2022 Nationals in Nashville

[Carolla5501]

wonder if the water fountains are on? Near me I have not seen the water fountain actually turned on since March 2020

 

[AnnM]

wonder if the water fountains are on? Near me I have not seen the water fountain actually turned on since March 2020

Same. They were also turned off at the Orleans Arena.

 

[Spikefan]

They were also turned off at the Orleans Arena.

It was horrible that first day of full practice, I did not know we could bring water. No water fountains and only a coffee stand open. I had a chai latte and a protein bar for lunch and @jkl thankfully brought me some water that afternoon (as I swatted intruders away from her front row seats). I would advise to bring water at least early in the week. If you have to pitch it that is better than going hours without water.

 

[overedge]

To no surprise, the Bridgestone Arena website still hasn't updated its protocols to reflect the USFS email. What a clusterf**k. We're not interested in masking up 10-12 hours per day for six days, so I will be pursuing a refund or looking to sell them my pair of 4th row center tickets online. I've got a condo on the Gulf Coast of Florida where we can watch all the skating for free on TV, no expensive downtown Nashville hotel, and no masks. Warmer weather and beaches during the day, too. Screw the USFS.

With that kind of attitude towards your own safety, and the safety of the audience and the skaters - good riddance. Don't let the airplane door hit you in the a** on the way out. And have fun in Florida! https://tinyurl.com/2p83u5xx

 

[Richard]

Hey Everyone! I am a new member here and first time poster.

I will be attending nationals this year and was wondering if the members here organize any type of get together at some point during the week. Back in the day I was a member of the MKF and always looked forward to meeting the other members at various skating events.

Also, I am unable to attend the gala (my flight leaves in the middle of the event). Please let me know if interested in my ticket. I’m in section 107, fourth row from the ice. All offers will be considered.

- Richard

 

[Alexa]

Deleted

 

[angi]

Christine Brennan is reporting that the event won't take a place in a bubble and won't enforce a vaccination mandate:
"Two weeks until US Figure Skating Olympic trials in Nashville and I’m told there will be no bubble. Unvaccinated will be allowed in arena, skaters’ hotel, etc. Masks required for fans in arena and at USFS events in hotel. How do Olympic hopefuls stay safe in that environment?"

I hope this isn't true because that's such an unnecessary risk for everyone involved.

 

[MacMadame]

I bet this was set up before Omicron was known about. Hopefully, they will re-institute the bubble now.

 

[Aceon6]

I don’t think you can bubble a hotel, especially one in a low vax area. The JGPs and GPs weren’t bubbled, nor were the Qualifying comps. It will be up to the athletes to stay as safe as possible. By now, they all should know what to do.

 

[angi]

I don’t think you can bubble a hotel, especially one in a low vax area. The JGPs and GPs weren’t bubbled, nor were the Qualifying comps. It will be up to the athletes to stay as safe as possible. By now, they all should know what to do.

Skate Canada was held in a bubble, so was NHK Trophy. I'm not sure about the rest of the competitions but I think it's likely at least some were in bubbles as well (I'm also not sure if it is required by ISU rules or not).

 

[Debbie S]

I’ve always carried the original bottle when I travel. But one of mine is also technically considered a controlled substance (it’s not really but apparently popular w kids recreationally) so it’s better to have the official labels to avoid questions. I also have asthma so inhalers.

No one at the arena is going to want to look inside your pill box. And even if they did, they wouldn't be able to ID your meds or know their FDA classification - they don't have med or pharmacy degrees. Unless you're planning to bring in a bag of weed, no one is going to be paying attention (and maybe not even then).


RE vax mandate....I think the only way we were ever going to see a vax or test req at Nats is if the local gov't or facility had the rule in place. USFS wasn't going to take on the responsibility of enforcing that. I'm glad they are keeping the mask req and hope there aren't any maskholes around. I do question why USFS would host the Oly sendoff and other extra events as normal - I think those should be small, low-key events with just the athletes, family members and VIPs.

 

[Carolla5501]

At this point it's probably way too late to do a bubble. To do that you have to have been working on setting it up so that the rest of us couldn't get into the bubble. (Dedicated floors on the hotel, dedicated dining space at the hotel etc...) It's also way to late to vax mandate the skaters (But if they didn't get the vaccination, it's on them at this point)

I expect skaters will be told "stay away from the fans" so we won't see them wandering around the arena at least until after they are done (and know they won't make the team )

I expect the "events" will not be cancelled because they need the $$. But I also expect you won't be accessing the skaters. So the send off will have them up on some stage far away from the fans, the breakfast will be virtual. Of course some of the events won't have current skaters anyway.

Wonder how Christine thinks they are staying safe now? I expect none of them are currently in a bubble. A LOT of them skate at rinks with public access, a lot of them do things like coach younger skaters for income, a lot of them have to do things like go to a grocery store to buy food. LOL Apparently in her world danger only exists at the event (Fantasy!)

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

Christine Brennan is reporting that the event won't take a place in a bubble and won't enforce a vaccination mandate:
"Two weeks until US Figure Skating Olympic trials in Nashville and I’m told there will be no bubble. Unvaccinated will be allowed in arena, skaters’ hotel, etc. Masks required for fans in arena and at USFS events in hotel. How do Olympic hopefuls stay safe in that environment?"

I hope this isn't true because that's such an unnecessary risk for everyone involved.

Our last Nationals was held in a bubble in Vegas. Why is the Nationals that's being held mere weeks before the Olympic Games not being held in a bubble at a minimum? Why drop this policy this year, the year of the Olympic Games? We know @USFigureSkating cares about earning Olympic medals. They are putting those medal hopes in jeopardy by exposing their potential medalists at nationals, which makes no sense.

Is it the case that the athletes are finding out about this just as we are? Because Brennan wrote:

Two-time national champion Alysa Liu just said she “didn’t know” about the situation in Nashville, saying “honestly, it will be a lot safer if everyone was vaccinated.”

 

[PRlady]

If Tennessee hosted an event that was suddenly bubbled it would be a political disaster, it's an extremely red state with a ton of people who have sued to open churches and evade vaccine requirements with religious exemptions. The minute USFS said you have to be vaccinated to attend, the state would countermand it.

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

...I do question why USFS would host the Oly sendoff and other extra events as normal - I think those should be small, low-key events with just the athletes, family members and VIPs.

Some of the meet and greet style events between athletes and fans involve food, which means masks will be off. This seems needlessly risky during this uptick in Covid, weeks before the Olympics. If they feel these events must be held at all, it'd be better to either not have food (so they can require masks), or else split the food part from the "meet the athlete" part at least. And still... I'm not feeling the love on the whole "meet the athletes and have breakfast with them so you can give them Covid a few weeks before the Olympics" thing.

 

[Brenda_Bottems]

A bubble in Tennessee? Surely you jest.

No one is forcing you to attend this event. If you are uncomfortable with the lack of safety protocols (or conversely,the covid theatre mask mandate),you are well within your right to watch the event on Peacock from your bubble-encased living quarters.

The inflammatory virtue signaling is unnecessary and rather tiresome at this point.

-BB

 

[sk8nlizard]

Our last Nationals was held in a bubble in Vegas. Why is the Nationals that's being held mere weeks before the Olympic Games not being held in a bubble at a minimum? Why drop this policy this year, the year of the Olympic Games? We know @USFigureSkating cares about earning Olympic medals. They are putting those medal hopes in jeopardy by exposing their potential medalists at nationals, which makes no sense.

Is it the case that the athletes are finding out about this just as we are? Because Brennan wrote:

I believe the skaters know/knew there was no bubble as I was told from someone competing over the weekend about the lack of bubble. They did say there had to be a negative test but didn’t indicate when. I imagine most of the skaters, will do as they’ve been doing at competitions and stay away from fans, restaurants, etc.
Also, I agree with @Carolla5501, these skaters haven’t been in bubbles up until now. They skate with tons of other skaters, many have been performing in holiday shows around lots of others, they teach lessons, and other such things. I’m sure they will try to decrease what they do to try to minimize exposure the next couple of weeks but a bubble in the US, especially in a southern state is just not going to happen. I would hope many are boosted, and I honestly expect at least a few to have to withdraw because of positive tests. I would be interested to hear about quarantining because currently in the US you don’t have to quarantine if you are vaxxed and a close contact (although I live in the south and we don’t ever hear if we are close contacts or not, even at my kid’s schools).

 

[Carolla5501]

Some of the meet and greet style events between athletes and fans involve food, which means masks will be off. This seems needlessly risky during this uptick in *********, weeks before the Olympics. If they feel these events must be held at all, it'd be better to either not have food (so they can require masks), or else split the food part from the "meet the athlete" part at least. And still... I'm not feeling the love on the whole "meet the athletes and have breakfast with them so you can give them ********* a few weeks before the Olympics" thing.

Odd are 100 to 1 that there won't be current skaters or at least current skaters going to the games at your breakfast. So you won't get 1, 2 and 3 from the Ladies, but 7, 8,9 10 etc....

As for Brennan, she's a good reporter, but I really dislike the use of twitter. It leads to out of context and partial statements like the "let's rile everyone on" quote from Alysa saying she "didn't know" about the situation. What situation? 'bubble, vaccination rates' etc. (Not to mention she goes to ask the 'kid" who probably has people doing more for her then someone like Bradie, Jason etc..)

 

[Yuri]

At this point it's probably way too late to do a bubble. To do that you have to have been working on setting it up so that the rest of us couldn't get into the bubble. (Dedicated floors on the hotel, dedicated dining space at the hotel etc...) It's also way to late to vax mandate the skaters (But if they didn't get the vaccination, it's on them at this point)

I expect skaters will be told "stay away from the fans" so we won't see them wandering around the arena at least until after they are done (and know they won't make the team )

I expect the "events" will not be cancelled because they need the $$. But I also expect you won't be accessing the skaters. So the send off will have them up on some stage far away from the fans, the breakfast will be virtual. Of course some of the events won't have current skaters anyway.

Wonder how Christine thinks they are staying safe now? I expect none of them are currently in a bubble. A LOT of them skate at rinks with public access, a lot of them do things like coach younger skaters for income, a lot of them have to do things like go to a grocery store to buy food. LOL Apparently in her world danger only exists at the event (Fantasy!)

As much as I hate to agree with you, there's no way the USFS is going to implement a "bubble" for skaters, coaches, and officials now --the ship has already sailed on that one. They also won't institute any vax mandates or testing because that would bump up against the Executive Order of the Governor of Tennessee, which did permit private organizations to institute masking mandates even as it banned them from government buildings such as public schools. They've been selling expensive tickets to the RISE and Hall of Fame ceremonies to the public, which is extremely inconsistent with a masking mandate as it's virtually impossible to hold a cocktail party under such conditions. For example, my hometown held its annual four-day art festival in early November with a strict masking mandate for the indoor galleries, WITH THE EXCEPTION of the premiere night cocktail party with VIPs paying $200 per head. It's sort of difficult to stand around with a drink in one hand, finger food in the other, and play with your mask. So they gave up. Typical selective enforcement...the $15 attendees masked-up for three days, but not the $200 VIPs the first night. Guess which night that I attended...

LOL at Christine Brennan sinking her teeth into this story. She's wrong, as usual, even calling Nationals the US Olympic Trials (skating is NOT gymnastics which separates its Nationals from its Olympic Trials). She should know the local Tennessee political situation which puts the USFS in a box where they tried to split the difference by not enforcing vax mandates (per law or EO) but instituting mask mandates. Clearly, no one is going to be satisfied at the compromise--and looking at Twitter, it appears Christine has really riled them up to force the USFS to lock everything down in Nashville. She even managed a quote from Alysa Liu...

Anyone know anyone who wants a pair of 4th row center tickets directly across from the judges?

So yes, I will be watching everything live on NBC, USA, and even the Peacock. The USFS has spoken. Will be interesting to see if old Christine will succeed in pressuring them to tighten things up further.

 

[AnnM]

Some of the meet and greet style events between athletes and fans involve food, which means masks will be off. This seems needlessly risky during this uptick in *********, weeks before the Olympics. If they feel these events must be held at all, it'd be better to either not have food (so they can require masks), or else split the food part from the "meet the athlete" part at least. And still... I'm not feeling the love on the whole "meet the athletes and have breakfast with them so you can give them ********* a few weeks before the Olympics" thing.

At Skate America's FOFS breakfast, the currently competing athletes appeared via Zoom --- only Mirai and Polina who were hosting were in the room with spectators and they didn't stick around to mingle. It wasn't ideal mainly due to technical difficulties (if anyone from USFS is reading this please put a microphone near the laptop's built in speaker), but I'd rather they do something like that again at this point as opposed to the typical mix n' mingle.

 

[Carolla5501]

At Skate America's FOFS breakfast, the currently competing athletes appeared via Zoom --- only Mirai and Polina who were hosting were in the room with spectators and they didn't stick around to mingle. It wasn't ideal mainly due to technical difficulties (if anyone from USFS is reading this please put a microphone near the laptop's built in speaker), but I'd rather they do something like that again at this point as opposed to the typical mix n' mingle.

So here's the "promo" for FOFS breakfast

Join in the fun and support Team USA at the annual Friends of Figure Skating breakfast (hoping to have Polina Edmunds host). Ticket information will be sent to Friends of Figure Skating members soon. If you’re not already a Friend, become a member HERE. Friends of Figure Skating will receive a specific email to join the breakfast and.

The thing that jumps out to me... they don't really say you actually see a skater I think in the past it's been advertised as you will meet and greet!

 

[AnnM]

So here's the "promo" for FOFS breakfast

Join in the fun and support Team USA at the annual Friends of Figure Skating breakfast (hoping to have Polina Edmunds host). Ticket information will be sent to Friends of Figure Skating members soon. If you’re not already a Friend, become a member HERE. Friends of Figure Skating will receive a specific email to join the breakfast and.

The thing that jumps out to me... they don't really say you actually see a skater I think in the past it's been advertised as you will meet and greet!

Another email mentioned bringing athletes in and photo ops though. Who knows what USFS is thinking.

Friends of Figure Skating Breakfast

Sunday, Jan. 9 | 9-11 a.m.

Join in the fun and support Team USA at the annual Friends of Figure Skating breakfast. This popular event brings Team USA athletes to you in a casual setting perfect for photos in the Lexus Lounge at Bridgestone Arena.

 

[overedge]

"Casual setting perfect for photos" might mean "you and them on a Zoom screen".

 

[missing]

My guess is Alysa Liu was asked about the bubble because it was her turn to be interviewed.

Lynn Rutherford

@LynnRutherford
·
1h

On her teleconference, Alysa Liu told reporters she doesn't feel much pressure heading into nationals: "I've started to care less about the expectations .... less about what other people say," she said, adding, "I've just matured."

Asked whether her triple axel was getting more consistent, Alysa replied, "I hope so, I'm doing it a lot." She said she does not anticipate trying a quad in Nashville.

 

[Carolla5501]

Another email mentioned bringing athletes in and photo ops though. Who knows what USFS is thinking.

Friends of Figure Skating Breakfast

Sunday, Jan. 9 | 9-11 a.m.

Join in the fun and support Team USA at the annual Friends of Figure Skating breakfast. This popular event brings Team USA athletes to you in a casual setting perfect for photos in the Lexus Lounge at Bridgestone Arena.

They are thinking "opps" we probably aren't going to be able to have skaters there so change the promo blurb and hope no one remembers the email

And Pauline would probably count as a TeamUSA athlete. It doesn't say "current"

 

[missing]

If Tennessee hosted an event that was suddenly bubbled it would be a political disaster, it's an extremely red state with a ton of people who have sued to open churches and evade vaccine requirements with religious exemptions. The minute USFS said you have to be vaccinated to attend, the state would countermand it.

Actually if the USFS had insisted on it, the Bridgestone Arena would have required vaccinations/negative tests for audience attendants. So the decision not to was the USFS's.

Evanescence & Halestorm COVID Protocol

All ticketed audience members attending the Evanescence & Halestorm show on Friday, Dec. 3 will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or show a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test administered within 72 hours prior to the event (i) by a healthcare professional, or (ii) with a sample collected at home that is sent to a medical laboratory for processing with a link to the results that guests can print from a medical/lab based platform. The negative COVID-19 test results must include the guest’s name and the date of the test. Event entry requirements subject to change.
For all Evanescence & Halestorm show information please click here

 

[Sylvia]

... and looking at Twitter, it appears Christine has really riled them up to force the USFS to lock everything down in Nashville. She even managed a quote from Alysa Liu...

Alysa was the first to have her pre-Nationals media call today and Brennan will likely pose the same question to the the other skaters she chooses to listen in on.

 

[overedge]

The skaters (or at least some of them) not having been in a bubble up until now is not a valid reason to not have bubbles at US Nationals. They will be exposed to way more people every day at a multi-day arena-sized event with spectators than they have been in their regular activities.

 

[overedge]

Alysa was the first to have her pre-Nationals media call today and Brennan will likely pose the same question to the the other skaters she chooses to listen in on.

LOL at the poster bashing Brennan for allegedly being an opportunist, when that same poster jumps on every possible opportunity to bash Brennan.

 

[million$momma]

I am shocked that Nationals is being held in Nashville. Could the current event be cancelled and then relocated to a state where maintaining a bubble would be doable? I worry for the health of the US athletes.