San Jose, California will host 2018 U.S. Nationals (Dec. 29, 2017 - Jan. 7, 2018)

[Iluvid]

If I stay outside of San Jose's downtown, what are my options for getting to the arena? Are there ways for me to ditch my car on a side street a walk a mile or so to the arena? Could I park somewhere further afield and hop on a convenient bus or shuttle? Just for reference, I could wind up with something in Santa Clara or Sunnyvale, in which case I might drive to a convenient place in San Jose and then find a way to the arena. I imagine parking at the arena day after day could be costly, but I may be wrong.

Thanks for any and all insight.

I heard there will be a shuttle from Sharks Ice "solar for america" rink to the Arena. you can park free there and take the shuttle. you have to buy a shuttle pass, but it'll be cheaper than parking for say $20 .

 

[Iluvid]

I know they use practice passes to entice fans to buy all-event tickets, but I'm also surprised they're not sold daily. Even $5 or $10/day would generate some revenue for the LOC.

Side note: I really hope they do something to honor past Olympic gold medalists (or even any Olympians) during one of the sessions in San Jose. Seeing all the gold medalists together was definitely the coolest part of going to St. Louis in 2006.

I was in St Louis also and it was awesome

 

[Iluvid]

It may simply be an issue of distance. The airport's not that far from the city, so taxi fare is not exorbitant. I assume that no one takes a shared-ride service unless it undercuts the taxi fare by a good bit. In the case of San Jose, any party of two would almost certainly be better off in a taxi.

I've taken uber to the airport sjc but that was from my apt. Taxi may be cheaper

 

[Iluvid]

My friend Dorie had a chance to check out the secondary venue (Solar4America Ice) and gave me permission to share the information here. I've augmented her discoveries with information from the facility's website.

Rinks: Solar4America Ice is a 4-rink facility. We're nearly certain that competition will be held in the rink on the left. It is most commonly called the "North" rink and has backless bench (bleacher) seating for perhaps 400 or so people if they sit close together. Information about the practice rink seems fuzzier. For qualifying competitions, they have used the "Center" rink for practice, but we've had one report that practices will be held on the rink beyond the Center rink. I'm sure there will be no doubt when we actually arrive in San Jose. The Center rink has less seating than the North rink, accommodating perhaps 300 or so people if they squeeze together. Bleachers again.

The bleachers for the Center rink are above the snack bar and are accessed via stairs or an elevator.

If you have a stadium seat/backrest, you'll want to take it to San Jose if possible. Even a cushion would be better than nothing. I bought a new backrest from REI that's more transportable than many I've seen; the padding in the seat is very thin but dense. Amazon has at least a couple of options that are at least superficially similar. I have no idea about the comparative quality.

Parking: The common entrance to the North and Center rinks is in the building closest to the corner of 10th Street and Alma. The parking lot will fill up quickly but there's overflow parking at nearby Kelley Park and at the zoo. And if that fills us, there's pay parking next to the San Jose State Stadium (a block or two away).

Transportation: My quick-and-dirty investigation indicates that taking a bus will not be practical, given the schedule that has us ping-ponging back and forth between the two venues. There's too much walking required (possibly on both ends of the trip). There will be no reason for taxis to cruise past Solar4America Ice unless they are specifically looking for fares at that facility. I'm expecting to have to call taxis or use Uber/Lyft.

Temperature: As is typical at training facilities, the rinks are chillier than major sports arenas. Dorie reports that Solar4America Ice is not as cold as the facilities in Spokane and Scottsdale used for sectionals/regionals--which she says are particularly cold-t she wasn't warm enough in a polypro top and light down jacket even though she was walking around. There are no coin-fed, spectator-controlled overhead heaters; heaters are present but are controlled by staff. Dorie was told that it is often a bit warmer in the Central rink seating area than in the North rink.

Food: There's a "No Outside Food" sign on the front door of the building, and Google Maps indicates that there is no outside food source within a mile of the facility. I have no idea whether there will be bag checks. There's a standard rink snack bar between the North and Center rinks. I haven't found a menu online but am expecting pretzels, hotdogs, coffee, sodas, etc. There is also--thank heavens--a sports bar (Stanley's) above the North and Central rinks. It will apparently be open (even for breakfast) at any time a fan would be looking for food. The menu is available on the webpage I linked to. I've never been to a training rink that didn't have water/soda and snack/candy machines.

If you meet Dorie at Nationals, please thank her for her scouting expedition.

The practices will be held on the East rink. which is the one in the back of the building.

 

[Iluvid]

The practices will be held on the East rink. which is the one in the back of the building.

They used to have the heaters on all the time in the bleachers. Each rink has them in the seating. Just bring jackets/blankets just in case. Mornings are colder.
I bring my lunch/snack bag with me every practice. They don't say anything. Snack bar has a few decent things and Stanleys is good, good price too. Its warm in there too. Theres a water filter machine and vending. If anyone has any other questions, I'll be happy to answer.

 

[maureenfarone]

I heard there will be a shuttle from Sharks Ice "solar for america" rink to the Arena. you can park free there and take the shuttle. you have to buy a shuttle pass, but it'll be cheaper than parking for say $20 .

Is the shuttle only for volunteers?

 

[TanithandBenFan]

I asked someone at USFS about the shuttle between SAP and the Fairmont/Marriott, and he said SAP is handling and should be sending out information soon (uhh, I would hope so). He heard the price will be $150 for the week. I don't know if it the route goes to Solar too.

 

[skatfan]

At the volunteer orientation, it sounded like the fan shuttle to Solar4America might be limited to certain days. I guess stay tuned. Volunteers will be able to use the one for coaches, etc.

 

[sk9tingfan]

I asked someone at USFS about the shuttle between SAP and the Fairmont/Marriott, and he said SAP is handling and should be sending out information soon (uhh, I would hope so). He heard the price will be $150 for the week. I don't know if it the route goes to Solar too.

I believe that the shuttle goes to Solar only through January 2nd.

 

[skatfan]

Another volunteer email today. I got the confirmation email on my shifts - the ones I had signed up for - so that's cool. Now to get the final handbook, know where the parking for the Marriott will be, etc.

 

[Anita18]

I got an email about announcing, music, hospitality, and info desk. I'm sure I'm limited as I'm only there from Jan 4-8th... but I said I was interested.

I took all the Marriott info desk shifts I was available for, and I just got a schedule confirmation. I've done hotel/arena info desks a few times before, I'm sure I'll figure it out.

I also haven't heard about parking at the Marriott, hoping it'll come in soon!

 

[MacMadame]

They said there *might* be a shuttle from downtown to Solar4America for the *Junior events only* at the orientation meeting. (I wrote it down because I knew you guys would care.)

I got confirmation of my shifts as well today. Haven't heard about the announcing. I felt sorry for them and volunteered to announce early New Year's morning.

 

[skatfan]

@MacMadame you are truly a saint!

Here's the link for the shuttle - not terribly descriptive about what it covers, so ask questions before you buy!

https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/sa...d=1304491&jb=1&camefrom=EMCL_2026372_83318754

There's also a discounted parking pass for the SAP Center:
https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/sapcenter/EN/buy/details/18ASPARK?camefrom=EMCL_2026372_83318753

 

[margu1241]

Glad to see the practice schedule is available. Not sure I am reading it correctly, but is there a way to know who is in which practice group?

 

[acraven]

A shuttle that runs only once an hour is pretty useless.

 

[Sylvia]

Glad to see the practice schedule is available. Not sure I am reading it correctly, but is there a way to know who is in which practice group?

https://unseenskaters.wordpress.com/nationals/

 

[acraven]

I received an email today with info about the shuttle pass, discount parking, etc. It mentions the practice passes for the SAP Center and says they run from January 1 to January 7, but there is still no January 1 pass in my account. I called the telephone number at the bottom of the email (SAP Center Group Sales) and left a message about the problem, but I'm on an abbreviated Christmas trip to visit family and could easily miss a call back.

 

[skatfan]

I received an email today with info about the shuttle pass, discount parking, etc. It mentions the practice passes for the SAP Center and says they run from January 1 to January 7, but there is still no January 1 pass in my account. I called the telephone number at the bottom of the email (SAP Center Group Sales) and left a message about the problem, but I'm on an abbreviated Christmas trip to visit family and could easily miss a call back.

Somebody did hear back from Eric (upthread) saying that they would take our General pass for Solar4America for that day. It is a discrepancy - we'll see if they actually add one.

 

[acraven]

Yes, I saw that post and thought it was odd that we later received an email with misinformation in it.

I have enough experience at Nationals to know that even when there is no confusion, some of the security people may not understand the practice situation early in the week. Not having a piece of paper for January 1 is a concern; the senior ladies practice at 3:15 PM that day.

 

[SkateSand]

In the e-mail (which I saved and printed out and am taking with me), it says: "Please be prepared to show your All-Session tickets or Practice Passes to an usher to verify access to practice sessions." So it sounds like you can just show your all-session tickets to get into the practices. If I have a problem on January 1st, I just plan to show all my tickets and the print out of that e-mail.

 

[MacMadame]

@MacMadame you are truly a saint!

Eh, I get up at 5:45am most days. And I doubt I'll have a hangover, either.

 

[jamesy]

I got an email about being an announcer which I did not sign up for and nothing about any shifts.

Lesson one: find unique ways to mangle the most common names.

 

[Aceon6]

Lesson one: find unique ways to mangle the most common names.

Now on the ice.... Ash-LAY VOG-ner
or Brady Tennile.

 

[skatfan]

Now on the ice.... Ash-LAY VOG-ner
or Brady Tennile.

Exactly why I am not going to announce!

 

[MacMadame]

They filled the announcer slots without me.

I did finally get an email about the slots I signed up for. I'm confirmed for them now.

 

[Debbie S]

I tried calling the number on the e-mail about the shuttle passes a little while ago and got a recording that the office (group sales at SAP) is closed. I'm guessing the office may be closed all next week? I really wanted to find out the schedule of the shuttles (I know once an hour but was curious as to the times at each hotel/rink and what they were planning to do at the end of each evening). My mom really wants the passes so I guess I'll be buying them and using the DASH buses and light rail a lot.

 

[acraven]

The SAP Center practice pass for January 1 appeared in my account within the last 2 or 3 hours. I suggest that all-event ticket purchasers check again.

 

[skatfan]

The SAP Center practice pass for January 1 appeared in my account within the last 2 or 3 hours. I suggest that all-event ticket purchasers check again.

Thanks, mine was there too.

 

[myhoneyhoney]

Ugh I still haven't received confirmation of my shifts! OYE

 

[Doggygirl]

Hi everyone. I am booked at the Hyatt Place downtown San Jose. That looked like reasonable walking distance to SAP but would love to confirm that with someone who might know for sure!

I need to go print my tickets! Look forward to connecting with some FSUers in San Jose!