Vancouver to host 2018 Canadian Tire National Skating Championships

[jenji124]

I just bought my ticket. I wasn't thrilled with what was available, and have a quasi plan that if something better comes up in the general sale, buy a second ticket and sell the first on StubHub. I was torn between the event selling out because it's a small arena and waiting to see if by chance there were some seats held back.

I said in a previous thread that I was going to wait to buy tickets, but I ended up buying for the same reason you mentioned. I started getting nervous about getting a seat because I need 4 tickets, so i chose the best of what was available. I should have made me decision earlier I would have had a little bit better seats.

With the exchange rate, I paid just under 200 USD. It's quite a deal compared to what the tickets are for US Nationals, which I'm within driving distance of.

I'm coming from the U.S. As well but I have to fly and it's still a better deal than the U.S. Nationals.

 

[skatesindreams]

I hope that I can find flights; and a hotel where it is possible for me to get to the arena without too much difficulty.
That will determine whether I actually make the trip.

 

[Alilou]

I hope that I can find flights; and a hotel where it is possible for me to get to the arena without too much difficulty.
That will determine whether I actually make the trip.

I so hope you do!

 

[skatesindreams]

alliou, I'm having trouble finding information about hotels near the arena.
There don't appear to be many options.

The other choice is to pick something further away and hope that I can arrange transportation to the arena.

 

[Alilou]

alliou, I'm having trouble finding information about hotels near the arena.
There don't appear to be many options.

The other choice is to pick something further away and hope that I can arrange transportation to the arena.

I'll look into it. I doubt there are hotels near the arena It's on a university campus. I take it you need specialised transportation. PM me with some details of what you need.

 

[marigold]

The #44 is an express bus that runs from Burrard Street downtown to UBC and the trip takes ~30 minutes. I think that downtown hotels are an option.

ETA: The Holiday Inn Vancouver Centre at 711 West Broadway is worth consideration. The #84 UBC express bus is ~22 minute trip from nearby. You can also catch the #99 B-line on Broadway, and it's near the Canada Line skytrain. Lots of restaurants and supermarkets (Whole Foods, Save-On, No Frills) a couple blocks away on Cambie Street, too.

 

[skatesindreams]

I doubt there are hotels near the arena

I'm looking into the West Coast Suites, which is on the campus of UBC; but, want to check other options, as well.

 

[kalamalka]

I'm looking into the West Coast Suites, which is on the campus of UBC; but, want to check other options, as well.

If anything`s available at Triumf House, it`s right by the arena.
https://triumfhouse.ca/index.php
(Their priority is people doing research at the Triumf research facitilty, but they do also rent to the general public)

 

[star_gazer11]

Anyone know if there are handrails in the stairs, or is like a movie theatre (no rails)? Thanks.

 

[skatesindreams]

If anything`s available at Triumf House, it`s right by the arena.
https://triumfhouse.ca/index.php
(Their priority is people doing research at the Triumf research facitilty, but they do also rent to the general public)

I'll check into this, as well.
Thanks!

 

[kalamalka]

There are 3 hotels that I know of on the 99 B-line express bus line to UBC: the Holiday Inn mentioned above, Park Inn which is about a block away from it, and the Best Western Uptown, at Main Street (2 stops farther). All are within 1 block of a 99 bus stop. The 99 is a very good bus, because it runs approximately every 3 minutes, but the downside is that it is frequently full. As marigold noted above, there is also pretty good bus service between UBC and downtown.

All buses in Vancouver are accessible - but sometimes when it`s busy the wheelchair/stroller spaces are full (which is another reason to appreciate the frequent service). It is also possible for visitors to apply to use the HandyDart specialized transportation service, which provides door-to-door rides - but it`s quite a bit of hassle if you can get there by bus instead, because rides can come any time within a half-hour window and need to be booked ahead.

I`ve booked at the Park Inn because it`s very close to VGH, where my wheelchair-using friend who`ll be going to Canadians me with lives, and also has rooms with a partial kitchenette which I find very useful.

 

[Japanfan]

Thank goodness I checked this thread today! My notice from Skate Canada re ticket sales went to junk, so I missed it entirely. I could have missed the Ticketmaster sales tomorrow as well!

I got Row 6 in Section 110. I figure that it's a small arena, so there really won't be any bad seats if you're close to the arena.

 

[ElizabethAnne]

If you are wanting to get an idea of the seats, this is the only thing I could find.

https://thunderbirdarena.ubc.ca/venue-booking/virtual-tour

 

[manhn]

I checked a couple hotels in the downtown core today. The consensus is that their shuttles are only within the downtown area, ubc is too far. Also, not wheelchair accessible. I am not familiar with our taxis or our Handydart.

I will explore more hotels outside Downtown and along Broadway.

 

[skatesindreams]

Thanks, manhn!

 

[shutterbug]

Both @pat c and @luckiest1 posted this link in the Kiss & Cry section that tickets are going on sale through Ticketmaster on Thursday, June 22, at 10:00 a.m. (PT): https://skatecanada.ca/2017/06/tick...canadian-tire-national-skating-championships/

Fans may also save up to 30% at select Vancouver hotels with code that appears after every online ticket purchase.

Just curious, did anyone actually get a code? We booked rooms at the Park Inn and Suites as well. A co-worker’s brother worked on the UBC campus for a number of years and suggested the West Broadway area.

 

[skatesindreams]

Just curious, did anyone actually get a code?

If someone did; could you please let us know what it is?

 

[skatesindreams]

I`ve booked at the Park Inn because it`s very close to VGH, where my wheelchair-using friend who`ll be going to Canadians me with lives, and also has rooms with a partial kitchenette which I find very useful.

I'm looking into this, as well.
I would prefer to find somewhere with a restaurant/bar open after the event; so, that I can get a bite to eat and "decompress"!
I want to find and confirm flight/hotel before buying my ticket; so, that if access/transport doesn't work out, I won't have to sell it.

I'm willing to spring for a "better" property, if I must.
That would be more feasible, if I had the "code", and could find which hotels are available using it.

 

[Alilou]

Just curious, did anyone actually get a code? We booked rooms at the Park Inn and Suites as well. A co-worker’s brother worked on the UBC campus for a number of years and suggested the West Broadway area.

If someone did; could you please let us know what it is?

The only code I got was LOOP which was the pre-sale code. Perhaps it's the same thing.

 

[kwanfan1818]

The Fairview Pub is linked from the Park Inn website and is open until midnight Su-Th and until 2am F-Sa.

http://www.fairviewpub.ca

But since TV will drive the schedule, especially in an Olympic qualifying year, I'd expect the competitions to wrap up at a reasonable hour for Eastern Standard Time. So restaurants are more likely to be open when the events are over.

 

[kalamalka]

All the skating competition i've attended in BC- which has been every national and international event for the last 20 years - has been scheduled with EST TV in mind, so it's likely they'll end early this time as well. The only wrinkle I see is the way they've moved to having all the senior events on the weekend. Unless they do a couple of SPs on Thursday, there probably aren't enough hours available before 8pm to fit the competition in. (I'm starting to have nightmarish visions of the first warm up groups of the free skates starting at 7am, though)

 

[marigold]

Have they announced where the practice rink will be?

 

[kalamalka]

There are 3 rinks in the Doug Mitchell Centre, so it's likely that the practice rink will be on site.

 

[Sedge]

Travelzoo Canada just put up a special on the Rosellen Suites at Stanley Park ( on Barclay 4 blocks from Robson).


For the first time in months, this member-favourite hotel is offering close to 50% off regular rates for travel starting in October.
Stay for $89 per night on weekdays from November 2017 - March 2018 in a suite with a queen bed, pullout sofa, a dining room and a full kitchen; weekends are +$10 per night Complimentary Wi-Fi and a welcome basket with coffee, tea, popcorn and bottled water for all guests

The dates in January appear to be 89 and 99 ...looks like a great deal

 

[kwanfan1818]

It's a nice deal, but a bit of a schlep to UBC.

 

[chantilly]

It's actually not that bad of you can take the express bus 44.
But as most events are in the evening it's not always available.
But those suites are quite a walk to Burrard street where you catch the bus.
I'd recommend the Dunbar area with Airbnb or on campus.
Pretty much anywhere in Vancouver is a schlep to UBC except point grey or Dunbar.
I'd also recommend Granville and Broadway area.
The 99 is a direct route.

 

[Japanfan]

I'd recommend the Dunbar area with Airbnb

There are no hotels in the Dunbar area, but two B&Bs.

Vancouver Dunbar Bed and Breakfast: Traditional guestrooms with en suite or private bathrooms in a modern home offering free parking.

House On Dunbar B&B:Bright rooms in a tranquil B&B offering a stylish guest lounge & kitchen, plus a garden.

Both bill themselves as 4-star hotels.

 

[kwanfan1818]

There's a difference between a 20-minute walk to an express bus with limited hours, and rolling out of the hotel and walking a few blocks for the 99. I've done Commercial Drive to UBC many times, and same for Granville to UBC.

There are a number of Air BNB's in the Point Grey neighborhood. Be careful to look for entire apartments or houses, if you don't want to rent a bed from a stranger. There are fewer VRBO's, but I found some with a simple search.

 

[beebee]

There's always Triumf House, across the street from the arena or the Carey Centre, about 1.5 km from arena (on UBC campus). Both charge reasonable rates.

 

[chantilly]

There are no hotels in the Dunbar area, but two B&Bs.

Vancouver Dunbar Bed and Breakfast: Traditional guestrooms with en suite or private bathrooms in a modern home offering free parking.

House On Dunbar B&B:Bright rooms in a tranquil B&B offering a stylish guest lounge & kitchen, plus a garden.

Both bill themselves as 4-star hotels.

No hotels but quite a few airbnb's
Just need to create a profile.
Can get a whole house or apartment and share with people.