2007 Nationals Finalists

[scooter133]

The USFSA has announced the finalists to host the 2007 Nationals. They are Boston, Hershey PA, and Spokane. Does this mean that the USFSA is abandoning the regional rotation? It looks like 2007 is the east's turn, which explains Boston and Hershey, but Spokane??? What's up with that?

[Stormy]

BOSTON, BOSTON, BOSTON!! Boston Nationals was the best! I was a Volunteer and it was one of the best skating experiences of my life.

[Schmeck]

Boston was my first (and only) Nationals, and I had such a wonderful time that I'd even resign from my job (or at least save up my personal days) to experience it again. I couldn't do Hersey, though, as it is too far away for me to commute. Although by then, the kids would be old enough to get to school on their own, etc...

[jkl]

I saw that on the USFSA website and thought I was hallucinating. Is Hershey large enough to accomodate Nationals? I didn't get Spokane either. Would this selection have something to do with the relignment? I figure this is a slam dunk for Boston which is fine with me.

[Debbie S]

Apparently, it was announced at Governing Council that the USFSA would open Nats up for bidding from cities/clubs in the two regions that did not host Nats the year before. I think this just applies to non-Oly years - don't ask me what they're doing for Oly years. I can't find the exact source on this, but I know I saw it in a post on Skatefans a few months ago. It was suggested by some posters that this was a move to try to get smaller cities to host - not sure exactly where that theory originated.

Yep, I would be surprised if Boston didn't get it. I was in Boston 2 yrs ago for the men's and ladies finals, and they did an excellent job of hosting. The public transit system is excellent (of course, back then, when fans and skaters got to ride on the same busses, the police escorts through traffic lights and one-way streets were rather efficient) and there are hotels, restaurants, and shops in a concentrated area steps away from the subway to the arena. And unlike L.A., Boston stays open past 6 p.m (no offense to our L.A.-area posters :) ). The only downside is that being a big city, Boston can get rather expensive, and plus there are the weather concerns given it's in January - plus the Boston airport tends to be easily susceptible to weather problems (including fog).

Being within a 2-hour drive of Hershey, I must admit that as great as Boston is, I would selfishly prefer to save money on airfare. Plus Hershey would be cheaper as far as hotels and meals are concerned. But I don't entertain the notion that Hershey is high on the list.

[scooter133]

Originally posted by jkl
Is Hershey large enough to accomodate Nationals?

Well, it looks as if Hershey's main arena is the Giant Center, which seats 10,500 for hockey (and skating as well, I would think). What's interesting is if you look at the USFSA Event Guide, which is on their website, it says that the main arena for Nationals should have at least 15,000 seats. So have they changed the requirements?

[mission99]

The USFSA needs to bring Nationals to Grand Rapids, Mi or Detroit!

[pennskater]

In addition to the Hershey arena only holding 10,000 (which is supposed to be too small according to the guidelines), there is only one hotel within walking distance (I think it's a Comfort Inn) and it is not close to the new arena just the old one (hotel hershey is across the street, but the walk is over a mile). Plus, there aren't many eating establishments close by. And the old arena is about a mile from the new arena, so coaches, skaters and spectators will have to get in their cars to go from upper level to lower level events and practices.
Parking is a mess and going from arena to arena is a mess. They have you drive around the hershey park parking lot. So, between lack of hotels and restaurants within walking distance, driving and parking will be a mess. Any time there is an event in the arena, traffic gets backed up.
But I bet they'll pick Hershey over Boston because someone wants to get Nationals to a small town. Makes little sense, but looks 'good' to whoever came up with the idea.

[IceDanceSk8er]

I'm partial to Boston since I'm from Boston, but the Skating Club of Boston is so well-equipped to handle Nationals. The Board there has some very bright people leading the club.

[Orable]

where are us nationals going to be held in 04, 05, 06?

thanks...

[Debbie S]

Originally posted by Orable
where are us nationals going to be held in 04, 05, 06?

thanks...

'04: Atlanta, GA
'05: Portland, OR
'06: St. Louis, MO

As long as we're discussing future Nats cities, can anybody tell me anything about Portland? I was thinking about going.

[Aaron W]

Originally posted by pennskater
But I bet they'll pick Hershey over Boston because someone wants to get Nationals to a small town. Makes little sense, but looks 'good' to whoever came up with the idea.

I may be wrong here, but I got the sense they were possibly looking for smaller arenas to host Nationals because it would potentially cut the costs which could in turn mean lower ticket prices (cross your fingers). If that's the case, than I'm all for Hershey or Spokane. The ticket prices for the US Nationals have been a complete joke for about the past 6 years. Meanwhile you can go to Canadian Nationals for less than half the price and see a great men's event and pairs event along with a decent ice dance event and ummmmm, well we'll just forget about the ladies :twisted:, yet overall it's a decent competition that's soooo much more affordable. I say forget Boston and put it somewhere cheap.

(Of course if they put it in too small of a city, we'll all have to pay more expensive airline prices, and if the arena isn't close to hotels, we'll have to pay for transportation back and forth as well which overall could negate any savings in ticket prices).

[PAskate]

Aaron - I agree with you. While Boston is a great city, it's not cheap. I would really look forward to a move to smaller market cities. Not only would ticket prices hopefully be more reasonable, but the cities tend to be so much happier to see the skating public arrive.

[icedancer2]

As long as we're discussing future Nats cities, can anybody tell me anything about Portland? I was thinking about going. [/B]

I'm from Portland, and we are very excited about holding Nationals here (at least I am).

I'm not sure what you want to know. Portland is a fairly small city with a pretty good public transportation system. The three ice surfaces used for the event will be within walking distance of each other(!) and are centrally located. I think it will be a great venue for Nationals, having been to LA in 2002 -- it's goota be better than that!

The climate in the Pacific Northwest is generally mild, although it does rain a lot in January, so you need to prepare for that as well.

I encourage everyone to come and have fun in Portland in 2005!

I am a little surprised that Spokane is on the list for 2007 since it's only a 6 hour drive from Portland, but I guess that would be good for me!!

[Debbie S]

Thanks, icedancer2. I went to Nats in Boston and L.A., and Worlds this year, and I think I'm hooked on live comps. I'm now a student again (b-school) so my limited budget does not allow for a trip to Atlanta this January. But I've never been to Portland and heard it's a nice city (and I think the climate is pretty temperate, right?) and I might just have to buy a ticket and go. I was also thinking that depending on which city gets Nats in '07, I'd go to Portland and then there (I had assumed it would be an east coast city). But if Nats in '07 goes to Spokane, I might just end up waiting to go in '06 (Oly year) instead of going out West twice. Ah, decisions, decisions.

[Orable]

Originally posted by Debbie S
'04: Atlanta, GA
'05: Portland, OR
'06: St. Louis, MO

As long as we're discussing future Nats cities, can anybody tell me anything about Portland? I was thinking about going.

thanks debbie :)

[icedancer2]

The other great thing about Portland in January (and most every other time of the year) is that it is very very green and many plants flower throughout the winter. It is really very beautiful!!

I'm also pretty sure that there are plenty of semi-cheap hotels and motels near the venue, a mall (with an ice rink and food court) within walking/free train distance and an espresso place on just about every street corner!!

Portland, 2005!!

[Emilieanne]

Maybe Spokane is what is being considered for 2008, which would be the turn for the Pacific Coast for Nationals. Like many of you, I also loved Nationals in Boston in 2001 and I sure would go to another big competition in Boston. However, Boston only had Nationals back in 2001. I would much rather that Boston put in for Worlds the next time the US is due to have them (I believe that will be 2009 or some such) and have the 2007 Nationals in Hershey. A World Championship in Boston would be absoluetly awesome!

[BittyBug]

Originally posted by Emilieanne
I would much rather that Boston put in for Worlds the next time the US is due to have them (I believe that will be 2009 or some such) and have the 2007 Nationals in Hershey. A World Championship in Boston would be absoluetly awesome!

I agree with you that Worlds in Boston would be fab, but we're going to have to wait a very long time for that. The US only gets worlds every 5 or 6 years, and then it goes through a geographic rotation - East, Midwest, West. Since we just had Worlds in DC in 2003 (East), I think the earliest we will have Worlds back on the East coast is 2018 (15 years out). And then of course, Boston would have to beat out other major US cities. *Sigh*

A more near term hope is for Worlds on the Eastern side of Canada. Montreal would be magnifique. :)

[Emilieanne]

Bittybug, the US has gotten World approximately every six years...1975 was at Broadmoor, 1981 Hartford, 1987 Cincinnati, 1992 Oakland, 1998 Minneaopolis, 2003 Washington...so 2009 in Boston would not be off the mark. It could happen...I hope it does...it would be fabulous.

[BittyBug]

Right, but look at your list of locations - it rotates through East, Midwest, West/Pacific.

Hartford (East) - 1981
Cincinnati (Midwest) - 1987
Oakland (Pacific) - 1992
Minneapolis (Midwest) - 1998
Washington, DC (East) - 2003

So I doubt that the next Worlds in the US would be on the East coast - just look at the 22 year gap between Hartford and DC. Of course, that doesn't mean we can't hope. ;)

[blades]

:roll:

well...i don't look for lower ticket prices...after all...it's the u$f$a...oh!...excuuuuuse me!...u$ figure $kating!...anyways...canadians is a bargain!...for the price of a u$ nationals vip ticket, i can travel, stay in a hotel and attend canadians...such a deal!...and the ladies competition is getting much better!...

as for portland...was just there saturday for a psa seminar...it's a beautiful city!...freeways are a little bit crazy...but the light rail is great and the facilities are excellent!...but merde!...the price of the tickets!!!...yikes!...oh wellski...oooooh caaaaanada!...;)

[Gilda]

I am all for Boston because it is a great skating town. I was there for the last nationals and the events were well run and there was terrific attendance. It is also close to NYC,Providence, Hartford and other major cities that people could drive from to see the events. I certainly would attend again!

[IgglesII]

Originally posted by scooter133
Well, it looks as if Hershey's main arena is the Giant Center, which seats 10,500 for hockey (and skating as well, I would think). What's interesting is if you look at the USFSA Event Guide, which is on their website, it says that the main arena for Nationals should have at least 15,000 seats. So have they changed the requirements?

I wouldn't be surprised if they changed the requirements after the less-than-stellar attendance figures in Dallas. No point having more than 10,500 seats if you don't sell them.

[rudi]

Maybe attendance would be better if the ticket prices were lower. (Sorry, I know this topic has already been discussed, but I can't help myself.)
It seems that the ticket prices increase a lot from year to year as well.

That said, yes, I think Boston put on a great Nationals. Great public transportation.

[Kruss]

Let me add my yearly gripe that Chicago will never be chosen for Nats... :( :x

[BittyBug]

Originally posted by IgglesII
I wouldn't be surprised if they changed the requirements after the less-than-stellar attendance figures in Dallas. No point having more than 10,500 seats if you don't sell them.

I agree with the second part of your comment, but I'm not sure that the Dallas results should be extrapolated to conclude that no more than 10,500 seats can be sold at Nationals. There are many factors that contribute to attendance - organization and promotion of the event, location and condition of the economy. I can't comment on how well the Dallas LOC did on the first point, but it would seem to me that figure skating is probably not as popular in Texas as it is in a place like Minneapolis or Boston. And economic conditions everywhere last year were such that that I'm sure that many people who might otherwise have travelled cross-country to go to Nationals chose not to due to the expense. Boston's experience in 2001 proves that it is possible to sell out (or nearly sell out) a large venue.

[jkl]

I, like many of you, had to make a choice on how to spend my skating dollars. Last year DC Worlds won. It was nothing against Dallas. I simply preferred to go to Worlds in a non-olympic year than to go to Dallas and Nationals. This job is holding me back.
I am still angry that Atlanta has moved the Novice and Junior events so far away ---but that's another thread!

[RobinA]

I'm rooting for Hershey. I'd like to see Nationals return to smaller cities, as I've enjoyed the smaller once more than the larger ones. Boston ran smoothly, but I, for one, HATED the city. The venue was a construction site, the prices were ridiculous, and my hotel room was so small I could hardly walk around in it.

Plus, Boston just had Nationals. Give someone else a chance.

[jkl]

I am curious about airline connections into the Hershey area. Are there "big birds" landing there? I would think only having Regional carriers would hurt their chances. I don't see Peggy and Dick flying in on a 19 seater. Just wondering Hershey fans. I would like to see the cute Hershey street lights one day myself.

[PAskate]

Hershey would be a easy drive from either the Philadelphia or Baltimore airports, so I don't think that not having a large airport would be an issue.

[jkl]

So a rental car would be necessary?

[Lili]

Originally posted by Kruss
Let me add my yearly gripe that Chicago will never be chosen for Nats... :( :x

Or Buffalo :( However, thats really not surprising considering that we never get any National/International skating events, unless you count Regionals or Junior Nats.

[lilwish]

I know it was expensive but I thought it was so gorgeous. Food was easy to get. The arena was terrific. When do they decide?

[pennskater]

There are no major airports near Hershey. Philadelphia is 2 hours away (or more with infamous Philly traffic). Baltimore is also 2 hours away. Reading has a small airport for those tiny planes you mentioned (only private planes I believe).
In addition, there are no hotels within walking distance of the arena. Everything is a mile away (since Hershey park takes up the area next to the arena and there are farm fields to the other side). And parking is a nightmare there. They have a complicated system of routing traffic around the arena. Then, if you need to go to the old arena (for lower level events), you need to go through another maze of roads, and wind around the park.
Oh yeah - and Hershey always charges you to park (about $6).
For the person complaining about small hotel rooms, they aren't any bigger in Hershey. In fact, the usual selections are Comfort Inn, etc.
At least in Boston you have a lot to choose from. The big hotel, Hotel Hershey, is very expensive, and will fill fast.
And it was in the paper that they will need to put a temporary ice surface in the convention center for practice (another 5 miles from the arena).
So a rental car will be necessary.
And finding a hotel will be interesting. People will be at least 10 miles away.
People are complaining about Reading, which is hosting Skate America, due to not having hotels, etc and Reading has more than Hershey, plus the hotels are nearer. So, if Hershey wins, expect a lot of complaining.

[jkl]

pennskater,
Thanks for your honesty.

[lilwish]

This sounds terrible. Again, when do they make the decision?

[BittyBug]

I think in November.

[Skatewind]

Harrisburg International Airport is near Hershey. It is more than an airport only for small planes, although not a large major airport.

Harrisburg International Airport (http://www.flyhia.com/airlines/airlines.asp)

Yes everyone will need a car, but people are going to need cars for Nationals this year to get back & forth between downtown Atlanta & Gwinnett.

[jkl]

In all fairness, how are air connections into Spokane? Does everything go through Seattle?

[Momandsk8er]

I was pretty excited to hear that Hershey was a finalist for Nationals, but then I live within 90 minutes of there and would commute. Never really thought about all the people that go every year and what they would do for transportation et al... there really isn't much around there and traffic for events is something else.

Anyway, I have a ticket to SA this year and will commute (my husband works in Wyomissing, so if he can do it every day, so can I!). Reading does have scheduled plane service, as I have flown out of there on USAir to PHL and PIT. Harrisburg has non stop service to MSP through NW, as well as USAir flights. Harrisburg really isn't all that far from Hershey.

And this summer we went on a vacation to Idaho (long story, sad part is it didn't include Sun Valley) and flew to Spokane - from PHL we changed in Denver going out and O'Hare coming back. Not bad at all. There is also service to SEA and SFO, as well as some other ones I can't remember. So Spokane will be easier than Reading and Hershey.

[mission99]

I'd like to see NYC host the nationals soon!