‘26-27 Site Rumors Nationals & Skate America

[DORISPULASKI]

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.

The Facility – The Skating Club of Boston

2,500 in the main rink, and there are two additional rinks on site

 

[Aimless]

Do you live in the area?

Southern Vermont. Easy scenic drive, LP a familiar lovely small town, reasonable accommodations, pleasant walk back and forth to arena. Going to competitions gets so expensive and not all that satisfying for the price. For me, in-person attendance is overrated. After attending SA in November, I immediately rewatched all the long programs on Peacock and they looked/I could see SO much better: good close camera angles, music and scoring data, replay, commentary. There are still reasons to attend in person: to hang with other fans, watch practice, see skaters perform the impossible, and applaud until my hands hurt. But if it’s not cheap and easy (LP) I’m staying home.

 

[Capt. DeSoto]

Is USFS for certain re-introducing championships for the lower levels? Just Novice, or also Intermediate?

As much as I disliked the split-venue experience, Norwood and Boston Garden would work well given the increased load. With the generally lower attendance of the short programs and with how nice the main SCoB arena is, they could hold everything but the final day at Norwood then do a full day event at The Garden. All four disciplines for one huge all-in-one championship day of skating. That could certainly keep costs down for USFS. One question is whether NBC would be amenable to this. Maybe live Peacock for the fans, and primetime chop ups for the casual masses.

The same sort of arrangement could also happen in the Philly area between IronWorks IceWorks and an arena in the city. IceWorks has 4 rinks I think, but doesn't have that nice and pretty main beauty rink that SCoB has.

 

[Debbie S]

Is USFS for certain re-introducing championships for the lower levels? Just Novice, or also Intermediate?

Yes, Juv through Novice, like they used to.

The same sort of arrangement could also happen in the Philly area between IronWorks and an arena in the city. Ironworks has 4 rinks I think, but doesn't have that nice and pretty main beauty rink that SCoB has.

Um, you mean IceWorks in Aston?

 

[just tuned in]

Yes, Juv through Novice, like they used to.

Um, you mean IceWorks in Aston?

IceWorks has four surfaces, so it is great for practice ice. The main surface has just metal bench seating, which is not so good, even for lower-level competitions. Downtown Philly has several arena possibilities, though, including the U of Penn rink.

 

[Capt. DeSoto]

IceWorks has four surfaces, so it is great for practice ice. The main surface has just metal bench seating, which is not so good, even for lower-level competitions. Downtown Philly has several arena possibilities, though, including the U of Penn rink.

Yes, I meant IceWorks, sorry. I keep messing up and saying IronWorks because of a gym I went to ages ago, lol.

Another similar solution in the mid Atlantic region would be The Gardens Ice Haus in Laurel, MD mixed with an arena in DC (or Baltimore).

Same sort of meh seating as Aston.

 

[Rob]

Milwaukee would be a great location - MKE is a pretty good domestic airport and ORD is major international airport that is only 1 hour away. Lots of hotels. Plus they've had good attendance with events in the Midwest lately.

I love Milwaukee, what a fun city.

 

[Debbie S]

Another similar solution in the mid Atlantic region would be The Gardens Ice Haus in Laurel, MD mixed with an arena in DC (or Baltimore).

House. In English anyway.

The Gardens hosted South Atlantic Regionals in 2003 and nothing (Regionals, Sectionals) since. Either the rink/club doesn't want a large event or USFS didn't think the facility met its needs.

And yes, metal bleacher seating like in Aston.

 

[acraven]

I've heard the Laurel rink is unusually cold--and that's compared to other training rinks, rather than major arenas. It's difficult to tolerate training-rink conditions day after day after day; two days for lower-level events at Nationals is challenging enough. The secondary venue in St. Louis was extremely inconveniently located (and it's use was not disclosed until after all-event tickets went on sale), but the seats had backs, and there was decent food available if you had time to wait for it.

Another problem with most training rinks is lack of decent public-transportation access, often coupled with a dearth of nearby hotels. The Nationals schedule is brutal; adding commuting time each day makes attending less attractive for many of us. And then there's the cost; Centene was a $35 to $65 (plus tip) one-way ride from downtown St. Louis.

 

[SkateSand]

All sound like good locations and several I've attended in the past, but I have to root for Eugene - I could go to that one!

 

[Jammers]

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.

I'd love to go to Eugene mainly to rub it in how the Ducks got destroyed by the Hoosiers.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

My sources told me it’s going to be at the pink pony club, West Hollywood.