Hallmark Pros moved to Columbus

[Debbie S]

Mary Lally posted on TEN that Hallmark Pros is moving out of DC. I think she said earlier that it was b/c of Worlds being there. Geez, I guess we're only entitled to one comp. a year? Anyway, she wrote this morining that it's being moved to Columbus, OH and may be a pro-am.

http://ToddEldredgeNews.com/updates.htm

Aaron W's from Columbus, right? I imagine he'll be very happy.

[Ania]

I'm so happy!!! I'll get the tickets as soon as they go on sale!
BWT, does anyone know when they might go on sale?

[Callisto]

If this is indeed correct, count me as another happy Buckeye.... Columbus is only a little more than an hour's drive for me. Now if only I can afford the tickets...

[Teenes]

Ah someone beat me to it =). I called IMG a few days ago and got that information about the various IMG events and posted it to my Kurt Browning mailing list. Looks like news travels fast.

Just a few details/clarifications.

She told me that tickets for the Canadian Open should be going on sale in October. No further information is yet available.

The Hallmark Skaters Championship was only recently moved to Columbus, OH - at one point it does seem that they were considering returning to DC. I don't know the actual motivation for the move. She also said that it was "tentatively" a pro-am but that's not confirmed yet. There is no information available yet on tickets or skaters. I'll post updates when I hear more.

What they actually said about the Masters was - "we have no updates on the Masters yet." My own speculation was that they were still trying to hold it since she mentioned it herself when I asked about "any figure skating events or competitions that IMG is producing."

The Holiday Festival on Ice in Kitchener is not yet confirmed. To be exact, she said they were doing the Holiday Festival on Ice in Kitchener but it's not confirmed yet. Holiday Celebration on Ice is produced by Disson Skating - I only brought it up to verify that they were separate shows. Hmmm...I wonder what TEN news considers to be confirmed - Todd Eldredge is on the skater list for the Disson show.

Anyway, so short answer is, no ticket information yet for the Hallmark Skaters Championship.

[Meredith]

Holy cow -- I live near Columbus and work downtown! What a great decision on behalf of the powers that be. There are two very nice, brand spanking new arenas in the city. Plentiful parking, hotels, restaurants nearby.

Meredith, writing from Columbus :D :D :D

[mkice]

I'm glad that this competition is still going to be held, but I am reluctant about it becoming a pro-am. While I even enjoyed it when the World Pro's were changed to a pro-am competition in 98-99, as it provided some great competition and some great performances, I think it is a competition that should undeniably remain pro-only. Still, I will watch either way, and I am happy for the Columbus area people that get the chance to see this live!

[Meredith]

I agree, mkice. Thinking back to 1998 I believe the general concensus was: :roll: What on [i:cf16fefc14]earth[/i:cf16fefc14] were they thinking?

[enboomer]

Just for clarification, I received some correspondance from SilverBlades Tours.
According to Claudyne, this is now a one day event. December 14th only.

[HotIce]

WHEEEEEEE!
I think I will go!
I live about 2 1/2 hours away from Columbus but have relatives that live less than 1 hour away I can stay with!
Finally a big comp. is being held in my driving area!
Will the tickets go on sale through Ticketmaster?

[leap of faith]

Please keep it a pro-only event.

When the am skaters were doing their LPs for tech programs, the pros in no way could match that.

they didn't turn pro to go back to 8 triple jump programs.

[Teenes]

Huh. It's entirely possible it's a one day event now...when I called a few days ago, she said it'd been confirmed for the MCI Center in DC. Then I called the next day to clarify something I forgot to ask (pro/pro-am/eligible?) and she told me she had just found out it was moving to Columbus, OH. I'm guessing the details are still being hammered out. I'm not calling for a third time, though, so I think I'll just wait and see what other information comes out. Since tickets aren't on sale yet, I don't think it's a pressing issue...

On the other hand, I don't like the sounds of a one day pro-am event. Since it's IMG, I had hopes of this competition being run like the Canadian Open, which I think is one of the best pro-ams. I hope it doesn't become a one program per skater event like the USFSA pro-ams... I guess they could do like Ice Wars and have 2 programs per skater in one night, but that either means few competitors, only singles, or some other limitation....

[Meredith]

Does this group generally offer tickets directly or through Ticketmaster or the venue's box office?

[Teenes]

Oops didn't notice that particular question.

IMG events generally seem to have their tickets available through Ticketmaster. The venue's box office is sometimes a possibility, and sometimes the venue defers all ticket sales to Ticketmaster.

The Skaters Championship was on sale through Ticketmaster last year, so I'm willing to bet it will be again this year.

As for SilverBlade tours, from what I understand, they organize skating tours - hotel, transport, tickets, etc - for large groups of fans? I've never used or spoken to them before, but that's the impression I have.

[jcspkbfan]

Count me in as someone else who's disappointed that what used to be the closest thing professional skating had to a serious, legitimate competition has become a pro-am again (sigh, didn't they learn [b:d151655739]anything [/b:d151655739] from all the complaints back in 1998?) I'm even more disappointed about the rumored "one program per skater" format (although I hope that will at least mean the skaters won't have to perform ISU-style short programs!)

I just hope it won't turn into yet another USFSA pro-am (my least-favorite kind of pro-am--mainly because of the "one program per skater" format--and there are already about three of those per season already!)

Oh, well, things could be worse--not too long ago, there were rumors that the competition formerly known as World Pros would be an eligible-only event this season!

[TEN]

I received info that Hallmark Skaters will be a one-day/two-part competition.

1999 Canadian Open was held in one day. IIRC all four Masters were one-day/two-part events.

As for Todd being confirmed when he is listed for a show, as we all know promoters often advertise a skater who never intended to appear in a particular show or competition. It is disappointing to the fans when that happens. So when I get word that Todd says he is confirmed, then I consider him confirmed. :wink:

Mary
TEN: Todd Eldredge News (http://toddeldredgenews.com) and EldredgeFans Mailing List (http://koalaplace.com/eldredgefans/)

[shopper]

well i was hoping it would be an only pro event. don't want it to be an pro am. i was at the mci centre the year it was a pro am and i think it was not a great idea.

[Aaron W]

I live in Columbus from September through June, so I'll definitley be around for the event. Sure would be nice if it was held at the Schottenstein Center considering I work there. I could work the event while watching it and also get paid. :)

Go figure I had to do a little *sigh* when I first read this - I've been waiting anxiously for an event to come to Columbus, but am not overly "into" professional skating. Oh well. I'm sure I'll still go. With some of the skaters who turned pro following this past season, the level of competition might be decent (would be nice if Todd Eldredge would compete).

(Yeah, I know - picky me!) :lol: :wink:

Here's a link to Nationwide Arena's web site: http://www.nationwidearena.com/

As for hotels, they only list the Crown Plaza, but there definitely are others. Most notably the Hyatt Regency which is just two blocks form the arena (and right across the street from the Crown Plaza IIRC) and the Hampton Inn & Suites which is about 4 blocks from the arena (it's in the Short North which is an artsy area).

I'll try to give more information when there is an actual confirmation that the event will be held in Columbus.

[Josef]

Please make this a pro-only event!!!!

It's about the only one left when you think about it.. the pro skaters need this event. I think we would all agree that the 1998 "World Pro" was far from a great event (although there were some great performances from it).

[SandraD]

When I read this, I knew MEREDITH would be jumping from mere joy! :D Happy for you, Meredith!

Sandra

[Meredith]

Thank you, Sandra.

Yesssssss! I needed something to smile about the past couple of days. This news provided me that.

Because I am so HAPPY I am posting a list of hotels in the area of the Nationwide Arena in Columbus. Also posted are their rates (AAA where applicable unless AAA is higher than the lowest rate), their distance from Nationwide Arena and other notes as appropriate. It's the least I could do, don't you think?

Adams Mark $89 weekend rate/2 queen beds
50 N. 3rd Street
3 or 4 blocks -- easy walk

Courtyard $89.10
35 W. Spring Street
.3 mile
Older building but well maintained

Crowne Plaza $129 up
33 E. Nationwide (Nationwide and High)
One to two blocks

Doubletree Guest Suites $79.20
50 S. Front Street
5 blocks (easy walk)
NOTE: all suites; with sofabed, could sleep 4

Drury Inn and Suites (Under construction? Can't make reservations at this time)
88 E. Nationwide Blvd (Third & Nationwide)
Note: They say this is 2 blocks from arena, but I don't think so

Hampton Inn & Suites $112.50 (AAA rate)
50 N. High
Two to three blocks away

Hyatt on Capital Square $119
75 E. State -- several blocks (4?), easy walk
Great food!! Beautiful hotel -- next door to beautifully renovated Ohio theater
If you want to be pampered, stay here

Hyatt Regency $119
350 N. High -- 2 blocks?
Adjacent to Convention Center
Not as impressed with this hotel as the Hyatt on Cap. Square

Lofts Hotel $199 and up
55 Nationwide (corner High and Nationwide)

Red Roof (new and very attractive) $76.99/1 bed $83.99/2 beds
111 E. Nationwide

Westin (Great Southern Hotel) $114
310 S. High -- 9 blocks (walk, bus, cab)
Fascinating, well restored hotel

All of these are downtown Columbus, where Nationwide Arena is located. I'm taking it for granted that Nationwide will be the venue due to its proximity to plentiful accommodations, restaurants and shopping.

If you would rather drive, there are real bargains in the suburbs.

Meredith

[Patty]

[quote:1f09154524="TEN"]As for Todd being confirmed when he is listed for a show, as we all know promoters often advertise a skater who never intended to appear in a particular show or competition. It is disappointing to the fans when that happens. So when I get word that Todd says he is confirmed, then I consider him confirmed. :wink:

Mary[/quote:1f09154524]

Mary-
I think it was you or Fran who posted at SkateFans that Todd intended to keep his eligibility in case the ISU starts a senior circuit or something like that. Is that still true?

So, am I right in assuming Todd won't confirm for Hallmark, until he finds out whether it will be a pro- am? And that he won't compete in it, unless it is a pro- am?

IMG/ Hallmark might feel they have to make it a pro- am so they can get skaters like Yagudin and Todd.

[Patty]

[quote:0f9675c3a2="Teenes"]What they actually said about the Masters was - "we have no updates on the Masters yet." My own speculation was that they were still trying to hold it since she mentioned it herself when I asked about "any figure skating events or competitions that IMG is producing."[/quote:0f9675c3a2]

Well, now I'm :oops: I've been posting it won't take place. I thought it had been confirmed it wasn't taking place.

Any news on Ice Wars? I haven't heard any thing one way or another about it. Is it still going to happen? Will it still be all pro?

Canada Open is still on. Will it still be a pro- am?

[jcspkbfan]

I'm pretty sure Canadian Open (which will take place in Red Deer, AB, this year) will still be a pro-am--otherwise, I think they would have changed the name of the event back to Canadian Pros. :wink:

As for Ice Wars (or World Ice Challenge or whatever it's called now), I don't think anything's been confirmed so far yet. But it's always been an all-pro event (one of the few pro competitions that didn't turn into a pro-am after the 1998 Olympics!) and personally, I hope it stays that way.

[TEN]

[quote:78cca534e6="Patty"]Mary-
I think it was you or Fran who posted at SkateFans that Todd intended to keep his eligibility in case the ISU starts a senior circuit or something like that. Is that still true?

So, am I right in assuming Todd won't confirm for Hallmark, until he finds out whether it will be a pro- am? And that he won't compete in it, unless it is a pro- am?

IMG/ Hallmark might feel they have to make it a pro- am so they can get skaters like Yagudin and Todd.[/quote:78cca534e6]

Yes, I did mention on Skatefans that Todd would like to keep his options open in the event the ISU creates a series of competitions that may require skaters to be Olympic-eligible.

There was also a potential schedule conflict as well. Hallmark Skaters and the USFSA Winter Open are scheduled for the same weekend. The Winter Open is in Auburn Hills (a very short commute for Todd) on December 13. Hallmark was originally scheduled for DC on December 13 and 14. Now Hallmark appears to be a one day event on December 14 in Columbus.

If IMG wants Alexei for Hallmark then it would have to get an ISU sanction because as far as I can tell Alexei is not planning to relinquish his eligibility.

Mary
TEN: Todd Eldredge News (http://toddeldredgenews.com) and EldredgeFans Mailing List (http://koalaplace.com/eldredgefans/)

[Intensity20]

I join all of you in agreeing that this should be a pro only event. Skating event producers have robbed so many great skaters trying to make a living by giving the rich eligible big names yet another money-grabbing opportunity. I for one would love to see the best of pro skating go head to head as they have historically since the first World Pro in 1973 in Japan.