually says 11am. So did the original schedule on the official website. I’m not sure why the ISU decided to change it to noon.

 

[tony]

The electronic ticket for the Women’s SP actually says 11am. So did the original schedule on the official website. I’m not sure why the ISU decided to change it to noon.

Because the ISU was probably slating in seven warm-up groups (which would include another ice resurfacing), and they ended with six.

 

[peibeck]

Because the ISU was probably slating in seven warm-up groups (which would include another ice resurfacing), and they ended with six.

They still could have kept the same start time and allowed for people to have a longer break, especially if clearing out the arena is such a big issue. (Even though it only would have solved that short turnaround between events for only one day.)

 

[Debbie S]

Well, if they were going to start at 11 anyway, then yes, keep it that way, especially if the ticket says 11.

 

[Karen-W]

They still could have kept the same start time and allowed for people to have a longer break, especially if clearing out the arena is such a big issue. (Even though it only would have solved that short turnaround between events for only one day.)

They certainly have access to the arena earlier in the morning than 8am when the Pairs SP practice starts - the time schedule has Main Rink practices starting at 6am Tuesday, 7am Thursday & Friday, and 7:30am Saturday.

So, it really makes zero sense to not have given themselves a 2.5 hour window on Wednesday between competition segments, especially if the starting time was printed on the tickets as 11am.

 

[tony]

Well, if they were going to start at 11 anyway, then yes, keep it that way, especially if the ticket says 11.

Yes, but as always, the ISU puts on their schedule that it is subject to changes right up to the last minute It gives time to leave and not eat arena food, too!

 

[BittyBug]

Considering that Boston had hosted many USFS and ISU events, I’ll trust that they know what they’re doing, and if there’s a tight turnaround, it’s because it could not be avoided.

 

[peibeck]

Considering that Boston had hosted many USFS and ISU events, I’ll trust that they know what they’re doing, and if there’s a tight turnaround, it’s because it could not be avoided.

There are longer breaks between sessions at Euros and 4CC (granted 4CC has fewer pairs teams), so if the morning practices W-Sat started even 30 minutes earlier it would make having to clear the arena and allow for re-entry a lot smoother, imo.

Also, just looked at my digital ticket (which can be updated as I understand it), and it still lists the Wednesday start time as 11 a.m. Granted it's still more than a week out but...

@tony I wasn't explicitly wanting to say it would have been nice for the longer break to escape and get non-arena food at least one day of the comp, and Wednesday already had the (minimally) longest break. Sigh. Since I'm going a few days early I'll try and scope out if The Hub on Causeway has a connected entrance to the arena since there are food options there and some places let you order (in app) in advance but a lot of places there seem to have limited hours.

 

[ChillSkate]

Having attended a lot of international skating events, the start time is often moved later but the end time is almost never, IME moved back. This is the case when skater withdrawals happen as well. I imagine a lot of countries already have TV contracts in place to broadcast the last X groups, which likely makes it difficult to change the end time of the event / start time of the later groups.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

There are longer breaks between sessions at Euros and 4CC (granted 4CC has fewer pairs teams), so if the morning practices W-Sat started even 30 minutes earlier it would make having to clear the arena and allow for re-entry a lot smoother, imo.

Also, just looked at my digital ticket (which can be updated as I understand it), and it still lists the Wednesday start time as 11 a.m. Granted it's still more than a week out but...

@tony I wasn't explicitly wanting to say it would have been nice for the longer break to escape and get non-arena food at least one day of the comp, and Wednesday already had the (minimally) longest break. Sigh. Since I'm going a few days early I'll try and scope out if The Hub on Causeway has a connected entrance to the arena since there are food options there and some places let you order (in app) in advance but a lot of places there seem to have limited hours.

The Google ratings on most of The Hub places don’t look too promising

 

[alizadavida]

The Google ratings on most of The Hub places don’t look too promising

I've ate at a bunch of the hub places! They're decent fast food - my favorite is the made to order pasta! Theres also a mcdonalds right outside td garden, and 3 coffee shops within a minute walk.

 

[UMBS Go Blue]

Both the Hub and Star Market are at ground level and are part of the same large structure that houses TD Garden (which itself sits above North Station). They are just a few steps away from the escalators that lead you up to the main TD Garden screening entrance.

The food options at the Hub are a notch above typical shopping mall food court fare but perhaps a notch below the big food hall in downtown Nashville, if anyone remembers that from 2022 Nats. They are a bit pricey, but slightly less so than the plenty of large sports pubs (some bright and modern, some rustic and old-school) directly south of TD Garden, per below. Don't be discouraged by how big the street blocks south of TD Garden might look on Google Maps - they are fairly short and compact.

Edited to add some more thoughts:

• While there are tons of options in the neighborhood, with plenty of seats, tables, and space to spare among all of them - and since they're at or near TD Garden, they should know the TD Garden events schedule - there's a risk that they might not be staffed properly for a sudden rush. So be prepared with reservations.
• The Hub - while some of the outlets are outposts of well-regarded local restaurants, this is still a food court so you shouldn't expect them to be as good as their original namesakes elsewhere in town. Yet they should still be better than shopping mall fast food.
• Star Market - don't forget about it. It's a full supermarket so you can self-cater as you wish, and make it an outdoor picnic if the weather cooperates. There is a tiny park just outside the east exit from North Station/TD Garden, plus the Rose Kennedy Greenway is gorgeous (almost) any time of year. Take this long-range forecast with a grain of salt, but at least it looks like it won't be as cold as it was in Montreal for Worlds last year.
• Banners - this is a ginormous, contemporary, multi-level sports bar directly above the Hub. Sort of like a super-sized Yard House. You should have no problem finding a seat here.
• Night Shift - Lovejoy Wharf - a solid outpost of a solid local craft brewery.
• North End Italian restaurants - only a 10-15 walk away. Best to make reservations and study the menu ahead of time so you can order upon sitting down and make the most of that 1.5-2 hour break between events.

FYI, as Boston is my hometown and I've been to the TD Garden for some events lately:

Transit. As many of you remember, TD Garden sits directly above the North Station commuter rail platforms (for the northern suburbs) and is directly linked to the Green and Orange Lines (subway) via a corridor.

• If you're coming from these subway lines, this corridor not only deposits you at the commuter rail platform, but also a dedicated security entrance to the "club" seats.
• This entrance might not be open, however, if attendance is sparse, especially during mid-week. You would otherwise need to walk a few extra steps back outside, to Causeway Street, where you take a set of escalators up to the main security entrance on the 2nd level. There may be other more direct ways to access the main security entrance that I don't even know about.

Amenities. Lots of construction has happened since the last Worlds. There are multiple new high-rises and corporate HQs directly above or near TD Garden, which means a lot more services.

• Within the TD Garden structure, there is a "Hub Hall" food court that is overpriced but not bad - certainly better than any arena concessions. It even has a branch of Mike's Pastry. It is at street level just a few steps down from the aforementioned escalator, and also connects to the far end of the commuter rail platforms.
• There is a Star Market (supermarket) at street level, at the base of the aforementioned escalator. It is part of the same corporate umbrella as Safeway, Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, and Jewel-Osco, so if you already punch in your phone number at checkout at these stores in order to obtain sale pricing, you should be able to do so at Star and Shaw's markets in New England.
• There are plenty of sit-down restaurants and sports bars in the area - much more than last time. Big, small, you name it, and you shouldn't need reservations since Worlds won't be as busy an event as, say, a sold-out Celtics or Bruins game. Also plenty more fast-casual eateries. Just search / look up / pan around Google Maps to see for yourself. Focus on the triangle formed by Causeway, Merrimac, and Washington - any point within it is at most a 5 minute walk from the aforementioned security escalators.

 

[YukiNieve]

This can be a long shot, but does anyone still have a detailed color schedule for the 2018 US Nationals?

 

[tony]

This can be a long shot, but does anyone still have a detailed color schedule for the 2018 US Nationals?

Yup - I uploaded here:

https://www.scribd.com/document/837015874/2018USFSChampsMatrixScheduleDraft2-3-a3f66b58b6

Pretty sure this was the final one.

 

[YukiNieve]

Thank you! Resourceful people here!
So there were 2 practice rinks?

 

[tony]

Thank you! So there were 2 practice rinks?

Yes, but are you maybe thinking about 2014? Because 2018 was San Jose, and 2014 was Boston.

Just making sure because this is the Worlds thread after all.

 

[YukiNieve]

Yes, but are you maybe thinking about 2014? Because 2018 was San Jose, and 2014 was Boston.

Just making sure because this is the Worlds thread after all.

I was thinking of San Jose, but do you also have a color schedule for Boston?

 

[peibeck]

I was thinking of San Jose, but do you also have a color schedule for Boston?

Here's the current entry list and colored time schedule link (for 2025).

https://results.isu.org/events/fsevent00120669.htm

 

[tony]

Here's the current entry list and colored time schedule link (for 2025).

https://results.isu.org/events/fsevent00120669.htm

She means 2014 Nationals.

I had to do some detective work, but uploaded it here:

https://www.scribd.com/document/837020930/2014USFSChampsMatrixScheduleDraft1-11

 

[YukiNieve]

Ohhhhh thank you!!!

 

[peibeck]

If you have a Sam's Club membership and are still looking for a hotel, I noticed today in their travel section that the StayPineapple (boutique chain, located in the Copely Square area) had rooms for March 24th-30th averaging under $200/night (I think it was $196) + tax.

The Doubletree out in Bayside (near U Mass Boston) is also under $200/night. (Price was on the Hilton website or app, I think around$170/night. ) That's quite a bit further out on the subway line though and you'd have to switch lines to get to North Station (or walk a few blocks to TD Garden from the Charles Street station). Apparently they offer a free shuttle to Logan Airport though.

 

[Carolla5501]

I also noticed that the citizen M is back to a somewhat reasonable rate after having seen it a couple times at what I think was kind of outrageous for what they’re offering. It’s still not cheap but considering the location can’t be beat it’s something to consider.

I was actually checking the schedule and noticed that they’re basically saying the place is sold out for everything but short programs on Wednesday and Thursday. Now I don’t know if they’re telling the truth, but I can’t imagine why they would lie about that so I’m considering stocking my hotel room with some food so that I can get something to eat quickly between events as opposed to going places

 

[Aceon6]

they’re basically saying the place is sold out for everything but short programs on Wednesday and Thursday.

I believe that. The ads on tv and in the Boston Globe abruptly switched last week. The big promo piece that they placed in this Sunday’s insert is largely irrelevant.

Question… I’m assuming the “no re-entry” policy doesn’t apply to Tuesday. The practices start at 6:30 am and run until 11:00 pm. If prior experience is any indication, I expect few, if any, concession options. Can someone confirm?

 

[TanithandBenFan]

If I go to the dance and men's practices on Saturday morning, I won't be forced to stay in the arena for the FD will I? I couldn't remember the policy last year in Montreal, but I know we definitely left the arena to eat lunch. There's an hour between the end of the men's practice and the start of the FD.

 

[Aceon6]

If I go to the dance and men's practices on Saturday morning, I won't be forced to stay in the arena for the FD will I? I couldn't remember the policy last year in Montreal, but I know we definitely left the arena to eat lunch. There's an hour between the end of the men's practice and the start of the FD.

On Wednesday through Saturday, we HAVE to leave after each session. So you enter on the practice pass, exit, then reenter on the FD ticket.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

On Wednesday through Saturday, we HAVE to leave after each session. So you enter on the practice pass, exit, then reenter on the FD ticket.

Thanks! I wasn’t sure if they were considering the practice pass a session. In 2016 I tried to go to the RD practice and they insisted on scanning my RD ticket. I wanted to leave after practice so I didn’t want my event ticket scanned. I had to forego practice which really annoyed me after I took the T all the way over there.

 

[nylynnr]

I continue to be seriously impressed with the level of detail so many here plan their trips.

 

[Aceon6]

I continue to be seriously impressed with the level of detail so many here plan their trips.

We learn each time. Of course, nothing’s final for me until I see how the practice groups shake out and the draws for the longest sessions. Planning meals and side trips naturally follows.

Pro tip, download the start order PDFs to your phone before leaving each day. There’s WiFi in the arena, but it is really sloooow when 10,000 people are trying to use it.

 

[Rukia]

Question… I’m assuming the “no re-entry” policy doesn’t apply to Tuesday. The practices start at 6:30 am and run until 11:00 pm. If prior experience is any indication, I expect few, if any, concession options. Can someone confirm?

oh this is actually a good question. Has anyone asked?

 

[barbk]

• North End Italian restaurants - only a 10-15 walk away. Best to make reservations and study the menu ahead of time so you can order upon sitting down and make the most of that 1.5-2 hour break between events.

Isn't Cannoli a complete meal? Mike's for one day, Modern Pastry for another.