‘26-27 Site Rumors Nationals & Skate America

I have attended quite a few Skate Americas and several Skate Canadas but US Nats will always hold a special place in my heart because it's just a different sort of experience as a skating fan. From attending US Nats for so many years, I've literally watched some of these skaters from when they were just starting off to when they win World or Olympic gold medals (looking at you Nathan Chen, Chock & Bates, and Alysa Liu among others). Everyone is different though and I don't think there's a right or wrong answer here so of course this is just my opinion. There's also the benefit of spending a long amount of time with great friends that I only get to see once a year so that counts for me as well. I am SO ready for St. Louis! :cheer:
 
I enjoyed Skate America the few times I went but it's not really enough skaters. At least the GPF has the Juniors so you get more skating. I think Nationals is fine if you don't try to do everything.

I don't like how Nationals structured the FS/FD this year. With the first groups being done much earlier than the final groups. It's just weird and makes it seem like those first groups don't count. If they are going to do something like that, just have the final groups advance from the SP and don't pretend they care about the first group and their results.
 
MacMadame said:
I enjoyed Skate America the few times I went but it's not really enough skaters. At least the GPF has the Juniors so you get more skating. I think Nationals is fine if you don't try to do everything.
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Senior and junior singles fields have 12 skaters total in the Final, which is the same as any regular-season Grand Prix. The dancer and pairs fields are smaller at GP regular season events, but not drastically so.

Anyways, I much preferred Dallas. If it weren’t for my friend who already had everything lined up including transport from Albany to Lake Placid, I wouldn’t have went. Way too much work with the logistics of available flights, having to stay Sunday afternoon with the way they have events that day, and so on. The town was charming, but too much work.
 
MacMadame said:
I don't like how Nationals structured the FS/FD this year. With the first groups being done much earlier than the final groups. It's just weird and makes it seem like those first groups don't count. If they are going to do something like that, just have the final groups advance from the SP and don't pretend they care about the first group and their results.
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They've been doing it like that for years now for TV, so that they can show the final flights live. And yeah, it's rude.
 
I love Lake Placid and go there for vacation anyway so one more trip is great for me. It’s a long drive, but no trains or planes, plus my friend has a house on Main next to the Golden Arrow so I have a free stay for as long as I want. I went to LP 3 times in 2025.
 
HeatherC said:
I'm all in on them coming to Columbus, OH again. That US Nats was incredibly well run, in a great area with lots of food options, and the ice issue would be non existent since they are such a big complex with the practice rink right there. It's also not far from the airport. Come back to Ohio! :cheer:
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Agreed! I selfishly want it to go back there because it’s only a 2.5 hour drive for me… but man the atmosphere in that arena was amazing!
 
I really loved Lake Placid getting there was a pain in the butt. I’m so grateful that @Firedancer could pick me up at the airport!

I would love for a skating event to come near me, but I don’t think that would happen. I think Columbus was probably the best nationals I’ve been to because everyone was so into it.
 
I'd be happy if Nationals were in Columbus again, just because it was amazing having the practice rink in the same building. Hard to beat that setup from a practical standpoint. Also lots of hotels within very easy walking distance. Logistically, it was very convenient, and the crowds were great.
 
If Salt Lake City turns out to be the host city, I urge potential ticket purchasers to be aware of two critical issues we experienced at the 1999 Nationals, when the primary events were held downtown at the Delta Center. Both problems affected sightlines and were caused by laying down a large ice sheet in an arena built for a smaller basketball court. To install the ice, they had to remove several rows of seats, with the result that:

- There were projections from the upper-level seating area blocking the view of a significant part of the ice. This definitely affected the lower rows--maybe the entire long sides of the lower bowl (I don't remember).

- Seats were positioned much higher above the ice than usual. We had an excellent view of the parts in the skaters' hair but really couldn't tell the height of jumps, whether the free foot hit the ice during jump landings. It was horrible for those seated in the lower rows; I don't know how big an issue it was for those higher up, and I don't know whether there was a noticeable problem from the upper bowl.

The sightlines were so bad that USFSA sent letters offering refunds to all-event ticket purchasers after it became aware of the situation.

That arena was totally unacceptable for figure skating. Be very, very cautious about any claims it has been fixed. They discussed raising the ice sheet before the arena was used for the SLC Olympics but did not do so, supposedly because of the cost. I cannot imagine they would undertake such an effort for the 2027 Nationals.

Before buying tickets to any figure-skating event or show in SLC, be sure you know exactly which arena is being used. The secondary arena for the 1999 Nationals was the E Center in West Valley City. It was fine and is the home ice for a hockey team. That arena is now called the Maverik Center. I don't know whether USFS would consider it large enough to host Nationals.
 
acraven said:
If Salt Lake City turns out to be the host city, I urge potential ticket purchasers to be aware of two critical issues we experienced at the 1999 Nationals, when the primary events were held downtown at the Delta Center. Both problems affected sightlines and were caused by laying down a large ice sheet in an arena built for a smaller basketball court. To install the ice, they had to remove several rows of seats, with the result that:

- There were projections from the upper-level seating area blocking the view of a significant part of the ice. This definitely affected the lower rows--maybe the entire long sides of the lower bowl (I don't remember).

- Seats were positioned much higher above the ice than usual. We had an excellent view of the parts in the skaters' hair but really couldn't tell the height of jumps, whether the free foot hit the ice during jump landings. It was horrible for those seated in the lower rows; I don't know how big an issue it was for those higher up, and I don't know whether there was a noticeable problem from the upper bowl.

The sightlines were so bad that USFSA sent letters offering refunds to all-event ticket purchasers after it became aware of the situation.

That arena was totally unacceptable for figure skating. Be very, very cautious about any claims it has been fixed. They discussed raising the ice sheet before the arena was used for the SLC Olympics but did not do so, supposedly because of the cost. I cannot imagine they would undertake such an effort for the 2027 Nationals.

Before buying tickets to any figure-skating event or show in SLC, be sure you know exactly which arena is being used. The secondary arena for the 1999 Nationals was the E Center in West Valley City. It was fine and is the home ice for a hockey team. That arena is now called the Maverik Center. I don't know whether USFS would consider it large enough to host Nationals.
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Maverik Center is the designated venue for 2034, so I'd bet hard cash that's the likely venue for any FS events in SLC during the next 8 years.
 
What I’ve never really understood about US figure skating is you have fans at an event. It looks like crowds are pretty good from what I’m seeing on television. Some of them are probably local. Maybe they fall in love with it. Maybe you could convince them they want to go to Salt Lake City or wherever it is next year if you were advertising or selling tickets or something


But apparently taking the momentum from one event and use it to market another event would be Illogical. 😂 (of course I’ve seen several commercials for stars on us which seems to be using this event to market upcoming shows)
 
Carolla5501 said:
What I’ve never really understood about US figure skating is you have fans at an event. It looks like crowds are pretty good from what I’m seeing on television. Some of them are probably local. Maybe they fall in love with it. Maybe you could convince them they want to go to Salt Lake City or wherever it is next year if you were advertising or selling tickets or something


But apparently taking the momentum from one event and use it to market another event would be Illogical. 😂 (of course I’ve seen several commercials for stars on us which seems to be using this event to market upcoming shows)
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acraven said:
If Salt Lake City turns out to be the host city, I urge potential ticket purchasers to be aware of two critical issues we experienced at the 1999 Nationals, when the primary events were held downtown at the Delta Center. Both problems affected sightlines and were caused by laying down a large ice sheet in an arena built for a smaller basketball court. To install the ice, they had to remove several rows of seats, with the result that:

- There were projections from the upper-level seating area blocking the view of a significant part of the ice. This definitely affected the lower rows--maybe the entire long sides of the lower bowl (I don't remember).

- Seats were positioned much higher above the ice than usual. We had an excellent view of the parts in the skaters' hair but really couldn't tell the height of jumps, whether the free foot hit the ice during jump landings. It was horrible for those seated in the lower rows; I don't know how big an issue it was for those higher up, and I don't know whether there was a noticeable problem from the upper bowl.

The sightlines were so bad that USFSA sent letters offering refunds to all-event ticket purchasers after it became aware of the situation.

That arena was totally unacceptable for figure skating. Be very, very cautious about any claims it has been fixed. They discussed raising the ice sheet before the arena was used for the SLC Olympics but did not do so, supposedly because of the cost. I cannot imagine they would undertake such an effort for the 2027 Nationals.

Before buying tickets to any figure-skating event or show in SLC, be sure you know exactly which arena is being used. The secondary arena for the 1999 Nationals was the E Center in West Valley City. It was fine and is the home ice for a hockey team. That arena is now called the Maverik Center. I don't know whether USFS would consider it large enough to host Nationals.
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Due to the transfer of an NHL team, Utah Mammoth, to SLC, many modifications have been made to Delta Center to improve the sight lines when ice is up. These improvements will
continue, once the NHL season is over, so possibly that will help if US Nationals goes to SLC.
 
crzesk8dad said:
Due to the transfer of an NHL team, Utah Mammoth, to SLC, many modifications have been made to Delta Center to improve the sight lines when ice is up. These improvements will
continue, once the NHL season is over, so possibly that will help if US Nationals goes to SLC.
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Good news!
 
From :sekret: I was told today SLC is the location and the smaller arena (Maverick) will be the venue.

I've heard 4 different possibilities for SKAM.

In eons past they did used to market the next nationals and Skate America a year+ in advance and would have booths for the event(s). Although I honestly don't remember that happening often in the post Kwan era. 2016 Boston Worlds might be an exception, I seem to remember them having a booth more than a year in advance.

I'm just relieved there were large crowds here in St Louis. While it's a big sports supporting community, figure skating isn't that popular. If it wasn't an Olympic year, I'm not sure the attendance would have been so high. It seemed like a big mix of die hards and curious locals both came out, especially these last two nights of competition.
 
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peibeck said:
Since I've heard 4 different possibilities I didn't think it was relevant, but the cities I've heard mentioned are: Henderson (Las Vegas), NV; Everett, WA; Eugene, OR; and Milwaukee, WI.

ETA: Don't blame me if it turns out to be Peoria! :P
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Eugene cannot be an option. The only ice arena there is at the fairgrounds (for their very minor league hockey team) and it's capacity is only 2700. Matthew Knight Arena at UO doesn't have ice-making capabilities.

Mind, I'd 100% go if it's in Eugene, but I have a difficult time believing Eugene is a realistic option, lol.
 
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Karen-W said:
Eugene cannot be an option. The only ice arena there is at the fairgrounds (for their very minor league hockey team) and it's capacity is only 2700. Matthew Knight Arena at UO doesn't have ice-making capabilities.

Mind, I'd 100% go if it's in Eugene, but I have a difficult time believing Eugene is a realistic option, lol.
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Maybe the person who told me meant Everett then? 🤷‍♂️
 
Karen-W said:
Eugene cannot be an option. The only ice arena there is at the fairgrounds (for their very minor league hockey team) and it's capacity is only 2700. Matthew Knight Arena at UO doesn't have ice-making capabilities.
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Wasn't SCOB's capacity 2000 or less? They may want to keep it smaller for the post-Olympic year

Though, IMO, SCOB was too small and it would be way too small now given renewed interest with Alysa, Ilia, etc plus 2022 was still post-C0vid with masks, etc.
 
ChillSkate said:
Wasn't SCOB's capacity 2000 or less? They may want to keep it smaller for the post-Olympic year

Though, IMO, SCOB was too small and it would be way too small now given renewed interest with Alysa, Ilia, etc plus 2022 was still post-C0vid with masks, etc.
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Based on the pics I found when I was googling the arena in Eugene, I don't even think it has stadium seating, but rather mostly bleachers. There is NO way that it would ever be an option for SkAm.
 
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