2025 Skate America location/dates

[Karen-W]

I would say it started to become a trend 20 years ago but also it exploded during the pandemic.

Btw, they have a commuter train now from Stockton to San Jose. It helps, but traffic in our town is crazy because of the people who live east of us but work west of us. There are a lot of places where you can't get there directly via a freeway so have to cross through.

Trust me when I tell you, it was a trend 30 years ago. ACE came into existence BECAUSE of the demand created by the commuters who were already making that drive in the early '90s.

 

[MacMadame]

The ACE train goes right by my house, btw. M-F, 11 minutes after the hour.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Driving two and a half hours in heavy traffic from Burbank to Anaheim can be.

Absolutely, but if there's an event in Anaheim there's no need to fly into Burbank

One time on vacation we drove from Anaheim to Lake Elsinore during rush hour to a minor league baseball game, and I didn't think we were going to survive lol.

 

[barbk]

Absolutely, but if there's an event in Anaheim there's no need to fly into Burbank

One time on vacation we drove from Anaheim to Lake Elsinore during rush hour to a minor league baseball game, and I didn't think we were going to survive lol.

Especially with Santa Ana/John Wayne airport so very close.

 

[barbk]

If it is Tempe, be cautious about hotels in the northern part of Scottsdale. Scottsdale stretches for 31 miles, and it is a LONG haul from the north back to Tempe.

Plus, if you stay at the Scottsdale Princess, you have to be careful that the valets don't give away your car like they did with my daughter's 2-day-old vehicle.

 

[kwanfan1818]

If it's Tempe and close to light rail, there are a lot of options near the PHX stop, within two-four blocks on the opposite side of the airport light rail station. I often stayed there rather than in downtown Phoenix, when those hotels were pricey, and just zipped up on the train. I could leave my bag at the hotel, and then pick it up later in the day and grab the airport shuttle bus from the light rail station to the airport. They also have discounted passes, and I've always found passes more convenient than having to buy individual tickets.

 

[Carolla5501]

So it’s the end of April. Well... I guess we get to wait until May

 

[Debbie S]

So it’s the end of April. Well... I guess we get to wait until May

You got me all excited when I saw the thread bumped, thinking there was news.

 

[peibeck]

You got me all excited when I saw the thread bumped, thinking there was news.

USFS always plays an April Fools joke saying they'll announce SKAM in April but then we're lucky if we find out by mid-May.

 

[Karen-W]

USFS always plays an April Fools joke saying they'll announce SKAM in April but then we're lucky if we find out by mid-May.

Well, last year the SkAm and Nats dates/locations were announced on April 23, so I don't think a "sometime in April" general comment was a joke/prank.

It may just be that things have been slowed with the CEO search coming to its end, etc.

 

[Carolla5501]

So the NFL release date is May 14. If an NFL city has indicated "if we don't have a home game we will take you" that MIGHT be a consideration (I admit it's a strech)

 

[ChillSkate]

Maybe they feel like they can / should wait a little longer since Skate America will be in November. I also got excited though when I saw this thread bumped, hoping there was news!

 

[Willin]

I'm surprised that San Jose and Portland are not considerations.

East Coast/Midwest skaters in synchro hate travelling to the West Coast due to cost, but even they loved Portland sectionals so much that Portland was almost immediately given Nationals the next year. It made them money and got local headlines buzzing about skating. San Jose also has a new arena smaller than SAP but good for a SA audience that opened a couple years back. Neither have NFL teams and both have non-NBA arenas that can be used.

It's probably that neither place bid for it this year, but I know SJ is interested in bidding for more skating events - especially given the great local talent.

 

[sk9tingfan]

I'm surprised that San Jose and Portland are not considerations.

East Coast/Midwest skaters in synchro hate travelling to the West Coast due to cost, but even they loved Portland sectionals so much that Portland was almost immediately given Nationals the next year. It made them money and got local headlines buzzing about skating. San Jose also has a new arena smaller than SAP but good for a SA audience that opened a couple years back. Neither have NFL teams and both have non-NBA arenas that can be used.

It's probably that neither place bid for it this year, but I know SJ is interested in bidding for more skating events - especially given the great local talent.

Portland is wnderful, even it is at the other end of the earth. When I lived in NJ, it took 6 1/2 hours!

 

[Willin]

@sk9tingfan They run their events well - better than some more experienced skating hosts - and their airport has greatly expanded. They now have a few nonstop flights to Asia and Europe and many single stop flights to other continents. I think it's definitely a doable host.

I think Portland is also a great example of why it's good to host events in smaller skating markets: it had a skating scene pre-those events, but it was small. After them I noticed quite a growth in synchro and skating in the PNW. All the local news stories and hullabaloo around these events get people to try skating. Even if many don't stick with it, that can still mean there's more skaters than there could've been otherwise.

Working at rinks in the Bay Area, I can tell you first hand how much of a positive effect it has on class enrollment to host events like Nationals.

 

[Debbie S]

Ticket sales for 2023 Nats in San Jose were pretty low. I'm not sure USFS is going to want to go back there, but maybe if the new smaller arena is cheap enough.

IIRC, when Portland hosted SA, it looked fairly empty on TV.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

@sk9tingfan They run their events well - better than some more experienced skating hosts - and their airport has greatly expanded. They now have a few nonstop flights to Asia and Europe and many single stop flights to other continents. I think it's definitely a doable host.

I think Portland is also a great example of why it's good to host events in smaller skating markets: it had a skating scene pre-those events, but it was small. After them I noticed quite a growth in synchro and skating in the PNW. All the local news stories and hullabaloo around these events get people to try skating. Even if many don't stick with it, that can still mean there's more skaters than there could've been otherwise.

Working at rinks in the Bay Area, I can tell you first hand how much of a positive effect it has on class enrollment to host events like Nationals.

The attendance at 2023 Nats in San Jose was so dismal that I think they'll have to put forward a great bid to host again.

I really enjoyed 2005 Nats and 2010 SA in Portland. If they go to the PNW that would be my choice over the Seattle area.

 

[Karen-W]

I'm surprised that San Jose and Portland are not considerations.

East Coast/Midwest skaters in synchro hate travelling to the West Coast due to cost, but even they loved Portland sectionals so much that Portland was almost immediately given Nationals the next year. It made them money and got local headlines buzzing about skating. San Jose also has a new arena smaller than SAP but good for a SA audience that opened a couple years back. Neither have NFL teams and both have non-NBA arenas that can be used.

It's probably that neither place bid for it this year, but I know SJ is interested in bidding for more skating events - especially given the great local talent.

Just gonna straight up nope out on the idea of Memorial Coliseum being a suitable SkAm option for Portland. I was there pre-pandemic for a Winterhawks PHL game and while the arena itself is on the National Historic Register because of its exterior architectural importance, the inside - especially the seating - is not up to snuff. Fans would be griping to no end about it - and gazing longingly at the Moda Center (aka Rose Garden) right across the plaza, wondering why we aren't there like we were for 2005 Nats or 2010 SkAm.

Ticket sales for 2023 Nats in San Jose were pretty low. I'm not sure USFS is going to want to go back there, but maybe if the new smaller arena is cheap enough.

IIRC, when Portland hosted SA, it looked fairly empty on TV.

It was not even close to full. There's no way skating fans would be able to fill up Memorial Coliseum much less the Moda Center.

If the USFS comes back to the PNW it will be a smaller arena like the ones in Everett or Kent WA.

 

[Willin]

The attendance at 2023 Nats in San Jose was so dismal that I think they'll have to put forward a great bid to host again.

I really enjoyed 2005 Nats and 2010 SA in Portland. If they go to the PNW that would be my choice over the Seattle area.

They've held SA at smaller arenas like the Orleans Arena (9500 seats) and Skating Club of Boston (2500 seats) recently. TechCU in San Jose has 4500 seats.

Skate America isn't Nationals and can be held in a smaller venue that would be easier to fill up.

 

[lexeoe]

when portland, ore hosted it was at the moda center right?

 

[Carolla5501]

Maybe they feel like they can / should wait a little longer since Skate America will be in November. I also got excited though when I saw this thread bumped, hoping there was news!

Yes, because none of their fans would’ve spent any money going anywhere else they’re just going to sit patiently on their hands and not plan their vacation or anything while waiting on US figure skating.

 

[ChillSkate]

Yes, because none of their fans would’ve spent any money going anywhere else they’re just going to sit patiently on their hands and not plan their vacation or anything while waiting on US figure skating.

I mean USFS is not really known for optimizing for in-person fan experience. See, for example, the food situation at Skate America Boston, Randy, the weird split up of the Free Program groups at Nationals, changing the start and end times of the Vegas Skate America like 3 weeks beforehand, the fact that Lake Placid is in the solution set, etc, etc

 

[TanithandBenFan]

when portland, ore hosted it was at the moda center right?

It was at the Rose Garden if that’s the new name of the arena.

 

[tlk]

when portland, ore hosted it was at the moda center right?

Yes.

 

[Karen-W]

when portland, ore hosted it was at the moda center right?

It was at the Rose Garden if that’s the new name of the arena.

It was still called the Rose Garden in 2010. It changed to the Moda Center in 2013. The whole area with the Moda Center & Memorial Coliseum (technically, Veterans Memorial Coliseum) is called the Rose Quarter.

 

[peibeck]

Well, last year the SkAm and Nats dates/locations were announced on April 23, so I don't think a "sometime in April" general comment was a joke/prank.

It may just be that things have been slowed with the CEO search coming to its end, etc.

I was being facetious (hence the ), and yet... we are now into May with still no announcement.
I can't see the CEO search really being a reason to postpone the announcement. Better to have cash flow (even with, and indeed to try and capitalize on the success of Boston) earlier than later. Honestly the best thing they could have done is announce the location the last day of Worlds at the arena if it was feasible. Marketing 101.

On a separate tangent, I'm already going to guess the seeded slots will go to Liu/Levito, Malanin/Brown, Chock-Bates/Carreria-Ponomarenko, and Hase-Volodin/Efimova-Mitrofanov (with the Italian pair the only possible swap I can imagine).

 

[Debbie S]

On a separate tangent, I'm already going to guess the seeded slots will go to Liu/Levito, Malanin/Brown, Chock-Bates/Carreria-Ponomarenko, and Hase-Volodin/Efimova-Mitrofanov (with the Italian pair the only possible swap I can imagine).

Jason finished 8th at Worlds, so he's not seeded. The 4-6 skaters were Adam, Kevin and Shun Sato. I would think Kevin would want to come to SA, given his previous success there.

 

[Karen-W]

On a separate tangent, I'm already going to guess the seeded slots will go to Liu/Levito, Malanin/Brown, Chock-Bates/Carreria-Ponomarenko, and Hase-Volodin/Efimova-Mitrofanov (with the Italian pair the only possible swap I can imagine).

As @Debbie S noted, Brown isn't seeded and I'd be a little surprised if he gets a SkAm assignment. I agree also, that the 4-6 seeded skater will probably be Aymoz.

With regard to the women, agree on Liu, but the other spot should be Glenn's as the reigning National & Grand Prix Final Champ. I can't see the USFS doing her dirty two seasons in a row simply because she finished the lowest of the 3 US women but still 5th.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I can't see the USFS doing her dirty two seasons in a row simply becau

Yeah, but Amber herself has stated she does not want skate America. Don’t know if she has the same sentiment but I’m assuming she does.

 

[Lanie]

every time this thread gets bumped I hope we get an announcement