2021 4CC Sydney: early information & planning thread

[misskarne]

(hey I think I did very well I waited one whole day after this year's 4CC)

What we know

Dates: February 9 - 14 2021

Venue: Sydney Olympic Park (actual arena to be confirmed)

Social media: Twitter Instagram Facebook

Tips

Accommodation: Sydney Olympic Park, naturally, is chock-full of accommodation! There are numerous hotels to choose from, all within easy walking distance of every arena, and a lot of AirBnBs around. If ISA have managed to get the NSW Government to agree to run the direct train to the city for the whole event, you could also choose to stay in the city and get the train to the Park - it takes about 15-20 minutes from Central.

Weather: February in Sydney is likely to be hot hot hot! Bring your beach gear, because it's full summer. But leave your sunscreen at home - you're better off to pick up a bottle of the Cancer Council's SPF50+. Don't forget to slip, slop, slap, slide, and seek shade!

Getting to Sydney: It's about a 14 hour flight from Los Angeles to Sydney. Several US legacy carriers do this route, which is also served by Qantas and Virgin Australia. From Japan it's an easy 8 hour direct flight, or you can change planes at Singapore and be covered by most of the Asian airlines. If you're coming from Europe, you can choose to go through Dubai via Qantas or the Middle Eastern airlines; or you can take the overland route and change planes in Singapore.

Getting around Sydney: Sydney has a pretty sweet public transport system; trains, light rail and buses. Taxis and Ubers and Olas are also available. The system is reasonably easy to navigate and even allows you to use your credit card to tap and on and off instead of buying a pass! Make sure you check when you arrive, though, because not all internationally-issued cards will work with it.

And don't forget, you have plenty of friendly local Aussies right here on FSU who I'm sure will be happy to answer many questions!

 

[victorskid]

Just a quick note to point out that there is another country in North America which has direct connections to Sydney - Air Canada flies from Vancouver to Sydney. It is about 15 1/2 to 18 & 1/2 hours

 

[greenapple]

A direct flight from Vancouver to Sydney takes 15 ½ hours. It is 18 ½ with one stop.

 

[all_empty]

There are also directs from San Francisco to Sydney.

And public transportation in Sydney is fantastic.

 

[Lanie]

@misskarne You know I've gotta go and we can hang out again!

But 26 hours traveling scares me...

 

[4rkidz]

So my daughter is interested in this we both have friends in Australia and this would be a good excuse plus Feb is yuck winter for us both (although it’s winter all year round for her)... hmmm thanks @misskarne and @victorskid for the info

 

[barbk]

Any sense of what ticket pricing is likely to be?

 

[lexeoe]

isn't qudos bank arena the venue?

 

[misskarne]

isn't qudos bank arena the venue?

The venue hasn't been announced yet. The most logical place would be Qudos Bank but they haven't confirned yet.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

I'm going to make a "Marry Me, Paul Alster" banner to go with my "Ted Barton Appreciation Society" billboard.

Keeping my fingers crossed that Four Continents aren't moved to Nice at the eleventh hour.

 

[insideedgeua]

I was told that the Quaycentre is being considered. I believe that this is still in the Olympic Park area, close to Qudos Bank Arena but a somewhat smaller option.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

I was told that the Quaycentre is being considered. I believe that this is still in the Olympic Park area, close to Qudos Bank Arena but a somewhat smaller option.

If all else fails, I'm happy to freeze over my rumpus room floor.

 

[Rob]

Hmm, I owe my Sydney cousin a visit.

 

[misskarne]

I was told that the Quaycentre is being considered. I believe that this is still in the Olympic Park area, close to Qudos Bank Arena but a somewhat smaller option.

I've heard this too. It's 4500 seats.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

I was told that the Quaycentre is being considered. I believe that this is still in the Olympic Park area, close to Qudos Bank Arena but a somewhat smaller option.

It would make sense to hold Four Continents in a more intimate venue.

Sometimes when the event has been held outside Japan, it's been a bit sad to see a 12,000 seat arena with attendance at around 500 fans. Glad to see publicity already happening a year out.

 

[Bunny Hop]

I was told that the Quaycentre is being considered. I believe that this is still in the Olympic Park area, close to Qudos Bank Arena but a somewhat smaller option.

Looks like it's normally used for Gymnastics, based on the website. In terms of audience numbers, that probably makes sense.

 

[insideedgeua]

It would make sense to hold Four Continents in a more intimate venue.

Sometimes when the event has been held outside Japan, it's been a bit sad to see a 12,000 seat arena with attendance at around 500 fans. Glad to see publicity already happening a year out.

I hope it doesn’t mean fans miss out on seats though. Seoul was sold out but there were many empty seats in the stadium. Many of the Fanyus only came into the stadium for the last group of men. Even then, there were still many empty seats. I’m told that some fans purchased a seat, but with no intention to go. They were posting photos of their ticket on twitter and tagging them as ‘empty seat, but full support’.

I think that’s a real shame.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

I hope it doesn’t mean fans miss out on seats though. Seoul was sold out but there were many empty seats in the stadium. Many of the Fanyus only came into the stadium for the last group of men. Even then, there were still many empty seats. I’m told that some fans purchased a seat, but with no intention to go. They were posting photos of their ticket on twitter and tagging them as ‘empty seat, but full support’.

I think that’s a real shame.

Therein lies the risk. Mokdong Arena in Seoul only holds 5000 spectators, though.

Not being able to buy tickets because of block purchasing has already caused some concern for locals.

(This is totally against the rules, of course, but I wonder if anticipating ticket sales based on Yuzuru Hanyu's fan following, implies he is coerced into competing with the offer of an appearance fee. Apparently that used to happen at the World Professional Championships in Landover with the likes of Dorothy Hamill and other big names.)

I guess it's nice to support Yuzu by buying a ticket to the event. A purchase is a purchase, but it seems a bit extravagant not to attend the actual event apart from Hanyu, and to boast about it on social media.

 

[Erin]

I hope it doesn’t mean fans miss out on seats though. Seoul was sold out but there were many empty seats in the stadium. Many of the Fanyus only came into the stadium for the last group of men. Even then, there were still many empty seats. I’m told that some fans purchased a seat, but with no intention to go. They were posting photos of their ticket on twitter and tagging them as ‘empty seat, but full support’.

I think that’s a real shame.

Not to defend the Fanyus, but having spent 5 minutes looking at the #EmptySeatFullSupport on Twitter to entertain myself and a friend, my understanding of those who posted was that they were planning to go but stayed away because of coronavirus concerns, as many of those posting were from China. I particularly enjoyed the ones who posted that they stayed away because they were afraid of getting Hanyu sick.

Here is an example:

yuzuRRu on Twitter

“#空席の愛 #EmptySeatFullSupport #羽生結弦選手に届けメッセージ I had planed to go to Korea to cheer for you.But before I should’ve set off, I gave up.I couldn’t make sure whether I would be heathy when in the rink; I can’t put you in the risk of being infectious. May god bless you”

twitter.com

 

[misskarne]

Therein lies the risk. Mokdong Arena in Seoul only holds 5000 spectators, though.

Oh, really? I didn't realise.

I particularly enjoyed the ones who posted that they stayed away because they were afraid of getting Hanyu sick.

Yes, loved that. They didn't care about getting anyone else sick - you know, the people who they were more likely to be in contact with and have more chance of getting sick - but they only cared about Hanyu getting sick. You know, the guy they weren't going to be allowed near anyway.

Anyway, while I hope we sell it out, I do hope we manage to attract well-mannered fans who stay for all the skaters, not just their own beloved favourite.

 

[insideedgeua]

I totally get the bit about not attending due to health concerns at the moment.

It was a shame to be in a half empty arena though, with belongings on seats. Those fans had been in for the final group of men’s practice for the freeskate and then left the arena, only coming back for the final group of men.

 

[Aussie Willy]

I will probably be there as a volunteer through ISA.

 

[lexeoe]

anyone seen this?

Four Continents Championships 2021 (@4CC2021Sydney) | Twitter

The latest Tweets from Four Continents Championships 2021 (@4CC2021Sydney). Official account of the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2021 held in Sydney, Australia ⛸🇦🇺 #4ContsFigure #4ContsFigure2021 #4CC2021. Sydney Olympic Park, Australia

twitter.com

 

[victorskid]

anyone seen this?

Four Continents Championships 2021 (@4CC2021Sydney) | Twitter

The latest Tweets from Four Continents Championships 2021 (@4CC2021Sydney). Official account of the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2021 held in Sydney, Australia ⛸🇦🇺 #4ContsFigure #4ContsFigure2021 #4CC2021. Sydney Olympic Park, Australia

twitter.com

That account was very active during 4CCs 2020.

 

[tony]

Granted the world needs to be back to normal, but round-trip prices to Sydney right now during the event are extremely low from the States.

Found one Feb 9th-17th from Las Vegas for $391 round trip, as an example. Seattle to Sydney $364 from the 8th-15th.

Use Google Flights and play around from your location. Most of it is Air Canada from what I can see.

ETA- NYC to Sydney, if you’re on the east coast is also $364 for most dates surrounding the event.

 

[aftershocks]

^^ That's because right now, airlines are in trouble with all the current travel restrictions and precautions surrounding the health scare. It's great to be optimistic about traveling again. I was hoping to get to Florida this summer, but my plans are stalled.

Possibly it's worth grabbing low airfares at this point for 4CCs Sydney, but no one knows whether or how future competitions are going to be affected in terms of spectatorship concerns inside rinks, and even at this point, possible scheduling readjustments.

Certainly, the pricing is tempting.

it seems a bit extravagant not to attend the actual event apart from Hanyu, and to boast about it on social media.

Not only is it 'extravagant,' it's mind-boggling and dumbfounding...

Part of the low attendance at this year's 4CC had to do with health concerns.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Granted the world needs to be back to normal, but round-trip prices to Sydney right now during the event are extremely low from the States.

Found one Feb 9th-17th from Las Vegas for $391 round trip, as an example. Seattle to Sydney $364 from the 8th-15th.

Use Google Flights and play around from your location. Most of it is Air Canada from what I can see.

ETA- NYC to Sydney, if you’re on the east coast is also $364 for most dates surrounding the event.

Sadly with Australia closed to international visitors at the moment, you'd probably be given a personal escort back onto your departing flight at Sydney Airport.

We do have a nice duty free section in the arrivals lounge, though.

 

[misskarne]

Sadly with Australia closed to international visitors at the moment, you'd probably be given a personal escort back onto your departing flight at Sydney Airport.

We do have a nice duty free section in the arrivals lounge, though.

Tony noted this was for dates "during the event", ie, during 4CC 2021, in February next year, not right now. Hopefully, by then everything will have been back to normal for a while and we can host our event well.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Tony noted this was for dates "during the event", ie, during 4CC 2021, in February next year, not right now. Hopefully, by then everything will have been back to normal for a while and we can host our event well.

Yes. Noted that. Just thought it was a bit ambitious and optimistic on the airlines' part to offer those kinds of deals now, considering the current uncertain circumstances.

Of course, I hope the world is more settled by then, too.