2025 U.S. Nationals in Wichita, KS & Skate America returns to Allen, TX in 2024

[Poptarts]

Presumably, you learned that nobody cares? (Well, except if someone is actually assigned to that seat....) My friends and I didn't sit in our real seats either...and we would have been happy to buy those seats originally but all but the highest rows in our section (judge side) were blocked for sale.

I totally learned that nobody cared but still had a moment of worry haha!

 

[once_upon]

Yeah you never know who is sitting around you when are talking about skaters.

One competition a man sitting next to me, talked about the rags of a costume Melissa Gregory had on. Her mom was sitting behind us.

Baldwin Sr was sitting in front of me, when I was saying something about Rena and John. They did turn around and identify themselves.

Greg Z was sitting behind another former FSU poster and me, when we were saying we thought Madi and Greg were better than Madj and Evan. That we were angry about the politics surrounding the changes. Oops, we realized later.

Michael Weiss' family were sitting all around us when we were cheering for all skaters. Tried to shove a foam finger #1 for us to wave during Tim G and Michael's skates. Another event we were talking about Lisa, when she came and sat down with family in front of us.

On the other hand, you can hear lots of gossip too.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I remember an online poster (here or at RSSIF, it was a long time ago) who was at either Skate America or US Nationals where Meno and Sand were competing. She was sitting in the stands and talking to her friend about Meno and Sand's outfits that year, which were pink, and how awful pink looked on redheads and how could anyone have thought it was a good idea to put Jenni in a pink dress. The lady sitting behind them leaned over and said, very politely, "I'm Jenni's mom" .

So if you end up sitting near judges or officials or skaters, be careful what you say - at least out loud

Hey, sometimes skaters (and their families) need a reality check about their ugly outfits.

 

[Debbie S]

Generally it's a good idea not to say anything rude or overly critical about anyone in public b/c you never know who might be listening. And yeah, at a skating comp, you should be....polite...in the arena b/c you never know who you are sitting near.

But respectful discussion of costumes and skater performances during breaks in the action is pretty standard for fans and family members should realize that's what happens and be prepared. Saying you think a different color would look better on Skater X or go better with the music shouldn't offend anyone and parents who turn around and glare or announce their name as some sort of a warning aren't really helping themselves or their skater.

 

[nylynnr]

This discussion reminds me of an incident many years ago during an SOI rehearsal in Lake Placid. Steven Cousins was skating, and a friend began commenting on his appearance in a highly positive, but rather lascivious way. The lady seated behind us tapped her on the shoulder and said, "He's my son."

 

[Jarrett]

Generally it's a good idea not to say anything rude or overly critical about anyone in public b/c you never know who might be listening. And yeah, at a skating comp, you should be....polite...in the arena b/c you never know who you are sitting near.

But respectful discussion of costumes and skater performances during breaks in the action is pretty standard for fans and family members should realize that's what happens and be prepared. Saying you think a different color would look better on Skater X or go better with the music shouldn't offend anyone and parents who turn around and glare or announce their name as some sort of a warning aren't really helping themselves or their skater.

Definitely agree with this. Of course we talk about what just happened with any of the people you are with or the people you are friendly with near you but I am definitely try not talk smack about the skaters because I couldn't imagine doing 1% of what any of them do.

 

[Rukia]

Well I went with section 106 this year. I'll miss you section 104, but we decided to go closer to the kiss and cry if we had to pick a different section lol. Let the skam countdown begin.

 

[ChillSkate]

I got tickets also, the tickets opened right on time at 12:00 pm CT. I'm very excited to be back in Allen, TX for Skate America again this year!

 

[nguyhm]

Does anyone who has bought tickets yesterday have problem saving them to your wallet?

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Does anyone who has bought tickets yesterday have problem saving them to your wallet?

I was able to add mine.

 

[beebee]

Does anyone who has bought tickets yesterday have problem saving them to your wallet?

If you can't save to your wallet from the Ticketmaster website, try the app. The website doesn't always work for me, but the app does.

 

[overedge]

If you can't save to your wallet from the Ticketmaster website, try the app. The website doesn't always work for me, but the app does.

You can also just log into the Ticketmaster website, go to My Account and then My Tickets, and show the barcode for the event(s) at the door.

Personally I would stay far away from the Ticketmaster app. The privacy permissions are pretty far-reaching. There is no reason why Ticketmaster needs access to that much info on your phone or device to give you a ticket.

 

[TanithandBenFan]

If you can't save to your wallet from the Ticketmaster website, try the app. The website doesn't always work for me, but the app does.

My Ticketmaster app doesn’t show the tickets since they were purchased through the Credit Union Events Center site (which is run by Ticketmaster but apparently they don’t speak to each other).

 

[nguyhm]

My Ticketmaster app doesn’t show the tickets since they were purchased through the Credit Union Events Center site (which is run by Ticketmaster but apparently they don’t speak to each other).

My Ticket master app doesn't show the tickets either and my tickets were purchased through the Credit Union Events Center as well. I can log into the webpage and see the tickets but they don't have the (icon) to add to my wallet. I will go to the box office on Monday so Jason can help me since he could not help me on the phone earlier. Fortunately I am local otherwise I would have to print out the tickets or use other alternatives. I'd much prefer having the tickets in my wallet. I had trouble last year too but was able to save the tickets to my wallet when Jason texted them to me. That didn't work this time
Thank you for all your inputs.

 

[nguyhm]

As crazy as this sounds I was able to see the "Save to Wallet" (icon) and save my tickets when I turned my phone sideways duh.

 

[ChristineB]

My Ticket master app doesn't show the tickets either and my tickets were purchased through the Credit Union Events Center as well. I can log into the webpage and see the tickets but they don't have the (icon) to add to my wallet. I will go to the box office on Monday so Jason can help me since he could not help me on the phone earlier. Fortunately I am local otherwise I would have to print out the tickets or use other alternatives. I'd much prefer having the tickets in my wallet. I had trouble last year too but was able to save the tickets to my wallet when Jason texted them to me. That didn't work this time
Thank you for all your inputs.

Are you trying to see the option on a computer or on your phone? When I checked the email link via computer, it doesn't appear, but when I opened the email from my phone and accessed the tickets, the option appears...

 

[nguyhm]

Are you trying to see the option on a computer or on your phone? When I checked the email link via computer, it doesn't appear, but when I opened the email from my phone and accessed the tickets, the option appears...

I was trying to save them on my phone. I was able to save the tickets once I turned the phone sideways (the save to wallet button/icon appereared). It looks the ticket format didn't quite fit my phone screen vertically (my guess).

 

[ChristineB]

I was trying to save them on my phone. I was able to save the tickets once I turned the phone sideways (the save to wallet button/icon appereared). It looks the ticket format didn't quite fit my phone screen vertically (my guess).

I was trying to save them on my phone. I was able to save the tickets once I turned the phone sideways (the save to wallet button/icon appereared). It looks the ticket format didn't quite fit my phone screen vertically (my guess).

Glad you finally got it to work. With all the glitches surrounding these ticket sales, you never know where the problem lies!

 

[Spikefan]

I just canceled a room at the Courtyard if anyone wants to try and book it.

 

[Spikefan]

We went to Wichita this past weekend Friday-Sunday and stayed at the Hotel at Old Town. Great hotel with a nice kitchenette, newly remodeled. Prices are high right now for January. The Hyatt and Drury are both being remodeled, Drury does not give a completion date and Hyatt now says spring 2025 (was to be complete this year). Just something to keep in mind.

There is no grocery store downtown. There is a Quick Trip (nice convenience store/gas station) at Douglas Ave/Washington St in Old Town. There is a free Q-Line bus that runs downtown, right up and down Douglas. 5pm-11 M-Th (every hour) and 5pm-midnight on Friday and 11am-midnight on Saturday (every 20 minutes). The Frank Lloyd Wright house is in a neighborhood called College Hill and there is a Dillons grocery store in that neighborhood on Douglas. So if you really needed a grocery store you could take the Q-Line to Dillons and back for free. We had planned to ride it to the College Hill neighborhood for our FLW house tour but rain was in the forecast so we drove. We did see it running and it never looked packed.

As for never looking packed, Wichita was a ghost town for a nice weather weekend in July. We ate at a restaurant called Lotte on Friday night and it is highly rated so I expected a lot of people but nope. There were three tables dining for happy hour when we arrived and two new tables and some spots at the chef’s counter when we left around 7:00. There was no one out on the street. This place is near the arena but not a quick dining option. If you are looking for a nice meal and the schedule works, I highly recommend. Old Town wasn’t even busy and there are a lot of restaurants/bars around. We got up Saturday and the farmer’s market was just across the street (won’t be happening in winter) and that was the most people we saw in Old Town all weekend. We decided to walk to a shop about two blocks away and then a huge candy/nut shop called the Nifty Nut House ½ mile away. Once we left the area of the farmer’s market there was no one else out walking. Walking to the shop was fine but I would not walk to the Nifty Nut House again. We went through an industrial type area and then some auto shops/homes. It felt safe and the only other person we saw (not in a car) was a homeless man sleeping in a parking lot. For lunch we ate at Piatto Neapolitan Pizzeria. It was excellent and on Douglas but not walking distance to downtown. They do use Door Dash or you could take the Q if you want some good pizza. Saturday night we walked to dinner in Old Town and saw two other people out walking. There was only one other person dining at the restaurant we went to. We found out my brother was in the hospital so got up Sunday and left early so we could go visit him (he is doing fine now). Before we left we drove around the arena and main hotels. The walk will be easy from any of them as everything is flat as long as there are no ice storms. The arena area is interesting as a lot of the buildings have not been rehabbed and it is hard to tell if still in use or abandoned. It would be easier to tell on a weekday when workers are around.

Hilton Garden Inn is the closest to the arena and on Douglas. You will walk by the Greyhound Bus Station but we never saw anyone loitering or sleeping around there or the arena.

Ambassador is next in closeness and also on Douglas.

Hyatt and Fairfield are close. The Fairfield is right by the I-400 overpass and a McDonalds/Wendy’s. We did see homeless around these areas milling about. There is also a big abandoned lot across from the Fairfield and it had not been mowed in weeks. It was very high and would give me the creeps to walk by at night. Of course the grass/weeds would be dead in January. If you stay and the Fairfield I would walk Waterman with all the Hyatt people and then take Main down to the hotel, walking on the sidewalk on the hotel side. Avoid that empty lot.

Drury is on Douglas and seemed fine.

Hotel at Old Town and Courtyard are in Old Town. You will have to walk under the railroad overpass to get to the arena. We never saw any homeless sleeping under these but I would take Douglas until the street of your hotel. We walked under on 1st street once to get to a brewery and there were no cars or other people around and I found it to be creepy during the day. At least on Douglas there will be cars going by as you go under the trains as it is the main thoroughfare.

Wyndham is on the other side of the I-400 overpass and I would not stay there if walking. I guess if you had a car it might be ok.

I checked my Uber and Lyft apps on Friday/Saturday night and there seemed to be plenty of ride-share cars.

There is a sandwich/bar place (Solly and Jude’s) directly across from the arena and they say they are open during events. So hopefully that will be an option for Nationals. On the other side of the arena there is Tor Brewery and they have burgers and fries. There is a Smoothie King on Douglas right after the railroad tracks if you are looking for something healthy (ish). Several other places on Douglas and then the fast food places over by the Fairfield.

We did see a lot of homeless but no one ever bothered us, they definitely just wanted to be left alone. I also don’t know if it was a lot of homeless or it just seemed that way because there were no other people out walking around.

That is all I can think of so let me know if you have something specific.

 

[YukiNieve]

OMG Spikefan, thanks so much for such a complete report!

It sounds like it is quite a deserted place.
Did you go to Hyatt? Were there lots of construction noise there?

 

[Spikefan]

Did you go to Hyatt? Were there lots of construction noise there?

We went into lobby and didn’t notice any there. Supposedly it is only during daytime hours and we popped in on Friday night. Most don’t sleep in during Nationals so I don’t see it being an issue (I guess maybe if a skater wants to nap). The only morning I would likely sleep in is Sunday and workers wouldn’t be working on Sunday.

 

[YukiNieve]

Most don’t sleep in during Nationals so I don’t see it being an issue (I guess maybe if a skater wants to nap). The only morning I would likely sleep in is Sunday and workers wouldn’t be working on Sunday.

That's a good point！　
(Hope that skaters can take a nap if they want to...)

 

[Aaron MB Fan]

Been having the travel itch again and have always had going to Skate America on the bucket list. This is my "yes" year for travel and doing the things I want, so decided on a whim to go!! All booked for Skate America and my first visit to Texas. Can't wait!!!

Come back the Monday after the event concludes and then off to Halifax 3 days later for Skate Canada. Can't wait for the Senior GP to begin!

 

[Rukia]

Been having the travel itch again and have always had going to Skate America on the bucket list. This is my "yes" year for travel and doing the things I want, so decided on a whim to go!! All booked for Skate America and my first visit to Texas. Can't wait!!!

Come back the Monday after the event concludes and then off to Halifax 3 days later for Skate Canada. Can't wait for the Senior GP to begin!

Yay!! I hope you have tons of fun here!!

 

[TanithandBenFan]

Single session tickets are on sale for Wichita, so event times are listed on Ticketmaster:

Thurs 1/23
1:00 Pairs SP
7:00 Women SP

Fri 1/24
1:00 RD
7:00 Women FS

Sat 1/25
10:00 Men SP
2:00 FD
7:00 Pairs FS

Sun 1/26
12:00 Men FS
Exhibition TBD

Not a fan of the packed Saturday schedule. I preferred the way they did it last year with the RD on Thursday and the Men's SP on Friday.

 

[YukiNieve]

I bought the 2025 US Nats all event tickets for myself and my friend, and when I transferred them to my friend, it was transferred to her account as an entire event (one page) and it is still in the Wallet of her iPhone.

Now that the tickets are being sold individually, I see the list of tickets by each event in my account and my friends' tickets are still here with no notes like "transferred".

Has anyone had a similar experience? I am wondering if I need to transfer individual tickets to her again, one at a time. Who should I ask about this - the USFS or the arena?

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I bought the 2025 US Nats all event tickets for myself and my friend, and when I transferred them to my friend, it was transferred to her account as an entire event (one page) and it is still in the Wallet of her iPhone.

Now that the tickets are being sold individually, I see the list of tickets by each event in my account and my friends' tickets are still here with no notes like "transferred".

Has anyone had a similar experience? I am wondering if I need to transfer individual tickets to her again, one at a time. Who should I ask about this - the USFS or the arena?

The arena is probably the best bet. I’m glad I hadn’t tried to transfer any tickets yet!

 

[peibeck]

Single session tickets are on sale for Wichita, so event times are listed on Ticketmaster:

Thurs 1/23
1:00 Pairs SP
7:00 Women SP

Fri 1/24
1:00 RD
7:00 Women FS

Sat 1/25
10:00 Men SP
2:00 FD
7:00 Pairs FS

Sun 1/26
12:00 Men FS
Exhibition TBD

Not a fan of the packed Saturday schedule. I preferred the way they did it last year with the RD on Thursday and the Men's SP on Friday.

Pairs getting the prime Saturday evening slot??? That is both and . In terms of NBC broadcasting and hype for the '26 Olympics, it seems like dance would have been a more obvious choice.

 

[Debbie S]

Pairs getting the prime Saturday evening slot??? That is both and . In terms of NBC broadcasting and hype for the '26 Olympics, it seems like dance would have been a more obvious choice.

Saturday night most likely won't be shown on NBC. For the past (5?) years, NBC has shown the women's FS on Friday night and the men's FS on Sunday afternoon, depending on the football playoff schedule. They might show either men or dance Saturday afternoon.