sk8nlizard
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Thanks for this!
2022 Nationals in Nashville
- Thread starter acraven
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Thank you!
Interesting schedule with the group 1 separate in some cases - for pairs & dance.
Will they scan tickets twice so you can see Group 1 as well?
TanithandBenFan
Author of the Ice and Edge Series
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I thought they usually did separate tickets for the morning session in the past but there isn’t one this year. Hmm….
Aceon6
If my father had only stayed in Canada
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The overlap with Canadians is giving me agita! I would really enjoy the CAN dance fight, but it’s on at the same time as US men. Decisions, decisions.
Karen-W
Let the fan wars of the Olympic season begin!
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Uhm, that's a no-brainer, really. Seeing who gets the Canadian dance 4CCs spots does NOT trump seeing how the US men perform.
Aceon6
If my father had only stayed in Canada
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I’m a dance person. I may sacrifice a few US men, or have them on as background. I have 3 available screens and gig internet, so it’s doable.
Sylvia, do you have a link to purchase the golden tickets or is it just through email? My mom is the FOFS member but needs my help to purchase for us!
peibeck
Simply looking
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Yes, I just looked in my Google wallet at my Ticketmaster tickets, and the first one for that day is the men's SP at 2 p.m. not the Group 1 pairs and dance session, which starts earlier.
I could swear people told me they stopped breaking up the events like this, but... voila the USFS is back to being rude to low level teams in order to fit NBC's whims, apparently. ?
Arwen17
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People who have been to lots of previous nationals: Do you remember what kind of "opening" they used to have? Did they invite local skaters to "open" the competition? And I mean local skaters as in "normal" every day skaters, not up-and-coming local skaters who are landing triples. The Scott Hamilton FSC sent out an invite to nearby clubs to do an opening number. I'm not sure how widespread the invite was, but it was at least skating clubs within several hours driving distance of Nashville.
I had no idea US Nationals did that sort of thing. Is this unique and new, or something they do at every US Nationals?
Anyways, the bad news is they totally canceled it a few weeks ago, but didn't say why. I don't know if they were worried about restrictions changing or being unenforceable, or if they simply ran out of time or money to deal with it. Or maybe they flat-out couldn't squeeze it into the schedule. I know the schedule isn't as traditional as it normally is (moving the ladies event for example).
It was really disappointing to me because that would have been amazing to do. But I am super-curious why they offered it, and then a month later, took it away.
Glad I didn't update my hotel reservation because the practice session for the "opening" was going to be on Sunday at Bellevue arena and I wasn't planning to arrive until Monday when the first official Nationals sessions start.
I believe the opening would have been on Thursday, right before the first Championship events start. I guess there just won't be an opening at all this year. But still wondering if that's a "thing" at every Nationals or something new they were trying for this Nationals.
I had no idea US Nationals did that sort of thing. Is this unique and new, or something they do at every US Nationals?
Anyways, the bad news is they totally canceled it a few weeks ago, but didn't say why. I don't know if they were worried about restrictions changing or being unenforceable, or if they simply ran out of time or money to deal with it. Or maybe they flat-out couldn't squeeze it into the schedule. I know the schedule isn't as traditional as it normally is (moving the ladies event for example).
It was really disappointing to me because that would have been amazing to do. But I am super-curious why they offered it, and then a month later, took it away.
Glad I didn't update my hotel reservation because the practice session for the "opening" was going to be on Sunday at Bellevue arena and I wasn't planning to arrive until Monday when the first official Nationals sessions start.
I believe the opening would have been on Thursday, right before the first Championship events start. I guess there just won't be an opening at all this year. But still wondering if that's a "thing" at every Nationals or something new they were trying for this Nationals.
Carolla5501
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Well I guess we should just quit broadcasting it on television at all. Because we don’t want NBC to have any say in what’s happening.
And of course Toyota and the other sponsors won’t care if it’s not on television and nobody can watch it?
Somebody has to pay the bills and it isn’t ticket sales. Especially the last couple of years. Last year they were no tickets sales. this year if you look at the seating charts on Ticketmaster unless there’s a big last-minute push for the holidays this place is going to be fairly empty
Arwen17
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For some reason, they offered it, and then changed their minds a few weeks later. Not sure what changed in just a month. Surprised they offered it so late too. They were really going to toss a program together and create costumes (they asked for our measurements on the submission form) in just a month's time essentially? I guess you can, but that seems like such a clusterfk way of planning.
I'm sure it wasn't planned for this, but it was almost like they were baiting to try to get more people to buy tickets or be aware that Nationals is happening in Nashville. I was already going, regardless. But I could see some parents suddenly buying tickets if they thought their kid was going to be in the opening.
Arwen17
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I'm curious if it will look like Skate America. That place had a "50% full" feeling to it. Plenty of people were there, but there were also plenty of empty seats. I know some people are only buying tickets last minute for very specific events, since they are within driving distance. So there's that too.
Yuri
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This will be my 14th time attending the US Figure Skating Championships dating back to the mid-1980's and there's been an Opening Ceremonies at all of them. I think that all of them had participation by skaters from local figure skating clubs in fairly elaborate group numbers with cool lighting, with an occasional solo thrown in. Perhaps a famous retired World or Olympics skater would participate as well, especially if they had local roots. For example, I would assume Scott Hamilton would be featured prominently in any opening ceremonies in Nashville. Normally it was held in the evening before the first Championship-level event, so Thursday night sounds about right in this year's schedule.
I understood the pressures from network television--anyone remember the horrible days when US Nationals was split over two weekends for TV? Still, splitting the dance and pairs events in half is SOOOO DISRESPECTFUL to the initial flights of couples who have put in a full year's training and they will be denied the opportunity to perform before the same audience as the later skaters. It may even impact the judges' scores, hopefully not as badly as under the 6.0 system with ordinals. The overwhelming majority of fans won't even know that these earlier flights will take place, given the starting times on their tickets. I am curious how attendance will be handled for those without all-event tickets and only single-event tickets. It would seem to me that to avoid frequent clearing of the arena, they'll let everyone attend the first flight of pairs and dance as if it were a practice session, assuming you have any event ticket for that Saturday.
Presumably, you've been following the news about the new variant and associated uncertainties? As has been noted multiple times upthread, this is not a normal year, there are going to be changes, there is a lot of uncertainty and everyone involved with planning this and any other event is just trying to do their best as circumstances and the environment change. There also could have been logistical non-C19 reasons that it was canceled. Anyway, it's very likely that the Opening Ceremonies will still happen on Thursday night in some form - the local kids number was always just a part of it. And I'm sure Scott will be prominently featured.
TanithandBenFan
Author of the Ice and Edge Series
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I just looked at Ticketmaster and there are only a handful of seats left for the ladies FS. The other final events are pretty well sold also. Doesn't look like they're selling seats in the upper bowl, but the lower bowl doesn't look empty to my eye.
Carolla5501
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I just checked and you are correct. Ladies free seems pretty full, but... they still are only selling HALF of an arena. So figure that's about 8,000 tickets. For one event
Then go look at Ladies short I'd estimate half of the lower arena is sold and I think that's being generous (I am just going off of site and not accounting for "blocked" sections for judges, cameras, the commentators, media etc)
I doubt ticket sales break even for USFS at this event. I was there the last time and we sat in the 200 level seats so.... things have changed and not all of it is due to Covid. (They got close to 100,000 in a football stadium just down the road a few months ago. People in TN aren't in hiding LOL!)
Of course I think USFS gets the host city to take a huge share of the risk but when they lose big it makes it harder to find hosts for the next event
BittyBug
Childless Cat Lady
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Indeed they do. They long ago moved from a profit sharing model to one where they seek a minimum income guarantee.
peibeck
Simply looking
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I don't disagree that the USFSA is in a deal with the devil for their tv revenue, such as it is... however, I think it's also cavalier to dismiss how breaking up events is not disrespectful to their own athletes, without whom there is no sport to broadcast anyway. I mean, isn't the whole point of qualifying and making it to Nationals supposed to be about celebrating the best of our athletes in the chosen discipline?
skatingguy
Play-by-Play
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Maybe the USFS should do a better job of promoting the sport so that they had more negotiating power when negotiating the TV deal.
I'm only going to certain events this year so buying tickets for individual sessions. It looks like they're not selling the top sections at all, but lower section only has about 1/4 of tickets available -- at least for individual event sessions I've seen [I didn't look at pairs]. The center sections have only a handful of seats showing with more seats on the ends/corners. Maybe they are 'saved' for all-event tickets and actually available? But if it's only 50% or so full, I wish they were spreading us out a bit more. Some of the GP events had empty seats between spectators or groups to create distancing & they definitely aren't doing that at Nationals.
peibeck
Simply looking
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It's a non-professional, niche sport that still manages to get hours of national broadcast coverage... some during prime time, no less, even during non-Olympic years. The post "whack" era is long since gone. (And if the "whack" happened in today's fast moving media world, would probably be just a one week, at best, sensation.) Most small sports would kill to get the coverage ice skating does.
But the reality we are in, and have been for quite some time, is it is a different era for the sport. Most of USFSA's money comes from membership, not the tv contract. Was that way pre "whack," is back to being that way now.
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Carolla5501
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If you are just looking for one ticket, you may not be getting a full seating chart. They don’t tell you this but they hide seats from you if you’re a single because they’re trying not have anything isolated. Skate America for example would not sell me a ticket on the end of an aisle because I was solo It’s kind of a mess
But yes they are not selling any of the upper levels right now. Of course you don’t have to sit in your assigned seat. I know that considering there are a lot of empty seats in certain sections for a lot of the events that I’m going to and it looks like my row is full. I’ll probably just sit someplace else. Yes it might be a little higher up but it will also give me a little more space
Even in non-pandemic gears the only time I probably absolutely had to sit in the seat I purchased is for men or women’s finals. And no, I don’t upgrade I usually actually downgrade I move up
thank you for that. I suspected such. I actually tried to find out which seats were aisle (because TM no longer lets you search for that) but no one was particually helpful with that. I appreciate the reminder about moving seats. And I too, actually prefer to sit further up. Actually also prefer ends (selectively) for various reasons though my seats are all around this time.
MacMadame
Getting radicalized on YouTube
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I had a hard time figuring where my seats were in the row (because I forgot after I bought them) and someone posted a helpful link in this thread. If you scroll back a bit, you'll find the discussion and the links.
In general, most rows have 18-20 seats so if you see seat #20, it's on the end and #1 is on the end. 18 & 19 may be on the end if they are closer to the ice. (I have 18&19 for my row and we're on the end at the start of the $795 tickets.)
Spikefan
Yellow all over the ice
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I wanted a single aisle seat for Skate America and it was not available. I lucked out though as the first six seats in front of me remained empty throughout the entire event. I got my aisle seat and moved into the last row for the higher priced seating. May some of you get as lucky at Nationals.
Carolla5501
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Oh and I know no one on here would do this but if you self upgrade (or even self downgrade) it's BAD form to act put out when you have to move LOL!
Several years ago at Nationals I watched one woman create quite a scene when the rightful owners of the seats she was in showed up. She claimed that since she had been sitting there all week she should be allowed to stay
(I don't think squatters rights apply to seats in an arena) The usher luckily was not impressed with that argument
Several years ago at Nationals I watched one woman create quite a scene when the rightful owners of the seats she was in showed up. She claimed that since she had been sitting there all week she should be allowed to stay
(I don't think squatters rights apply to seats in an arena) The usher luckily was not impressed with that argumentUSFS sent out an email with info for attendees. Key points:
- face masks required for spectators unless actively eating or drinking
- clear bag policy is in effect
- tossing stuff onto the ice is discouraged
- language re: access to practice sessions for all event ticket holders is specific to Bridgestone Arena only
- no practice passes; the first session ticket for that day will be scanned instead
Carolla5501
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